Chapter 21 Lingering Guilt Chapter 21 Lingering Guilt : 59 +20 Free Coins Zephyr addressed Fiona casually , yet the sound of it struck Fiona like a pebble dropped into still water , sending ripples of unease across her heart . In her previous life , Zephyr had schemed to make her his concubine , not out of affection but for leverage . All he truly coveted was the sprawling web of influence held by Helen . Helen , though she had voluntarily withdrawn from court , remained inseparable from Prince Jinks , the general whose armies could decide any succession . At that time , Zephyr and the Fourth Prince , Cornelius Marchmont , were locked in a vicious race for the title of crown prince . If Fiona married him , Prince Jinks might well throw his banners behind Zephyr , and the scheme had very nearly succeeded . Only when she became formally betrothed to Soren did Zephyr retreat , forced to smother his ambition beneath a courtly smile . She gathered her wandering thoughts and , unwilling to offend him , said with a slight bow , " Thank you , Zephyr , for your generous indulgence . " Zephyr tilted his head , a polite crescent forming at the corner of his mouth . " If ever you encounter some difficulty , Fiona , you need only come to me , " he offered . Fiona recognized the sentence for what it was - ceremonial courtesy . A sheltered young lady like herself could hardly stroll into his residence to pose idle questions . By the time the royal convoy split apart on the outskirts of Jexburgh , the sun had begun to sink , staining the stone walls in copper . Fiona's carriage turned onto the residential street , and even from a distance , she spotted Meryl standing at the gate of the Niven Estate , hands folded , eyes searching every approaching wheel . " Mother ! " Fiona called , her voice bright as she pushed back the curtain and let a full smile blossom across her travel - worn face . Meryl's gaze swept over her daughter . The girl was tanned , thinner at the cheeks , and the sight tightened the woman's throat until tears threatened to spill . When Fiona set foot on the cobblestones , Meryl pulled her into a fierce embrace , saying , " I heard you were ill . I worried myself sick these past days . Are you really well now ? " " Long since recovered , " Fiona chirped , drawing back so her mother could see her grin . " My mounted archery has improved no end - His Majesty even praised me . " Fiona then lifted a delicate cage in which a snow - white parrot fluffed its feathers . " His Majesty 1/4 14:40 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 21 Lingering Guilt : gave me this . Such birds appear in the royal hunt scarcely once a decade ." 59 +20 Free Coins Meryl barely spared the parrot a glance . She examined her daughter as though sight alone. could detect pain . The moment she spotted the angry swelling at Fiona's wrist , love and frustration tangled in her chest . " What , you would even keep secrets from your own mother ? " The joint still throbbed . During her match with Princess Aurora , Fiona had pushed past every warning throb , determined not to appear delicate before the watching court ; afterward , she had mentioned the hurt to no one . At that moment , back beneath the familiar caves , Meryl's wounded expression cut deeper than the pain itself , and Fiona felt a hot sting gather behind her eyes . She sniffed , forcing a lighter tone . " Mother , I'm starving ." " Supper is already laid out , " Meryl replied , smoothing Fiona's hair . " Your grandmother waits in Ambrosial Garden , and your father will be home any moment . Oh , and your Uncle Stanley is in the house today as well . " Stanley was Duke Niven himself , while her father , Zachary , held the senior second - rank post of minister in charge of appointments at the Ministry of Personnel . Years ago , Helen had dismissed Zachary as unworthy , berating Meryl , a member of the Princess Royal's family , for settling on a mere second son of the Niven family . But Meryl's resolve had been immovable ; she would marry Zachary or no one , and in the end , Helen could only sigh and relent . In the years that followed , Zachary's steady ascent through the bureaucracy - earned by his own talent - finally quieted Helen's lingering discontent . Remembering the future in which her father was demoted , Fiona felt a rush of complicated emotion . This time , I will change whatever lies between Father and Granny She washed the dust of travel away at Bamboo Lodge . By the time she entered Ambrosial Garden , Zachary had already arrived and was laughing over some anecdote with Stanley " Father , Uncle Stanley " Fiona greeted , stepping across the threshold with a respectful bow . Stanley leaned back in his chair , laughter rumbling from his chest , the firelight turning his silvering temples to gold . " Fiona , I must praise you properly today . You have lifted the Niven family's banner higher than ever . " News of her mounted archery duel with Princess Aurora had flown ahead of them , reaching Jexburgh long before their horses did . By the time Fiona crossed the city gates , her name was 2/4 14:40 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 21 Lingering Guilt already whispered with admiration in every drawing room . 59 +20 Free Coins Stanley was not the only one walking a little taller . Her father , Zachary , and her grandmother , Hannah , had worn irrepressible smiles ever since the first courier delivered the tidings . Each dawn found them lighter of step , as though the very air had brightened . When the laughter subsided, Stanley leaned forward , eyes twinkling . " Well ? What reward would your heart choose ? " Fiona tapped one slender finger against her lower lip , pretending to ponder . " His Majesty has already gifted me a snowy parrot , " she said at last , voice lilting with mischief . " Could you , Uncle Stanley , find me a skilled birdkeeper to care for the little fellow ? " Stanley slapped the armrest in approval , the sound echoing like a drum . " Consider it done . I shall see to it tomorrow morning ." Business settled , Fiona went to look for Hannah and Joanna Wagner , Stanley's wife , and dove into tales of the autumn hunt - racing hooves , crisp leaves , and the thrill of an arrow splitting the sky . Hannah listened not for the spectacle but for subtler music - the tenor of Emperor Aldric's regard , the exact phrasing of his praise . When Hannah heard that Emperor Aldric had bid Fiona call him " Uncle Aldric ," her grin deepened , the gears of calculation clicking quietly behind her eyes . Royal favor , after all , was the finest dowry card a young woman could lay upon the marriage table . Joanna straightened a stray silk thread on her sleeve . " Rita is delighted for you as well . Next time , come visit us to celebrate properly ." Rita was Duke Niven's eldest daughter and Fiona's cousin . Fiona had not seen her in some time , so she asked , " And how is Rita these days ? " Joanna released a half - sigh , half - laugh . " Rita's husband does exactly as she says , and her mother - in - law all but worships her , " she said . " She tells me marriage has made her freer than ever - such a shameless girl ." Despite saying those words , pride shone unhidden in Joanna's eyes . To keep a husband so neatly in hand was no small feat . The Wagner family might not rank among the true elites , but Rita had turned the marriage into a life rich with flavor . In her previous life , Fiona had never mastered that art . Her return visits had been lonely 3/4 14:40 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 21 Lingering Guilt 59 +20 Free Coins affairs , her carriage arriving and departing without a companion . Seeing Rita and her husband entwined like a matched pair of swans had stirred a jealousy she hated admitting even to herself . Fiona composed her expression and said , " Aunt Joanna , Rita's happiness is ours as well . Even married , she keeps the Niven family close to her heart . " 4/4