s Genev

le as parchment, her lips purple with cold. But her eyes... her eyes were astonishing

h." I had never met him in person, but I had read every one of his b

uards bring her maid and that banner

ear. "Your Highness, there is no need. My body is fine. Ple

f any normal noblewoman. I nodded, my appreciation for her g

id, Bryn, to enter the carriage to tend to her. The carri

er. "What do you make

ower is formidable. It does not seem like an act. And

e kind of grief that came from the soul, the desperation of someo

se her "brother," in a border rebellion years ago, had saved

armth of the carriage. She sat up slowly, her ba

rt gesture, full of a soldier's discipline. "Thank you for yo

and across her knuckles, was thick with calluses. There were several old, faint scars o

need for thanks," I said smoothly. "Your brother wa

hought, "I heard you were with h

Your Highness. My brother and I depended on each other. I... I only k

A girl doing menial chores in a military camp for years wo

grand residence. The plaque above the main gate, which used to read "Jose

hero's title had just been bestowed, yet his family was lef

ily, Lord Carroll. A down-on-his-luck noble clinging to

was the right one. I wanted to see who would da

e, her expression complex. There was sadness, nostalgia

lp Gillian down, but she refused the s

"You go first. An

riage, smoothed her robes, and walked wi

t inappropriate for me to be at the forefront of such

he stood silently before the gate, holding the bl

y fingers lightly on the armrest. Carroll, An

mething this interesting. A resilient orphan, a

Gillian's silhouette. In the swirling snow, s

pon. The Joseph family's mask of h

r looking f