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Levana didn’t need to look down at her pale yellow dress, or to see how the color faded into her pale gla about She had lost interest in being noticed Let Channary be known for how fair and mirthful she was Princess Levana would earn respect in the court by being intelligent and resourceful Bythe needs of her country when the queen was too busy cavorting with her own, thank you, My Queen"

"Fine, don’t try anything on, then You will "

She s her sister already exhausting her

Channary swooped ahead, and the thau in her sister’s wake, Levana i to

As she followed her sister into the palace corridor, she spotted Evret co toward them Her heart pattered, but Evret didn’t even look at her, merely stopped and saluted the queen as she passed, one fist clapped over his chest Levana tried to catch his eye, but he stared at the wall over her head, expressionless as a statue

Only when she glanced back a few steps later did she realize he had co of the guard was fast and s, Levana faced forward again, lest she walk into a wall This could be her chance to thank hi around her neck, tucked beneath the collar of her dress

She could hear Evret’s boots clacking behind her Feel his presence tugging her toward hi at her Ad intimately down her back

Her emotions were in tatters by the time they had reached the in the climb toward Her Majesty’s quarters on the top floor Channary did not like to take the elevators She had once told Levana that she felt queenly having to lift her skirts as she went up and down the stairs

It had taken all of Levana’s efforts not to ask if that was the same reason she lifted her skirts all those other times too

"Your Majesty?"

Channary paused, and Levana cairl not much older than she was, dressed in plain utilitarian clothes She was breathless and flushed, her hair falling out of a loose bun in ize forShe fell to one knee

Channary sneered, disgusted "How dare you approach ed for your disrespect"