The Healer Bride: Awakening the Ruined Dragon King novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: The Prince's Ring

Linden came through the keep gate with a trunk, a hatbox and a small locked sewing basket she would not let a servant carry.

"Sorrel!" She threw both arms around her. "You're thin. You smell of smoke. Oh, I've been so frightened for you."

"I'm well, Linden."

"You say that. You always say that." Her sister drew back, and her brown eyes were wet again. "Where do I sleep? Please say somewhere with a window."

Sorrel gave her the sewing room on the south side, which had a window and a stove.

Linden unpacked in ten minutes.

She hung her gowns, lined up her ribbons on the sill and put the sewing basket under the bed.

When Sorrel left, her sister was humming.

The prince found her an hour later, in the empty courtyard behind the stables, where she had gone to be by herself.

"I don't want you to see me as a villain," Edmund said.

He stood a few paces off with his hands open and empty.

"Then don't behave like one."

"I know how it looked. The scroll, the hall. I said nothing." He swallowed. "I want to tell you why."

"Go on."

"My mother found out the king meant to take his healer's life. Every one of the three before you died, Sorrel. She said the only way to save you was to make the decree look like his idea and let you be taken quietly, with a whole house around you. If I had spoken, she would have named you a traitor."

It was neat.

It was too neat, and Sorrel noticed that, and then noticed that he had said it very gently, with his blue eyes full of apology.

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