Chapter 126
"Your Highness, I hate to interrupt."
A royal attendant approached with a bow. "Duke Valemont and the young lords Reynold and Cassius are in the palace."
Amelia’s eyes widened. Her family?
Aldric nodded. "Go. They’ve likely come for you. I’d love to escort you, but I don’t think Reynold will be happy to see me."
She stood, offering him a smile as she instinctively smoothed her gown. Reynold had never really liked Aldric because he had always felt Aldric stole his little sister from them.
Her heart raced out of anticipation. It had been so long since she’d seen Reynold and Cassius. A month, to be exact. They had been sent to the border to deal with some bandits who had been hijacking merchants and travellers. Duke Valemont, her father, had joined them a week ago, basically leaving only her with the maids.
She walked swiftly through the halls until she saw them gathered in the reception chamber.
Duke Valemont stood straight and commanding as ever, his salt-and-pepper hair combed neatly back. His green eyes were already trained on her, though the stern line of his mouth twitched just slightly when she stepped in.
To his left stood Reynold. He was tall and composed, the embodiment of the perfect heir. He bowed his head respectfully but allowed a faint smile to soften his otherwise serious face.
Cassius, the younger of her brothers, grinned the moment he spotted her and practically jogged over.
"Lia!" he exclaimed, scooping her into a hug. "You haven’t written in weeks! Have you forgotten about your favorite brother?"