had the same elfin looks that made Leticia different from Eleanor. “I don’t know that we’ve all been acquainted. I’m Queen Rebekah and of course you know my girls, Eleanor and Leticia. This is our son, Benjamin and my husband King Julian.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Lavinia replied. “I’m Queen Lavinia and this is my mother, the dowager queen Bethany and these are my children, Adrian and Moira. We have Lucian and Allegra staying with us for the winter.”
“We’re glad you could stay with us,” Julian said. “In fact, you’re just in time for supper.”
They adjourned to the dining hall and friendly chatter and laughter flowed about the table. After a while, Allegra said, “I hate to bring up something painful, but I have to know. What’s going to happen with your schooling, Leticia?”
Frowning, Leticia replied, “I’ll continue going to Fair Damsels like the rest of you. It sounds like they’ll let me continue school and then set up a suitable match after graduation.”
“I can’t say that I’m very sorry, Leticia,” Julian said. “He was never well-suited to you.”
Leticia was too much the lady to agree aloud with her father, but Lucian could see in her eyes that she did.
“Anyhow,” Rebekah said, “enough of sadness. Now is a happy time. We’re surrounded by friends and family. Lavinia, tell us more about Lictthane. I don’t believe I’ve ever visited there. Is it pleasant?”
In the morning, the whole group went to the nearby art competition. It was within walking distance of the castle. On arriving, the girls prepared their pieces for viewing while Leticia stayed with her parents and Benjamin. At eleven o’clock sharp, the judges said everyone would be allowed to inspect the pieces. “Please do not touch anything,” the raspy-voiced, balding judge said as people began to move about.
Lucian looked about at the pieces girls and women from various parts of Sanalbereth had created. There were paintings and tapestries, meticulously detailed urns and glass jars. Moira had a pastel piece she had done of the grounds of Fair Damsels Academy. Lucian knew looking at it that it was a representation of Tallia and Achilles’ wedding. “I hope you’ll give it to them when this is over.”
“Of course I will,” he replied. “It’s beautiful. You are quite talented.”
She flushed. “Don’t let Allegra hear you say that. She might get jealous.”
“Nah, she’d be mad at me if I didn’t tell you that.”
“Well, you’d best continue on. I think Allegra’s piece is down and around the corner a little ways,” Moira said before turning her attention to another group who had come to view her piece.
Lucian stayed to listen as Moira described her inspiration and choice of colors and medium. He hadn’t even thought to ask her why she’d chosen that. In fact, he hadn’t asked anyone questions about their art. Was that how you were supposed to go about an art contest? He looked at Adrian who shrugged and they continued. Eleanor’s piece was a tapestry depicting a summery meadow with horses playing about a sparkling blue stream. He stopped to chat with Eleanor a while before moving on through the pieces. He hadn’t been able to find Allegra yet.
Adrian was the first to spy her. “Lucian, you’ve got to see this.”
Lucian turned and was sure that his jaw hit his shoes as his mouth fell open. Allegra was standing next to her painting. A bright smile, softened by tears, was on her face as she asked, “What do you think? If you tell me you like it then I can take last place and not even care.”
For a long time, Lucian couldn’t speak. In bright splashes of oil paint, Allegra had captured their father’s daring rescue of their mother. Alexandra was at the top of a tower, her hair a shimmering ribbon of red braid draped out the window as Lysander bravely climbed to the top. In one corner Allegra was standing with Adrian, hands clasped. The opposite corner showed Lucian and Moira, love’s first kiss breaking any enchantments between them. “Allegra, it’s…”
“I called it ‘Legacy’,” she interrupted. “Do you like it?”
“It’s wonderful, Allegra. You captured everyone beautifully. Although, I hope that painted kisses don’t count for spell breaking. Otherwise I might be in trouble.”
Allegra laughed and smacked his arm. “I highly doubt it.”
Leticia appeared with Benjamin and gasped, “Oh Allegra, that’s beautiful. That’s your parents and there you are in the corner with Adrian and there’s Moira and Lucian. It’s breathtaking, Allegra. No wonder you wouldn’t show it to the rest of us. Now, you have to tell me the stories that you’ve made up for yourself and Lucian.”
Later in the afternoon, the artists were allowed to visit the other contestants’ pieces. Moira and Eleanor added their surprise and compliments to Allegra’s piece. “Oh I hope you win, Allegra. That’s so lovely,” Eleanor said.
Moira flushed at seeing herself in the piece and said, “It’s very nice, Allegra. You must have put a lot of work in this to capture everyone so accurately.”
Allegra smiled and then they all went about looking at the other pieces while the judges were making their final rounds. There was an hour break for luncheon so the judges could deliberate. The group of friends went to the castle and enjoyed conversation and warm chicken soup before heading back to the competition for the announcement of the winners. When they arrived back, Allegra whispered, “There are so many talented women here; I doubt I’ll place at all.”
“If I were a judge, I’d give you first,” Lucian replied.
“Ah, but you are biased,” she said. “You’d give me first no matter what.”
They listened as the raspy-voiced judge announced the winners. Moira received honorable mention in the pastel division and Eleanor received second place in tapestry. Allegra wasn’t mentioned during the paint division and everyone shot her a look of shared disappointment and condolence. They almost didn’t hear the judge say, “Our overall competition champion is Princess Allegra of Maltisten and her piece ‘Legacy’. Princess Allegra?”
“That’s you, Allegra,” Adrian said suddenly. Her jaw dropped and she stood up.
“Ah, there she is. Come along, dear,” the judge said. He was holding a large trophy. Applause burst over the crowd as Allegra slowly made her way up to the stage on which he was standing. She accepted the trophy as well as a large bouquet of red and white roses while another judge pinned a vibrantly colored ribbon to her gown. “Once again, Princess Allegra of Maltisten!” the judge announced.
With the most brilliant smile Lucian had ever seen, Allegra curtsied deeply before returning to her seat as the judge announced the gallery would be open for viewing for the rest of the day. “Artists, please pick up your pieces in the morning. Congratulations to all our talented ladies.”
The group headed home and the whole evening Allegra expressed her disbelief in winning and her wish that her parents had been there. Congratulations were given to all of the participants and especially to Allegra. When the adults told them it was time to retire, Allegra came to Lucian’s room. “If you’re tired, I’ll leave, but I couldn’t possibly sleep now. I’m too excited.”
He laughed, “Come sit down.” After she did he hugged her. “Congratulations, Allegra. You really did a fabulous job. I knew you’d get something.”
“There were so many women who deserved it much more than I did. I mean, I did okay, but really there were some fabulous pieces there,” Allegra said.
“Yes, but yours had the most heart. And don’t tell me I’m biased,” Lucian interrupted before she could even begin to speak. “You must have worked on that for weeks to get it done that well.”
“Two and a half months.”
“See? You earned it. And now you can send Mom and Dad a beautiful letter all about it.”
She frowned. “I don’t want to send them a letter. I want to tell them in person. I know we promised we wouldn’t go home for break, but it’s only three hours from Lictthane. We wouldn’t stay long, just long enough to show Mom and Dad.”
Lucian hesitated. It wasn??
?t that he didn’t want to go home. He did, but he also knew that he’d never gone back on a promise before. He didn’t think now would be a great time to start. “I don’t know Allegra. Let’s see what Lavinia says tomorrow. It might be better to just send a letter for now.”
Nodding, she said, “I miss them.”
“I do too,” he admitted. “Now, go pretend to sleep, okay?”
“Okay, I’ll see you in the morning. Good night, Lucian.”
“Good night, Allegra.”
She got up and started to walk out of the room. “Lucian?” she said at the doorway. When he turned to look at her she smiled and said, “I love you.”
“I love you too, Allegra. Get to sleep.”
Unsurprisingly, Lavinia turned down their request to go home. She’d agreed to mail a letter to their parents about the competition, including Allegra’s ribbon, but Allegra shook her head. “No, I’ll write it.” However, as the days passed, the letter didn’t get written. Allegra couldn’t bring herself to write the words she longed to say in person. Lucian could tell she was becoming desperate and so spent more time with her. One afternoon as a snowstorm raged outside, there was a knock at the door. “I wonder who that could be in weather like this,” Lavinia said as she opened the door. “Oh, please come in.”
A tall, cloaked form entered. “Thank you, Queen Lavinia. I shan’t be long,” a familiar voice replied. “I’m