Aspen’s POV
The feast was a whirlwind of food, laughter, and conversation. I was surprised at the amount of food, but it made sense. We were celebrating a special occasion with nobles from all over the kingdom. Of course, there would be a lot of food.
The people were a lot happier with Helio’s coronation than they probably ever had been during King Flint’s reign. Yet, for all the revelry, I felt curiously alone. Seated at the far end of the impossibly long table, separated by a gulf of rank and formality, Helio seemed as distant as the moon itself. Talking to him was impossible from the other side of the long table, yet every other couple was seated together. I knew this was the way of it, but I didn’t like it and hoped I could find a way to change it so I’d be seated near him from now o
