38 Impasse (1/2)

The older man's back was to the larger crowd, which meant his face was finally in Hilde's line of sight. What she ought to expect to see in it, she had no idea. She'd decided to refrain from making any more assumptions for the moment, having already been yanked every which way the last half hour or so.

What she did know was that in case someone decided to peek at the expression she herself was wearing, it must always show the appropriate one. Earlier when Lord Alfwin spoke of her, she had been a deer in the headlights, frozen and largely unresponsive in shock, perhaps also in fear.

When it was her sister's turn to speak, she had been tense like anyone else might be. She had been confused by the direction the words took, and when the tears came, she'd felt thunderstruck – the cool-mannered, even-tempered, and levelheaded Queen was capable of such strong emotions? Or rather, of displaying them? Her confusion had returned, and with it, a touch of commiseration. She'd shifted her gaze to look at Prince Luca seated by her side. The boy's mouth hung open as he stared with round eyes at his mother.

And then, something that Hilde would never forget seeing: a faint glint of hope in his eyes, a slow and hesitant spread of warmth. It quickly disappeared when the Queen was guided back to the throne, then he caught his aunt looking at him. The young Prince turned his face the other way.

It bore saying that she recognized that set of looks and what they meant. But again, she was done with making assumptions.

Now, the face she wore showed worry and a hint of chilliness at being made use of so blatantly. It would seem she had difficulty making the rise and fall of her chest even and unnoticeable. White knuckles were visible as her hands gripped the ends of her chair's armrests.

If anyone had been stupid enough to be looking at her instead of at the choice entertainment happening right in their midst, they'd have witnessed the gradual easing of those hands from their tense hold. They would have found in her expression unspeakable relief when the Lord General got to his knee, raised one open hand in a wordless plea, and kissed the hand that the Queen laid upon it. Both had acted without any hesitation.

Then Queen Heloise did one better. She kept holding Lord Alfwin's hand as he got back on his feet, and when they were once again standing face to face, she lowered her head and placed a return kiss on the back of his own hand.

In Arnica, unlike in Lys and some other countries, kissing one another's hands was not a standard form of greeting. In Arnica, it meant something else – something deeper. If it were to be given at all, it would not be with a lighthearted intent. Between lovers, it was as good as a declaration. Between friends, it was something like a covenant. Between people with no deep relationship at all, it was simply not done.

Being reminded of a certain scene on a deserted road, Hilde was careful not to let her eyes stray in the direction of the Lyseans. She still wasn't certain if she should take back her earlier decision to limit her future interactions with them, if not altogether stay away, as Lady Ilse surely would.

Among other things, with the Lord General's seeming capitulation, she did not know where her current place was on the board. Any move she makes could spell a swift loss.