Thirty minutes later, River was walking beside Heiko down the long, echoing hallway that led to the royal dining hall. The marble beneath their feet was polished to a blinding shine, tall arched windows bathed the corridor in the last light of the evening sun, and still, despite the beauty surrounding her, all she could hear was the thunderous pounding of her own heart.
The two maids who had helped her prepare had done their work quickly and efficiently, whispering little more than instructions as they fastened the delicate dress onto her trembling body and styled her hair into an elegant twist.
For a brief moment, their presence and the physicality of getting ready had pulled her away from her dread, but now that she walked in silence beside the prince, with only the echo of their step
