The Saints family received their guests at the foot of the grand staircase. Naturally, Grandfather James was already regretting it.
It had been his idea.
The orchestra had moved into a sweeping waltz somewhere behind them, strings rising beneath the constant murmur of conversation. Champagne glasses chimed. Perfume, roses and expensive cologne hung warm in the air, mingling with the faint sweetness of candles burning throughout the ballroom.
And still the guests came.
Kashi stood on James's right, purple mask settled over her face, one hand resting elegantly against the folds of her red gown.
Ivar stood on his left and James occupied the centre because, according to him, it was his bloody house and nobody was moving him anywhere.
Frank stood behind them. Watching. Waiting and Judging silently.
A silver-haired couple approached. The woman dipped into a graceful curtsy while her husband bowed.
"Mr Saints. Miss Saints. Your Royal Highness. Thank you for having us."
Kashi smiled. "Thank you for coming."
Ivar inclined his head with effortless royal polish. "You honour me with your presence."
James spread one hand warmly. "Please, enjoy the ball. Ha ha ha!"
The couple thanked them again, moved on and three smiles vanished simultaneously.
Ivar watched the woman disappear into the crowd. "That necklace is fake."
Kashi barely moved her lips. "The hair too."
"Ahem. Also the marriage." James made a choking sound. Kashi looked at him and the old man covered it with a cough, shoulders trembling. Frank stared determinedly ahead as another guest approached.
Everyone straightened. Smiles. A governor this time, accompanied by his wife.
"Your Royal Highness. Mr Saints. Miss Saints."
"Thank you for coming," Kashi said.
"You honour me with your presence," Ivar replied.
"Please enjoy the ball. Ha ha ha!"
The governor moved on.
James immediately leaned towards Kashi. "He owes me money."
Her head snapped towards him. "Him too? How much?"
James considered it. "Eight million euros."
Ivar stared at him. "And you just let him walk away?"
"He'll pay." James frowned. "It's not that much."
"That qualifies as not much?" Ivar slowly faced forward again. "God, I love this family."
Behind them, Frank's mouth twitched.
Barely, another couple approached. Positions and smiles, greetings.
"Thank you for coming."
"You honour me with your presence."
"Please enjoy the ball. Ha ha ha!"
They passed.
Kashi's smile disappeared. "He's sleeping with his secretary."
Ivar glanced after the man. "Which one? The blonde."
"There are three blondes." Kashi said.
"The tall one." James joined in without hesitation. "Blue dress?"
Kashi looked at him. "Mm-hm."
James grunted. "I knew it."
Ivar turned towards his grandfather. "How?"
"He bought her a flat."
Kashi blinked. "How do you know that?"
James gave her a deeply unimpressed look. "Child, I was gossiping before either of you were born."
Ivar pressed his lips together. Behind them, Frank lowered his gaze. His shoulders moved once.
James caught him. "Are you laughing?"
"No, sir." Frank's face remained perfectly composed, another guest approached and all four immediately returned to civilisation.
Kashi smiled. "Thank you for coming."
Ivar inclined his head. "You honour me with your presence."
James beamed. "Please enjoy the ball. Ha ha ha!"
The guest moved on.
James's expression collapsed. "My cheeks hurt."
"You wanted a receiving line," Kashi reminded him.
"I have made mistakes."
"You've made several," Ivar said. James struck his cane lightly against Ivar's shoe.
Ivar jerked. "Ow! You attacked royalty."
"I changed your nappies. Respect your elders, you damn brat."
"Why do you keep using that against me?"
Kashi's shoulders shook as she hid her laugh, then movement near the entrance caught her attention.
Zarri had arrived.
She swept through the ballroom in burgundy, gold glinting at her throat and wrists, her mask held loosely in one hand. Several people turned as she passed.
Zarri acknowledged exactly none of them beyond the occasional polite smile. The moment she reached the receiving line, protocol ceased to exist. "Old man!"
James's entire face lit up. "My girl."
Zarri wrapped both arms around him.
James laughed— an actual laugh this time and hugged her tightly, patting her back. "You look beautiful." He pulled away enough to inspect her. "You and Kashi have formed a terrible habit of not visiting, eh?"
"Never. I love you too much." Zarri kissed his cheek. "Tell you what. I'll come play chess with you this weekend."
"Good girl." James's grin widened. "I have a gift for you later."
Zarri's eyes lit up, she hugged him again. Kashi snorted.
Zarri moved to her next, kissing her cheek carefully so as not to disturb either woman's make-up. "You look indecent, my love." Her eyes travelled approvingly over the red dress.
"Thank you." Kashi smiled. "I learnt from the best."
Zarri turned towards Ivar. He took her hand, bent gracefully over it and pressed a brief kiss to her knuckles.
"It's wonderful to see you again, Miss Mathias."
The change in him was immediate.
His shoulders settled. His chin lifted by a fraction. The ridiculous cousin Kashi had spent the past twenty minutes insulting disappeared and Crown Prince Ivar Giaever stood in his place.
Zarri dipped into a graceful curtsy. "Your Highness."
Kashi looked between them. "Ugh."
Ivar's gaze cut sideways towards her without releasing Zarri's hand. "It's called etiquette," he hissed through his teeth.
"You called me a bitch this morning." Kashi hissed back.
"That was family etiquette." Ivar said proudly. Zarri made a strangled noise and James burst out laughing.
Frank suddenly found the ceiling fascinating. More guests were approaching. Ivar released Zarri immediately.
"Positions," James muttered.
Zarri blinked. "What?"
Kashi caught her wrist and dragged her into line. "No time. Smile." A woman in a dark emerald gown swept towards them, her husband beside her.
Instantly—
Kashi transformed into gracious elegance. "Thank you for coming."
Zarri recovered beautifully. "You look lovely tonight."
Ivar inclined his head with princely perfection. "You honour me with your presence."
James spread one hand. "Please enjoy the ball. Ha ha ha!"
The couple moved on and four smiles disappeared again. James sagged against his cane.
Zarri stared after the guests. "How long have you been doing this?"
"An eternity," Ivar muttered.
"Forty-seven minutes," Kashi supplied.
James turned. "Frank. How many more times do I have to do this?"
Frank glanced towards the entrance, then towards the line of guests still waiting to offer their greetings. He calmly consulted the small card in his hand. "Approximately sixty-two more times, sir."
Nobody spoke.
Kashi slowly turned towards the entrance, Ivar followed, Zarri did the same. The receiving line curved beyond the ballroom doors and kept going, people.
So many fucking people.
Ivar's face emptied. Zarri's shoulders dropped.
Kashi closed her eyes.
James looked personally betrayed. "I don't have sixty-two laughs left."
Frank's expression remained professionally sympathetic. "You could recycle them, sir."
James turned very slowly towards him. Kashi covered her mouth, Ivar looked away, Zarri failed completely and snorted.
Frank remained perfectly still. "I apologise, sir."
"No, you don't."
"No, sir."
Another guest approached and James muttered something deeply inappropriate beneath his breath.
"Smile," Kashi whispered.
"I'm eighty bloody years old. Be grateful I'm standing."
"Grandfather," Ivar warned through his smile, "they're coming." Everyone straightened, shoulders back, expressions pleasant as the guest arrived.
Kashi smiled beautifully. "Thank you for coming."
Zarri inclined her head. "You look lovely tonight."
Ivar became royalty again. "You honour me with your presence."
James summoned what appeared to be the last remaining fragment of joy in his body. "Please enjoy the ball. Ha. Ha. Ha." The guest walked away and James's face went dead.
"Sixty-one," Frank said quietly. Four heads turned towards him. Frank looked straight ahead as the next guest approached.
Positions, smiles. Dynasty restored.