Epilogue: Nothing is New

7 July, 1367. Magdaline Castle, Islia

Excited whispers flitted between Violet's youngest ladies-in-waiting all afternoon, about the grand event taking place that evening.

The Islian court would be attending a farewell banquet for Violet and Leo's eldest daughter. The young Princess Celia Devon would then depart the following day for Havietten, where she'd be married to the heir to its throne within the next fortnight.

The betrothal had been in place for years but Violet had never really expected the date of Celia's departure to arrive. Leo had often joked to her - or perhaps hoped - that Crown Prince Tobin Tralhamir would eat himself into an early grave before he ever reached his fifteenth summer.

He hadn't. Tobin was now an adolescent and apparently mature enough to be wed. He'd summoned his betrothed and there was no way to deny his request.