Free The Subtle Beauty by Ann Hunter

was sure he would be. He was as placid as a mountain lake. “No, Glory. You do not.”
    “I love Colin, and you can not make me love any other. Who are you to say who I can and can not love?”
    “I am your father and, more importantly, your king. I have every say on this matter. You will marry the suitor I choose for you, as I have done with your sisters. Lord Regent Barwn Xander and I signed the pre-nuptial papers at Council’s Realm. It is already done. He is on his way to collect you.”
    Glory froze. She had heard that name as a child. Xander was a fearsome warlord. His name had been screamed in nightmares by refugees escaping to their kingdom. Whispered rumors flew that the gods had cursed his son and made him deformed as repayment for the sins of Xander. A monster for a monster.
    “How could you choose a prince no one has ever seen ? People say he is a recluse. How do you know if he is even worthy of me? How will he know my beauty?” Glory ran a shaking hand through her hair. “Do you not see how this will make me the laughing stock of the Twelve Kingdoms?” She straightened, raising her chin defiantly. “You are better off allowing me to marry Colin. At least he can see me.”
    “Let you…” Balthazaar laughed. “Why, the very idea…. Still such an active imagination at this age. Charming.”
    Glory leaned over him, hissing, “You are a fool, old man.”
    Balthazaar’s face was stern. “You will show me proper respect, girl. Xander assured me Prince Eoghan can care for you. He rules his kingdom with swift justice and an honest heart. Already his lands outnumber ours. It is in our best interest to merge with him and form a Crown Realm.”
    Glory slammed her fist against the desk so hard that the quill in the inkwell rattled. “Honesty?” she scoffed. “Eoghan is the son of a monster . How can such a person understand our principles? Xander gained those lands for Eoghan through force.”
    “What Xander has done was in the interest and preservation of his son. I would have done the same. I have forgiven him.”
    “He slaughtered innocent people and burned down our churches!” Glory cried. “How could anyone forgive that?” She crossed her arms and pursed her lips, looking away. “You can not do this to me. I will not consent.” She looked back at her father, her blue eyes flashing. “Colin and I are in love.”
    “I assure you that you are not.”
    “How would you know?”
    Balthazaar rose sluggishly. “You are merely in love with the idea of it all.”
    Glory’s eyes widened.
    “You are in love with his love for your beauty. What does a girl of fourteen—”
    “Fifteen,” Glory interjected.
    Balthazaar grimaced. “—know about love?”
    “I know enough.”
    “What you believe you know is wrong, Glory.”
    Glory clenched her fists at her side and was opening her mouth to argue, but Balthazaar waved her off. “My word is final. You may go.”
     
    Glory brushed away a burning tear that formed in the corner of her eye. She clenched her fists as she stormed down the hall. I am not wrong, she thought, Father is wrong. He is a fool! All of my sisters are miserable because of his choices. Glory brushed away another tear with the back of her hand. It then occurred to her that perhaps her sisters would help her escape unnoticed. If they were so unhappy, surely they would want at least one among them to be spared. Glory hurried to the common room she and her sisters shared. The room was empty, but a fire was crackling in the hearth. Glory tried to think of what she should say. How could she convince them to help her find happiness? A servant entered the room and asked if she could be of service.
    Glory inhaled sharply. “Go and fetch my sisters.”
    Within a few minutes Ophelia, Odessa, Portia, Alexa and Murtia appeared. They were yawning and rubbing their eyes, unamused to be bothered at this late hour after such a busy day.
    “Sisters,” Glory began, “I have summoned you here in the