"So you're telling me that nothing has happened between the two of you? And it's been a week since the wedding?" Thomas whipped around in his saddle to face Charles.

"Yes, that is what I said. Can we please return to the hunt now?" Charles responded without meeting the eye of his friend.

"Why not? Don't you want to?"

"That's not... It wouldn't be right."

"She's your wife, how could it not be right?"

Charles did not respond, he just grabbed his reins and hastened his horse into a trot. Tom matched his speed. "You said that she didn't resent you. She wanted to marry you."

Charles pulled up on the reins, stopping his horse. "Yes, she wanted to marry the King of Aramdeau. That does not mean she wanted to marry me."

Tom gave an exasperated sigh. "You are-oh, never mind."

"Look, I have not known Danie-the queen long, but I know how highly she regards her duty. If she thought that it would benefit the treaty, she would do anything I ask. Which is why I cannot ask. I just... want her to want to."

"Alright, I see what you mean," Tom conceded lightheartedly, "But you know, you are hardly the first couple to be in an arranged marriage. Somehow people all across the country manage to make it work."

"I should never have brought this up. I trust you will keep this between us."

"Yes, yes, of course I will. After all, you're the one with the bow. Watch where you're pointing that, would you?"

Charles' hard expression relaxed to a smile as he pulled the bowstring back to his cheek. He loosed the arrow, and it hit a fat quail that had just taken off.

"Excellent shot, Your Majesty!" The cry came from a group of young noblemen that were riding up to them. Tom clapped Charles on the back, and they rejoined the other men.

The week since the wedding had been full of feasts, festivals, musical performances, parties and hunts. A royal marriage was always celebrated to the fullest, but Charles, the dowager queen, and the council had done all they could over the last year to be sure it was especially extravagant. It wasn't just the Brasadoran envoys they needed to impress; there were dignitaries from all over the continent.

Charles and Daniela spent so much time entertaining them all that they had barely spoken to one another since the day of their wedding. They slept in the same bed, of course, but Charles often came in late, and even when he didn't, it felt strange to exchange anything beyond pleasantries in that situation.

Daniela was not especially talkative, Charles had noticed, and speaking with all these strangers did not come naturally to her. But her composure and kindness were easily apparent to any noble who was able to get to know her a little.

The day after the hunt they were to lead a celebratory parade through town. Although Ternhaligon Castle felt isolated, and was mostly surrounded by fields and forests, the town of Greenholde was only a short ride or even walk away.

Charles handed Daniela into an open barouche pulled by two great white horses and the procession began. In the front, the field marshal of Aramdeau in full regalia led six knights on horseback. Trumpeters and musicians with lutes and pipes followed. Then Captain Phillips and the top ranks of the castle guard preceded Charles and Daniela's carriage. Behind them, whichever Aram nobles enjoyed these sorts of events followed either on horseback or in their own carriages. Bringing up the rear were more musicians and jesters, who would hand out little sweet rolls and almond comfits to spectators.

"I had hoped to show you the town sometime before the parade," Charles said as the carriage entered the town.

Daniela smiled and answered him, but her voice was drowned out by cheers as the crowd caught sight of them. Charles and Daniela turned away from each other and looked out at the people gathered on each side of the cobbled street. Children pushed to the front of the crowd or got lifted onto their parents' shoulders. They tossed flowers onto the street and into the carriage.

Charles waved steadily in the practiced way that he always did. He couldn't help but smile when he looked over and saw Daniela waving to people as though they were her old friends. It was like she was trying to respond to every person who waved at her individually. She even reached down from the carriage to take some of the flowers that people held up to her.

Daniela turned back and looked at him questioningly, as if to say, "What are you looking at?" On an impulse, Charles leaned forward and kissed Daniela's cheek. They both froze, then the hoots and hollers from a pleased audience woke Charles from his daze. He looked away quickly. He waved stiffly, not daring to look back at Daniela for the rest of the parade. She'll think that was for the crowds to see, he thought.

They snaked through the town, and eventually the closely packed buildings gave way to thatched cottages and farmland. Charles leaned forward to the coachman and asked him to pull off the road. The rest of the parade passed them by and made for the castle. Leo Pearson waved playfully as he rode past on horseback.

"I thought we could see some of the town on foot," Charles said to Daniela, "since we're already here." He felt composed enough now to talk to her again, although his cheeks still felt a little warm.

"Oh, could we?" Daniela responded, more excitedly than Charles expected. "I kept thinking how nice it would be to get out and walk around."

Down the road, Tom cut out of the procession and circled back to join them. Charles took the bouquet of flowers that Daniela had gathered in her arms and entrusted it to the coachman. "See that one of the queen's ladies-in-waiting gets this."

"Aye, Your Majesty."

Charles stepped out of the carriage and helped Daniela to hop down. He held up his elbow to her, and she wrapped her arm around his.

"Did you used to enjoy going into town when you lived in the North?" Charles asked her.

"Yes, although I only got to go a few times to the town in Kernwith. Our guard was limited, so they could not usually be spared to escort me there."

"Well, I am sure Tom will always have someone to spare whenever you have somewhere you want to go. Right, Captain?" Tom had caught up to them, and nodded with a smile. "Although, maybe not for this next week," Charles continued. "There is still so much going on at the castle; they may not be able to get away. And there would hardly be time anyway."

They reentered the town with Tom a few steps behind them. It was a different place now that the crowds had dispersed. It was still filled with life, but a calmer, more mundane sort. Merchants reopened their shops and stalls, and many people had gone back to the day's business.

"To be honest, I will be a little relieved when the festivities are over," Daniela admitted. "Oh! Not that they aren't wonderful, they are! It is just out of the ordinary for me."

Charles smiled. "It's alright, I will also be relieved to have it done with. The castle is a fairly quiet place when there are not all these people in and out at all hours. In truth, I am concerned that once you get used to it, you will find it boring, living at the castle." He was about to suggest that she could have visitors in the future, or travel to meet her friends from the Abbey, when two little girls ran up to them.

The girls curtsied clumsily, then silently held up a ripe pear to give to each of them. Charles thanked them politely and was ready to walk away, but Daniela let go of his arm and knelt down to look at the children.

"Thank you, this is such a beautiful pear," she said, beaming at them. "What are your names?"

They fidgeted and mumbled something that Charles could not hear. Daniela petted the fair hair of one of the girls. "What beautiful names for such pretty girls. Did your family grow these pears?"

They nodded, then ran off a short distance to a fruit vendor's cart. Daniela followed them, and Charles followed Daniela. A man in well-worn clothes was manning the stand. He pulled off his straw hat when he saw the king and queen approach.

"G-Good day, Your Majesties. What can I do for you?" he stammered.

"Thank you for the pears," Daniela said, perusing the fruit on display. "Your daughters were very kind to give them to us."

"They're good girls, they are. They thought Your Majesty looked ever so lovely in the parade that they just couldn't stop telling me so," the man said. The girls in question hid behind his legs, barely peeking out.

Charles reached into his doublet and handed a gold piece to the man. "Have a bushel of pears and a bushel of apples sent to the castle."

"Aye sir, I thank ye sir. You'll get the best of the bunch," the man said with a bow. Daniela slipped her arm around Charles' again, and waved goodbye to the family.

"They remind me of the girls at the Abbey," she said as they looked around the rest of the market. "I used to instruct the little ones sometimes to read and write."

"I'll have to be careful," Charles said with a grin, "that my queen does not become more popular than me."

"Surely, you jest," Daniela replied. "I can tell you are a well-loved king."

"Oh? And how can you tell that?"

"Well, for instance, my father would never dare step into town without a carriage and armed guards on all sides, and here we are, just walking around!"

"Ah, but you underestimate Tom. He is worth at least four of your Brasadoran guards."

Daniela laughed. "Forgive me, I hope the good captain takes no offense."

Charles looked back in mock contemplation at Tom, who was not paying attention. "Unfortunately, he is known to be a petty and vindictive man. You may never redeem yourself for this insult. In fact, he may challenge you to a duel at any moment."

Daniela laughed again, heartily, and Charles felt a strange sense of pride in his joke.

"You forget how long I have lived in this country," Daniela said. "Everyone at the convent and everyone I have met since believes you to be a great king,"

Charles shook his head. "Who would confess a man's faults to the woman he is to marry? Besides, it is my father that they love. I may remind them of him, but that is all."

"I do not believe you, but I will leave it be for now." Daniela stopped to admire a table of carved wooden tools and decorations. Charles watched her eyes light upon each piece, as if she appreciated the work that went into even the simplest carving. They went into a small bookshop next.

"Do you read often?" Charles asked.

"Yes," Daniela's eyes brightened. "Well, not really, outside of my studies, but I intend to, now that I've got such a fine collection. You will have to give me your recommendations."

Charles nodded. "I would be happy too, although lately I only read reports and long-winded letters from disgruntled viscounts."

"Well, when you hear from your most poetic viscounts, you must let me know."

They watched the blacksmith at work for a while, then bought some soft gingerbread to eat. Many people waved to them, or bowed as they walked by, but most people just went on with the bustle of their daily lives. For an afternoon, Charles felt like one of them. Just a man enjoying a day in town with his wife.

They did not bother sending for the carriage. The walk to the castle was easy, the spring weather was fine, and neither of them were in a hurry to get back.