Chapter 318
Now that she had met several of them, Elain noticed the groups of Courtiers when she and Lucien entered the room for breakfast. Many of them were already seated at the table, while more were gathered in small groups by the windows as they engaged in quiet discussions. Males and females stood or sat together, and Elain definitely noticed the eyes following her as she headed for her usual seat at the table.
Trying to look at it from their point of view, Elain supposed that it must be strange for them. They had to have been wondering for centuries who would succeed Helion to the throne as he'd apparently not had an heir. It must have been the subject of many hushed discussions, and perhaps even the point of more than a few plots by hopeful claimants. The discovery of Lucien was a big deal, she had known this, but she hadn't really considered how it might have impacted the lives of more than a few of the Courtiers who now saw their own plans tossed aside. Not only was the heir now named and apparent, but he was not of the Day Court. He hadn't grown up here as a youngling, he didn't know the ins and outs of the Court, other than what he had picked up as Emissary and his other dealings with the Courts of Prythian. He would learn, he was clever. Elain knew that this wouldn't be a problem, but they didn't know him. Not yet.
They didn't know her, either. She knew that this was something that needed to be addressed. She must seem strange to them. She was nobody important, really. And yet, she was to one day be the Lady of the Day Court. Elain tried not to think about that as much as possible. Many of these Courtiers were to be her responsibility. They would be dealing with her directly, be involved in most of the aspects of her life, and they had no idea who she was other than someone who had been born mortal and who had been turned High Fae by the Cauldron. They also knew that she was Lucien's mate and would one day be in charge of them all. That must have been confronting for them, Elain knew. She understood why Tisia and the others had approached her in the gardens. Hopefully, she thought, Elain would be able to get to know them and ease their worry that she might be some horrible bitch who would make their lives miserable.
As she had the thought, Elain spotted Tisia sitting with one of the others she had met. Amala, Elain thought her name had been. Tisia's green eyes met Elain's as she approached the table and Elain smiled at her, lifting her hand in a small wave. Tisia smiled in return before Amala said something to her, recapturing her attention.
"Hoping to make friends?" Lucien asked her softly, pulling Elain's chair out for her and exaggerating a Courtly bow as he ushered her into the seat. Resisting a soft chuckle, Elain nodded as she sat and he pushed the chair in for her before dropping gracefully into his own chair. "I'm sure you'll find it easy enough." He gave her an encouraging smile. "You charm everyone who meets you."
"I'm sure that's not true."
"It is." He replied, handing her a small pastry which she set on her plate delicately. "I remember noticing it in the Night Court when we had breakfast by the river. Everyone who passed you or spoke to you lit up when they received your attention. That's just the effect you have."
Elain thought she might be blushing and she looked at her plate intently, hoping that nobody would notice the colour in her cheeks. "Not everyone…"
"Yes." He nodded, and she realised that he wasn't just trying to play with her or make her blush. He was serious. "You made Tamlin like you almost immediately. Even Eris…"
"I didn't do anything…" Elain said, glancing at him.
"You don't need to." He told her, one hand sliding onto her knee beneath the table. "They like you for who you are, and that is why you don't need to do anything for the Courtiers to like you. They will come to do that on their own because you are lovely."
Feeling herself relax at her mate's words, Elain slid her hand into his and smiled at him when his eyes, both russet and gold, met hers. "Almost as lovely as you." She said softly and Lucien shook his head.
"Oh, Petal." He grinned, "I have had such a very long time to experience the opposite of that. The affection that is felt for you by just about everybody is not what they give me." He squeezed her hand, "I rather annoy most people."
"Not the ones who matter." She told him, wanting to reassure him when she felt the sting beneath his words down the bond. He may make light of the way he had been treated by so many over the years, but Elain could feel the pain behind that, and she wanted to make it go away. "Everyone who matters loves you." She told him. "I do, your mother does, I'd wager Helion does…"
Lucien grinned at that, and Elain knew that what she had said had had the effect that she desired. "Yes," he agreed, "I'd say it's likely that he does…"