Page 11 of Princess Bride Swap

“Not always,” she said, a kind of carefulness about her. She did not meet his gaze. She focused on the books. “But when I could. When Zia and I could. But that makes it sound all bad, and it is not that. He simply cared more about his country than he ever did his children.”

Lyon frowned. She did not say it in a censuring way, but he felt slightly...judged all the same. After all, he knew she did not hold her father in high regard, and neither did he.

But Lyon’s priority was his kingdom, and he had made that clear. He had to offer his country stability for once, and with that priority came children who would fill their role as heirs. He had never really thought of them as more than that.

But they would be people. Like him. Like Beau.

He didn’t like how...complicated that made the future feel. Because the future was simple. They would be the crown prince and princess of Divio and raise children to take their place, and bring Lille into the fold on the death of the current king.

But thought ofheirsbrought him back to the one clear answer he had not gotten from her. The one that left his mother still having trepidation about their arrangement.

Whatever the reason she had not been the heir did not matter. The deal was done. They were married. He would notletit matter.

But it was best if he knew before he introduced her to the kingdom of Divio as their princess.

“You’re the older twin. You should have been the heir. Is that not correct?”

She shook her head, as though not at all surprised by the change in topic. “That is not how Lille has worked for some time. It was always going to be my father’s decision which of his children he wanted as heir. Zia was...better suited. From a young age.”

“Why?” He had not asked her this outright, though they had both danced around the subject in their correspondence as they’d worked out the details of their agreement. In the end, Lyon had accepted what she offered was more important than whatever she might be hiding.

He could only hope his instincts had not led him astray.

“When I was very little, before I even fully remember, I found crowds very...scary. I would do all right if I could hide behind Zia, or if I was simply speaking with someone one-on-one, but crowds terrified me. Understandable, I think, but not the best reaction for a princess. Zia, on the other hand, always knew what to say, how to smile and act, even as a toddler. I struggled with this until I was much older. But by that time, I was already defined by my behavior as a child.” She didn’t look at him as she delivered any of this information. She focused on the books. Then she pulled one off the shelf.

“May I take this one to our room?” she asked, clearly wanting to change the subject.

He shouldn’t let her change the topic, as it felt like there were details she was leaving out, but it was still her first day as his wife. He could be kind and patient. “They are your books as much as mine, Beau. You may do what you like.”

Her smile was pretty, a little shy. But it dimmed a little when he reached for the book she held. With clear reluctance, she relinquished it to him.

He studied the cover, then flipped it over to the back. “A romance?”

“My favorite. Don’t worry. It’s not an indictment on my hopes for the future or a romantic nature of myself.”

He found himself puzzled, both that she felt the need to preface her statement withdon’t worryand... “Why do you enjoy them then if there’s no romantic nature involved?”

She looked at the book in her hand. “As much as I enjoy a good love story, the thing that has always struck me about these types of books is that the main character always finds people who understand them and make them feel...seen. Not just a romantic partner. But friends or family. It’s...nice. I like to read about things that make me feel good.”

Seen. An interesting way of looking at it, he supposed. He, on the other hand, did not wish to be seen at all. But if she did... Well, he would make a point of it.

“Why don’t you pick out a book for me to read. Something that would allow us to have a conversation. A book that would help me get to know you.”

She looked at him for a moment as if he’d suggested she take off all her clothes and run through the castle naked. Then she looked around. “I think it will take me a while to decide what book that should be and determine if you have it.”

Lyon nodded. “Well, if we do not, we’ll have it ordered.” He glanced at his watch. “We should make our way to breakfast.” He moved to lead her out of the library, but she put her hand on his arm to stop him.

“But wait. What book would I read to understand you?”

He liked it better that she saidunderstand, rather thanseen. Understand he could do. He took a turn about the library. The options were endless. He’d always been a reader, and so many different books had helped shape him into who he was. But he supposed at the center of even his interest in reading was the man he wanted to be. He slid an old tome off a shelf and handed it to her.

She took it, studied the cover, then wrinkled her nose. “A family biography.”

“Perhaps a bit dry, I grant you, but that is who I am. Who I hope to be. An extension of the legacy built in these pages. A legacy you are now a part of.”

She took a long, careful inhale. “I suppose I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“You will be the mother of the future crown prince or princess.”

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