Page 131 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

The word rolled off Julius’s tongue, but with a distinct lack of conviction. Once he had believed the sentiment of finding the best wife to suit Rodina’s advancement with his entire being. It had been easier to see a future marriage and even a family as for the better of the country rather than an investment he would make on his own.

But now, the thought of kissing another woman, sliding the ring onto her finger, sharing children with her, made him feel empty, like someone had hollowed out his chest and left nothing behind except sorrow.

“What of Esmerelda?”

Julius’s head snapped up.

“I don’t want to talk about her.”

Francisco ignored his son’s icy tone.

“Do you realize that you coming to ask my permission to propose to Esmerelda is the first thing you’ve asked of me since your mother passed? It’s always been the job, what’s best for the country, best for the people. Another reason why you’ll be a good king. But,” Francisco added as Julius started to interrupt, “how good can a king be if he works himself to the bone and becomes too tired, too worn down, to be a good leader?”

Julius grimaced.

“You sound like her.”

“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking this past year. A lot,” Francisco repeated as he once again looked out over the sea. “I’ve also watched you. I noticed long ago how you were around Miss Clark. It was as if your edges had been smoothed out.”

Slowly, Julius reached into his pocket. His fingers wrapped around the jeweler’s box. How many times had he pulled it out over the past few days, holding it up to the light, running his fingers over the diamond, the aquamarine gems, the tiny pearls. Miss Smythe had answered his numerous questions during their initial consultation, helped him pick the gems and stones: aquamarine for the happiness she’d brought to his life. Pearl for the wisdom she had shared with him as they’d talked of Rodina.

And the diamond, speckled. Flawed, like Esmerelda saw herself. Yet to him, beautiful beyond measure.

The longer you look, the more you see.

“She is an incredible woman.” Francisco tilted his head to one side. “Did you tell her you loved her?”

The edges of the ring box cut into his palms as he gripped it tighter. Did he love her? He cared about her, yes. But as he turned his father’s question over in his mind, certainty flooded his veins. His feelings for Esmerelda went far deeper than affection. He desired her, craved her presence, missed her saucy smile and joyful laugh. Yet he trusted her, too, not just with his life but his heart. That she cared just as deeply about Rodina as he did was another bond that he had at first categorized as making her an ideal queen, not recognizing that it bound them together, too.

“I told her I cared about her.”

Francisco threw back his head and laughed. Julius frowned at him.

“Helpful, Pai. Very helpful.”

Francisco’s laughter quieted as a nostalgic smile tugged at his lips.

“I wish I had had more time with your mother. So many things I wish we had done. We weren’t in love when we got engaged,” he said. “I did it for duty. But when we did fall in love...” His voice trailed off as his gaze turned distant.

Julius smiled slightly. “She told me.”

“One thing I never regretted, though, once I realized how I felt, was telling her every day how I felt about her.”

Francisco left, leaving Julius alone once more in the garden.

He pulled the box out of his pocket and opened it. The ring glinted in the sunlight. The longer he stared at it, the more a fool he felt. Yes, Esmerelda had the potential to be a queen Rodina deserved. But she was also the only woman he wanted. The only woman he had ever loved. She deserved to hear that, to hear that he wanted her by his side because of who she was, not because of what she had to offer. That he wouldn’t just shove her into a box of his own making but give her the power to lead her own life.

She deserved the choice to accept him, or reject him, but with a full picture of what he was offering. He didn’t like the latter possibility, despised the nervousness at giving up his power and surrendering to his emotions.

But, he thought with renewed determination as he tucked the ring back into his pocket, if anyone was worth the risk of opening up his heart to, it was Esmerelda.

His phone dinged. He pulled it out of his pocket, read the email that had just landed in his inbox.

And smiled.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“MISSCLARK?”

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