Page 28 of Dueling the Suitors

“My mother died when I was only a boy, so it’s just me, my father, and my brother. But with my travels, I have barely been home. Recently, I received word from my brother that Father is sick. I was passing through the capital on my way home, performing for the crowd because it’s good to have an extra keep when Your Majesty’s guards brought me here. So if it’s alrightwith Your Majesty, I would love to visit my father before… before whatever you are planning.”

Astoria felt like she wanted to snort, all while she felt a twinge of sympathy at the mention of his sick father.

“I am so sorry to hear about your father, Silas,” her father began solemnly. “I would be happy to let you be on your way and visit him, but not before marrying my Astoria. We shall have the ceremony in two days so you can bring her—”

“Two days?” Astoria cried in disbelief, snapping her gaze to him. From the echoed question, she realized she wasn’t the only one who had spoken up.

“Father, I must insist. Astoria needs time.” Emmett tried to sound calm, but his words were a near growl.

The king had no concern on his face as he looked at Astoria. “She has had an entire year, have you not, my darling daughter?”

Astoria gaped at him. “I have only known this man for a day, for goodness’ sake! And you wish me to marry him intwodays?”

“If I am allowed to speak,” Silas began cautiously. “Perhaps we can wait until I return from visiting my father. So the princess will have time to prepare.” He spared her a glance, but there was only mirth in his eyes.

“No, you must be married before you are off.” The king shook his head in clear dismissal. “We cannot delay this any longer. The Emperor could fall upon us like lightning one day—anyday—and we must be prepared.”

“The Emperor’s lightning-like invasion is old news, Father. Astoria needs time to at least get to know her betrothed,” Silas—her brother—argued.

“She will have a lifetime to get to know him.” When Emmett and Silas opened their mouths to protest, their father snapped, “Do you think I married your mother because I knew her? No, I did it out of duty.”

“Well, for your information,Iam not you. And I refuse to end up like my mother,” Astoria blurted out, and the moment she did, she wished she hadn’t. But it was too late.

She groaned at her second humiliation of the day.

She didn’t want her betrothed to know what she thought of marriage or that she feared what happened to her mother would befall her, too. But she didn’t fear it, did she? No, shedidn’t.

Astoria stole a glance at her betrothed. Her breath hitched at the intensity taking over his eyes.

In a split moment, he was an entirely different person. There was no mirth in his gaze, no smirk at the corner of his lips. He looked too serious for her liking.

She tore her gaze away from him and released the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

As her brothers continued to argue with their father, Astoria went back to eating her food, pretending the last few seconds didn’t happen.

7

The Betrothal Contract

Astoria excused herself to the gardens after dinner. Emmett offered to walk with her, but she told him she wanted to be alone. He gave her a gentle, understanding smile and kissed her forehead before he and Silas retreated to the library.

Dinner was torture. How come enduring one suitor—he—was more insufferable than the bunch of suitors who had dined with her and her family before?

She knew why. And she hated it. Oh, if only she could die of humiliation! It was eating her up. If she saw him again, that would be it. She would drop dead.

A rustle among the bushes behind her made her twirl around, hands at the ready. “Who is there?”

A tall silhouette entered her line of sight. “Just a man looking for his betrothed.”

Astoria stiffened. “What are you doing here?”

“I think I just answered that.” He kept walking towards her, and as he neared, moonlight illuminated his face enough to reveal his infuriating smirk.

Powers brimmed at her fingertips. “Come any closer, and I will strike,” she warned him.

Silas stopped and raised his palms in mock surrender, his smirk widening. “You insult me, Princess. Do you really take me for a fool, to try something as reckless as laying a hand on you?”

Astoria rolled her eyes. “I insult every man who tries to woo me.”

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