Page 82 of Hawthorne

“I’m sorry.”

Still angry, I don’t let it go. “We have schedules that work. Please, for the sake of our sanity, let’s stick to them,” I scold. “Sunday was a risk in itself, and I don’t want to have both our lives ruined because of just sex.”

The duke winces at my words, and a shadow covers his eyes for a split second before they go back to normal. Then, he lets go ofme and straightens his posture, putting his unruled locks back into place and buttoning the two top buttons of his shirt.

His sudden cool demeanour makes my stomach sink. He’s been so nice and considerate towards me lately that setting this boundary feels wrong, but if I don’t, things will get even more complicated than they already are. Shaking it off, I pick my shirt up and get myself presentable to leave this room without people thinking I was thoroughly fucked by the duke’s mouth just five minutes ago.

“What did you have to ask me?” His voice comes out even and emotionless.

Choosing to ignore the elephant in the room and how he is bothered by the boundaries I’ve just set, I answer his question. “Oh, I think I’ll need a few days off next week to attend a college reunion. Would that be possible?”

“I think so,” he agrees after clearing his throat. “Let me know which days so I can work around it and see who will be staying in charge while you’re gone.”

“Perfect, thank you.”

“Yeah,” he sighs, giving me a side glance before heading towards the door and exiting, leaving me alone and confused.

24

Vincent Hawthorne

Iam a wanker.

After trying to find a way not to give Camilla those two days off—and failing profoundly—I found a different solution. One that makes me look like a simp. But I am past the point of caring…

Her college reunion is, coincidentally, being held in the same city and on the same day as the Cleanse Carnival Night, whichis tonight.

It is a unique party where locals dress up in the most outlandish and unreal articles of clothing and parade in overly decorated wooden cars to burn them later.

It started being celebrated by locals in all the islands around five hundred years ago. Once the king’s mistress was caught plotting against the royal couple, the king went out of his way to ask mercy for her.

The subjects of the kingdom were outraged that he was so indifferent, letting his wife be punished for something she never did but so willingly risked it all for a concubine.

So, they went to the streets with lit torches, destroying everything in their wake. The mistress, Nakara, was caught and burned alive that night.

What does this have to do with my family?

The queen was saved by my ancestor’s loyalty. Due to the closeness in the bloodline between the royal family and the Hawthornes, my ancestor, James of Hawthorne, was lured by Nakara into a deal.

James pretended to agree and, instead gathered all the proof he had and showed it to the royal authorities and council first and then to the royal couple.

With this, James secured an image of extreme devotion to the royal family, becoming the most respected nobleman in Monera.

However, five centuries have passed and people still celebrate it. The royal family slowed down on the celebrations, making them smaller and shorter as the years went by.

I was expecting not to have one this year. I guess my cousin has other plans, after all…

King Charles thought it was thoroughly important to organise an official celebration in the palace, in homage to theHawthornes, the family who saved the queen and her unborn child back in the day.

Bloody rubbish.

The king is stupid if he doesn’t think I know what he's doing. Displays of power are still too important in this society. And this is one of them.

Never in the history of the crown has the Hawthorne family been so close to ruling. I’ve been second in succession ever since my father and Joseph passed away, and this party is supposed to show me how strong the king and his lineage are.

He is doing this only to officially show the world he is expecting, showing me publicly how I am lowered down to third place in the line of succession.

To tell the truth, I couldn’t give two shits about all of this. I would even have sent Edgar there instead if it weren’t for the fact that Camilla is going to be in Livia for two days as well.

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