Page 136 of A Dagger in the Ivy

It’s been hard to be able see each other since the attack, especially with the guards on high alert and watching every move everyone makes. Dante and I certainly haven’t been alone together since then, not that we haven’t exchanged looks and whispers expressing our wish to, whenever we’ve found the chance. I’ve basically been under lock and key, especially because I’m the one who pushed Torbin from the balcony. And we both thought it was too risky to use the secret passageways. At least for a little while.

“Celeste,” the king says, calling my attention away from Dante. “Have a seat.”

I sit on a settee across from the queen and fold my hands in my lap. When I shift, I feel the pull of my dagger’s strap on my thigh, reminding me that I still have some power here.

The king’s expression is grave as he surveys the room, his gaze lingering on each of us before he finally speaks. It’s Farvis’s nod that gets him to break his silence.

“Celeste, Dante.” The king’s voice is steady, but there’s an undeniable heaviness to his words, as if he’s carrying the weight of the entire kingdom on his shoulders. Which he is. “After careful consideration, and with great reluctance, I have decided that it is in the best interest of the realm to announce that Prince Torbin… is dead.”

The room seems to shrink around me, the air thick with disbelief. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, but I force myself to stay silent, letting the king continue.

“The people need closure,” he says, his voice firm but tinged with sorrow. “They need to know that their prince is no longer in the fight. To maintain order, and to prevent any further unrest, we must acknowledge his loss.”

“But we have no proof that he’s dead,” Dante puts in.

I look at him, noticing the way his shoulders slump and his jaw tightens. His gaze drops for a moment, lips pressed into a thin line, as if he's trying to hold back the weight of it all. He’s torn, I can tell. Despite the terror Torbin put us through, Dante still loves his brother and probably believes he can be saved. But he also knows Torbin is a threat.

“We all saw him fall, Dante.” The king sighs. “He is dead.”

He glances at the queen, who nods weakly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. The king’s advisor, standing at his side, remains silent, his face a mask of stoic support.

“We cannot risk the uncertainty of his fate causing panic or dissent. The kingdom must move forward, and the throne must be seen as strong and unyielding.” The king’s words seem directed more toward Dante now. “The burden now falls to us to uphold the stability of the realm.”

I want to scream that it’s not true, that Torbin is still out there, somewhere, but the king’s authority is absolute. My heart aches with the realization of what this declaration will mean—for the kingdom, for the people, and for me. But I know better than to argue now, not here, not when the weight of the throne is pressing down on us all.

“What does that mean… for me?” I try to remain strong, but my nerves are threatening to unravel. “And the future of our realms?”

The king casts a quick glance at Farvis, who gives him another reassuring nod.

“I have decided that you are still an integral part of the overall strategy to keep both our kingdoms sustainable. A union is still the best viable option to uphold the bond.”

I furrow my brow, not certain what he means.

“I have decided that you will marry Dante,” he declares.

My eyes widen, and Dante’s jaw drops slightly.

“Marry…?” I can’t think clearly.

The king is demanding that I marry Dante. A part of me is thrilled because if I have to marry one of his sons, I’d much rather it be the one for whom I actually have feelings. But I know the king is not thinking about my feelings. It’s his way of keeping a hold on Delasurvia. He still wants the power and the control. However, I’m not sure the bond willcount, since Dante is a bastard, holding no claim to the throne.

I turn my head to face the king. “But he’s not—”

“Yes, yes.” The king waves a dismissive hand. “I will legitimize him. In front of the kingdom, so that all will know he is no longer a bastard.”

Dante blinks, slowly getting to his feet. “Father…”

“You are all I have left.” The king’s features soften as he gazes at Dante.

I’m taken aback, not only by his declaration, but by the way he looks at his son. I’ve never seen this side of him.

But that doesn’t mean I altogether trust him.

“This plan, however, cannot be put into motion too quickly.” The king paces the room, his gaze far away. “The first step is to announce Torbin’s demise. And it is proper, after the death of a royal, to observe a period of mourning. Six months should be long enough to allow the kingdom’s people to recover. It is important that during this mourning period, you two are not seen together, especially not alone.”

Dante and I exchange a look.

With reluctance, I tear my gaze from him and nod to the king.

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