Page 45 of Beacon

But such a sentiment was foolish when there is no future with the prince. Nothing could mean more to me than my beloved home—of being charged with the safety of the sailors, no matter how incapable I often felt, and of building a home Father would be able to return to should Owen’s efforts to find him prove successful. These were what I should be focusing on, not Owen.

As Princess Lavena and I neared the parlor, Prince Nolan cast another wary sideways glance towards his sister, frowning at the smirk toying at her lips.

“Though you’ve divulged few details, I’m only becoming more and more convinced of the true nature of your plot. I may often choose not to interfere when you’re the only one who will bear any potential consequences, but when it involves someone else…” His gaze darted towards me.

The princess lifted her chin. “You’re behaving as if I’m plotting something in secret, but I’ve hidden nothing from her. She knows my plan and has given her full cooperation.”

The prince looked to me for confirmation and I managed a nod, guided by the secret part of me that wanted the princess’s impossible idea to succeed, even if I couldn’t fully explain why. I forced myself to fill my mind with images of my lighthouse, but they didn’t seem nearly as motivating as those of Owen’s kind eyes and tender smile.

Prince Nolan sighed. “Though you’ve never confided in me, I suspect your true motive for trying to avoid this arrangement. While I empathize and want your happiness, I’m afraid Mother and Father will never give up trying to arrange a match for you.”

The princess’s expression remained stoic but fear filled her eyes, an emotion she hastily masked before her brother could see it; by his sudden show of empathy, he already had.

“You cannot blame me for trying,” she said. “Especially when you understand my position considering your own desires to avoid our parents’ manipulations with your own marriage.”

Prince Nolan stiffened. “I’ve expressed my wishes concerning the matter—I refuse to allow them to force me into a match when I’ve already selected my own bride.”

“A bride entirely inappropriate to become queen,” Princess Lavena said. “You know they’ll never allow you to marry Ramsey.”

I peered curiously up at the prince.Who is Ramsey?By the tender look filling his eyes, it was clear that whoever she was, she was very dear to him.

“Yet I will have no one but her,” Prince Nolan said fiercely. “Thus, I won’t give up fighting for her. Ever.”

“Neither will I give up my own fight,” Princess Lavena said.

Prince Nolan frowned. “But Lavena, it’s different. Kian is—” Despite trying to make his tone gentle, Princess Lavena still winced.

“Why should that fact make a difference?” she snapped. “Would you wish to marry another if something happened to Ramsey?”

Princes Nolan said nothing but his expression was answer enough. Princess Lavena nodded.

“So you understand. It appears I’ve found an ally.”

The prince didn’t confirm or deny her statement, his thoughts appearing faraway, likely in the direction of the girl he seemed determined to have despite the likely impossibility of his wishes. After a moment he glanced back towards me, studying me closely…before sighing in acquiescence.

“Very well, if Miss Marisa has no objections to your plot”—he waited for me to give another confirming nod before continuing—“then I won’t stand in the way. But I will be keeping a close eye on you and will interfere if I ever deem it necessary.”

We arrived at the parlor where not only the two royal families awaited us but also several members of the court whom the king must have invited, many of whom were women of marriageable age. Upon our entrance, their gazes shifted past me and the princess to hone in on Prince Nolan. He immediately stiffened, and though years of training allowed him to maintain a polite expression, he couldn’t mask the sudden panic in his eyes.

Princess Lavena smirked. “With the way they’re eying you, they’re clearly on the hunt. You make a fine prize, considering winning you will allow them to also claim the crown. You best be careful, dear Brother; if one manages to get you alone long enough, honor might force you to ignore your own wishes and marry for duty rather than love.”

“That will not happen,” Prince Nolan whispered back. “I will do all in my power to thwart their ambitions.” But despite his firm resolution, his dread and panic lingered.

The king noticed our entrance and approached with his usual wide grin. “It’s so good to see you again, Lavena. Your absence made me quite worried. I have no doubt that Owen was just as concerned.” His smile towards the princess was kind but grew almost boyish when it settled upon Prince Nolan. “Nolan, my boy, I have several noblewomen I’m hoping to introduce you to. I’ve arranged for you to sit near them so you can have the opportunity of becoming better acquainted during the meal.”

He motioned towards four elegant women standing nearby whose beady attention hadn’t once wavered from the prince. The king bounded away with a cheerful whistle, seeming pleased with his efforts on Prince Nolan’s behalf. The moment he was out of earshot, the prince released the agonized groan he’d been suppressing.

“Mother put him up to this, I just know it.”

He glanced towards the Lycerian Queen, but despite her matchmaking manipulations, her attention was not on him but was fixed on me. She took on a disappointed expression as she took in my elegant appearance that was followed by a pleading look that sent a pang of guilt through my stomach. My breath caught in my throat and I hastily looked away.

“His Majesty likely needed little encouragement,” Princess Lavena said. “I must say I’m relieved I’m not the only one meant to suffer this trip.” Even with her voice lowered, her tone was cold and unfeeling.

“I thought we were supposed to be allies,” Prince Nolan grumbled.

“And so we are. I thank you for providing a distraction from the king’s attempts to play matchmaker with me and Prince Owen.”

Prince Nolan said nothing to that. I turned my attention away to search for Owen—determinednotto think about Princess Lavena’s ridiculous suggestion and what it’d be like to kiss him—and once my gaze found him…

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