Page 9 of Façade

I nodded. “My parents believe an alliance with them would be more beneficial, considering allying ourselves with such a dangerous nation is preferable to having them as our enemy. Not to mention they have many enviable resources that could only benefit our small nation.” In truth, my parents were too honorable to tie ourselves to such a kingdom no matter the amount of covetable resources; I felt a twinge of guilt for tainting their image, even in an instance as dire as this.

All for the greater good, I reminded myself.

The words had a powerful effect on the prince. Gone was his rigid mask, replaced with raw panic, desperation he could no longer conceal that I could use to my advantage. “But Estoria has magic. The thought of that power being in such a kingdom’s clutches…it could spell disaster for the rest.”

I nearly snorted in disgust. Of course he’d take the noble path and claim he only had the best interests of the surrounding kingdoms in mind when in truth that he wanted Estoria’s power for himself.

But I’d chosen my story well, providing a plausible enough excuse for why I’d show up without the Estorian king and queen, as well as one that would get Prince Ryland to agree to terms he might not otherwise accept. Desperation could compel one to take drastic measures—if he believed me desperate, and it triggered his own desperation in return…

Such desperation increased my determination even as it deepened my resentment towards the prince, yet despite the fear threatening to curl around my resolve, this glimpse of his true motives only reaffirmed the necessity of my sacrifice.

For a tense moment, his horror rendered him speechless. Finally, he took a steadying breath and met my gaze. “How serious is Estoria’s potential union with Thorndale?”

“Quite so,” I said. “Negotiations have already begun, though fortunately, Thorndale hasn’t been formally approached…hence the reason for my haste in arriving before that step could be taken, even if it meant not taking the time for an official announcement notifying you of my arrival.”

He nodded, accepting this explanation, his thoughts already preoccupied by another problem. “We couldn’t actually go through with our union without the presence of our families. My father is gone on official business, while your parents—”

I’d already prepared an answer for this inevitable question. “I’m not only of age to make my own decisions, but with the promise established by the contract between our two kingdoms, our families have already given their approval. But should we hesitate for the sake of protocol, Estoria’s union with Thorndale will become all the more inevitable. I have no desires for the arrangement, so I’m exercising my right as Estoria’s future queen in choosing my kingdom’s alliance.”

This seemed to ease his mind, though not entirely. “That only leaves the problem of the king and queen of Estoria’s displeasure when they learn of the union that will disrupt their current plans to align with Thorndale. My father will undoubtedly be pleased, but I still fear the repercussions should we act against your own family’s wishes; I’d hate to give Estoria any reason to become my kingdom’s enemy.”

I scrambled for a reasonable counterargument. “Luckily, our marriage would align our kingdoms and negate any enmity. Besides, I believe my parents are acting on impulse, and that eventually their care for me as well as the benefits of aligning ourselves with your kingdom that initially led them to create our engagement contract will eventually outweigh any disappointment.”

It was admittedly a flimsy excuse; only his desperation to believe it would compel him to accept it. And if he didn’t…I had no further argument with which to persuade him. I sighed.

“But I’d hate to put you in an awkward position, so if you remain concerned, then perhaps our arrangement won’t work after all. Forgive me for taking so much of your time.”

I made to rise as if to leave, but before I could, he hastily lurched forward. “Wait!”

And in that single word, I knew I’d won this battle. Fighting my triumphant grin, I lifted my eyebrow. “Have you changed your mind?”

His lingering hesitation was brief before resolve straightened his shoulders. “Our union is of great benefit to my kingdom.”

Or to be more precise, my supposedmagicwas. But rather than make that snide observation, I forced another smile. “As is yours to ours. Even if I desired to marry a prince from Thorndale—which I assure you I don’t—I have little reason to trust an alliance with their kingdom, not when they’d only use our union to exploit me and my powers for their own ends.”

For a moment I thought I detected a flash of guilt in Prince Ryland’s eyes, but the emotion was fleeting, making me wonder if I’d imagined it. “I’d hate to see you married to anyone who’d use you in such a dishonorable way. It’s my honor to protect the kingdom with which ours has always held such close ties.”

Revulsion twisted my stomach at his duplicitous words and stoked the anger searing through me like poison. What a hypocrite. His lies almost compelled me to change my mind. The thought of being married to such a man…I couldn’t bear it.

Think of your kingdom, I reminded myself.Your marriage will spare your subjects from his deceit.

I took a steadying breath in hopes of calming my tumultuous emotions enough to speak. “Even if the circumstances aren’t conventional, will you honor the arrangement between our two kingdoms that’s been in the works for three years?”

He set his jaw. “Of course, Princess Evelyn.”

Despite his answer being the one I’d been hoping for, apprehension eclipsed my relief, even as I wondered at the relative ease with which I’d gotten him to agree.

Once more my skin tingled, a sign thatsomethingwas at work behind the scenes, almost like…magic, as if a portion of it had followed me from Estoria to lend me its support in protecting it. Only this unexpected ally had allowed me to succeed in convincing him and given me the necessary strength to press forward to enter such an undesirable union with a man I had every reason to hate.

CHAPTER4

I’d never envisioned a secret wedding ceremony would be part of my future, but one of its perks was that it allowed me to escape the piercing gazes of the court I loathed. I’d always been uncomfortable with the thought of one of the most momentous days of my life being marred by the pomp and circumstance of a formal wedding, as well as the heated judgement from the strangers that protocol dictated be invited.

Unfortunately, despite those advantages, the groom I’d come to expect these past several years remained the same. The thought that I wouldn’t be forced to marry Prince Ryland had been the sole aspect of my old identity I’d relished being stripped away and thus the only silver lining of my emotional week. I fought to remember that I was marrying him by my own choice, yet this did little to ease my dread at the loveless future now awaiting me.

Worst of all, my parents’ absence pierced my heart, expanding the void that losing them had created. I’d always imagined their presence at my wedding. Not only were they absent, but they would remain so every day for the remainder of my life. The now familiar pain of their loss wrenched my heart, escalating my anxiety over what was about to transpire.

I didn’t dread just my upcoming marriage, but the daunting task of forever being required to pretend to be the princess I no longer was. I already mourned my lost identity, so to be forced to embrace it would be like continuously ripping open the wound the truth had caused it, one which felt impossible to ever fully heal.

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