Page 81 of Lorenzo & Lily

They made their way at a steadier pace down the hall. It was only a few far-too-quick minutes later that they entered the sitting room to find the entire family assembled and chatting over drinks.

There they are.The king and queen.

Something squeezed her hand and she looked down, startled to see Lorenzo holding it. In the span of a few seconds, she’d completely lost track of her surroundings.

“I’m here, Lily.”

He was here. He’d protect her. He’d help her.

“What’s wrong, Mama?”

Her Liliana. Her light. She always chased the dark away. Lily smiled softly. “Nothing, honey. Are you ready?”

Liliana nodded and Lorenzo put her down. He held onto Liliana with one hand and kept hold of Lily in the other. Lily squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.

The quiet conversations trailed off as everyone realized they’d entered the room. Lily couldn’t take her eyes off Lorenzo’s parents.

Especially his mother.

She’d seen Queen Genevieve a few months ago, for the first time in five years. That meeting had been completely and utterly terrifying. She’d been worried the queen would simply take Liliana away from her, and, if she had, there would have been nothing Lily could have done about it.

Lily had been completely and utterly alone. Unprotected. Afraid. Weak. Her heart beat faster as she remembered.

Be strong. You can do this.

Lorenzo squeezed her hand again and her eyes met his. Her heart calmed. He calmed her.

This time was different.

She wasn’t alone. She had Lorenzo. She had Liliana. Belatedly, she remembered that the press releases had also gone out. It would be harder for the queen to push Lily away from Lorenzo a second time, or take Liliana away from her, especially if the public knew about her. For once, being in the public eye could help her.

She didn’t have to be afraid anymore.

Just like that, a heavy weight lifted from her shoulders. There were still worries and things to work out, but she wasn’t alone. And, if things progressed with Lorenzo, if they could both move forward and open their hearts some more, she’d never be alone again.

Lily smiled a little bit bigger. “Come on, honey. Let’s go meet your family.”

Lorenzo ushered them forward. “To everyone who hasn’t met them yet, I’d like to introduce Cecilia Brionne and Liliana Santoro.”

Liliana rushed forward. “Are you the king and queen?”

Gabriel’s mustache twitched, and he leaned towards Liliana. “Yes, we are. I’m your Grandpapa, and this is your Grandmama.”

Liliana curtsied and everyone began smiling. “Pleased to meet you.”

The king laughed, then picked up Liliana and settled her on his lap. “That was a beautiful curtsy.”

“You didn’t bow. Papa bowed when I cur, cur–”

“Curtsied?”

She nodded. “That’s what I said.”

“My apologies, Liliana. I’ll remember for next time.”

“That’s a good idea.”

The queen held out her hand to Liliana, her eyes filled with tears. Lily didn’t think she’d ever seen the queen cry. From the looks around the room, she guessed none of the others had either.

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