Page 43 of I Ran Away to Evil
“I … I can see why they might think that.” Keith pushed up his glasses. “It doesn’t help that I’ve given you Mother’s rooms.”
“Whydidyou—”
“Because you are a royal princess, and these are the only rooms that were up to standard. I couldn’t very well give you Feliwyn’s rooms! They’re probably cursed.” Keith pushed up his glasses. “And then, when you stayed, I thought they just fit.”
Neither knew what to say.
Finally, Keith took a deep breath. “Listen, Ria.”
She waited.
“What if I told you … Wait, this isn’t the place to do this. This isn’t how I thought—” He fumbled his words then took a deep breath. He just needed to follow his heart and communicate, just like Rufus had said. “I want you to know that I’m … interested.”
“Interested?”
“Yes.” Keith waved awkwardly between the two of them. “In us. In you. Maybe with some time. Maybe it won’t … I like you, and I like that you are using these rooms, and I like the idea of you being queen of the Dark Enchanted Forest one day, and I’m justinterested.”
With that, he stopped putting his metaphorical foot in his mouth and put his face in his hands, not looking at her reaction. Worried about what he might see.
“That’s good.” Ria coughed. “Because I’m also interested.”
“Wait, really?” Keith stood up, full of warring emotions and hope. “Not just in walks around the garden, but maybe more?”
“I mean, Ilikewalks around the garden,” Ria said. “I’m just also interested in other things.”
“Like what?”
CHAPTER 27
Did I Want to Hold Hands with a Ruffled Dark Magician King?
Henrietta
I had spent the rest of my time in Thistlecrick with the knowledge thateveryonethought I was going to marry Keith.
Marik had only instigated his challenge because he was a personal student to Derilla Vane, the General of the North, and he’d wanted to prove the rumors one way or another.
I knew that I’d have to talk to Keith about it when I got back … but I didn’t have the courage to bring it up. It wasembarrassing!
And then, the man just had to stand outside my door for half an hour. Probably because I’d missed lunch and he was worried about me.
I never expected that I’d be awkwardly sitting here after a heartfelt confession being asked whatIwanted, again. Nobody ever cared about what I wanted.
“Maybe …” I blushed. “We could hold hands?”
That sounded like a good next step.
“Do you want to hold hands now? While walking around the gardens?”
Did I want to hold hands with a ruffled Dark Magician King and go for a walk in his man-eating flower garden?
“Yes, but what’re we going to do about the rumors that we’re getting married?” I also stood up, walking around the small table to stand beside Keith. “Also, I need to change into real shoes.”
Keith bit his lip. “I could order a stop to the rumors on pain of Rufus or put out a detailed event of what happened.”
“Would that even help?” I chuckled. “I’m living in the queen’s rooms, filing kingdom paperwork, having private dinners with the king, and that king has in fact expressedinterestin me.”
Keith walked me to the door, and I slipped on the boots I’d left haphazardly by the entry alcove the previous night.
