Page 49 of Coronation
“Intimately acquainted is one way to put it.”
The set of Palace Press Corps gargoyles exchange worried glances behind Thomas’s back, and I can’t say I blame them. The man looks ready to keel over. Anyone would think he would be used to this shit by now, after decades of service to the royal family. God knows this isn’t the first sex scandal he’s had to contend with, and yet our poor old press corps director is still shocked.
“It’s just a photograph.” I wave my hand toward the newspaper with an impatient huff. “Surely if we ignore it, people will find better things to talk about.”
“Actually, sir,” chimes in the woman to Thomas’s right. “We think, if there is some merit to the story, that it would be wise to capitalize on it.”
Cold spreads through my chest. “Capitalize on it?” I echo, hardly able to believe I’m understanding her correctly.
“Yes,” agrees Thomas with obvious reluctance, offering me a professional sort of grimace. “We looked into Miss Flowers when the story broke and got ahold of several of the studios she’s worked with. They agreed to part with their market research on her for a reasonable sum.” He holds out a hand, and the man beside him hurries to produce a packet of paperwork, passing it to me. “Now, this is in the context of hergeneral likability as a performer, but I do think it’s applicable for our purposes.”
There’s a collection of qualifiers and data, which mean absolutely nothing to me, but the numbers listed do seem to be high. “She’s well-liked?” I deduce, setting it aside.
“Quite. People find her relatable, friendly, and compassionate. She has high marks for her personal style, charity work, and focus on family. Apparently, she had a rather nasty breakup a few years back but came out of it looking like the victim.”
The nameless press woman at Thomas’s side leans forward intently, her eyes alight with excitement. “We couldn’t buy better publicity than this, sir. People are going mad just at the idea of you together. If we frame it correctly, this relationship would be a game changer for public opinion.”
Of all the things I expected them to propose, leaning into the spray wasn’t even on the list. Typically, when stories emerge to tarnish the reputations of royal family members, the press office’s first move is todeny, deny, deny. Or, in a pinch, pass the blame on to a convenient scapegoat. If Thomas had his way, me and my late family members would be seen as nothing short of saints, wholly blameless in any matter of immorality.
There is a lump lodged painfully in my throat. “Surely the difference in our ages would be an issue. I’m sixteen years older than her.”
The press corps woman only shrugs. “It’s a little edgy, perhaps, but not so terribly out of bounds that you’d face any real controversy. She’s an adult, you’re an adult… People love to talk, sir. We mustn’t make the whole thing too proper.”
Scrubbing both hands over my face, I suppress a groan with difficulty.What the fuck do they want from me?
“There are laws, aren’t there?” I ask as my hands fall back to the table, looking back and forth between the three. “Nomonarch or direct heir to the throne can marry a foreigner, or some such nonsense? Surely that would read poorly, as though I’m not taking her seriously.”
Or worse, using her.
My stomach rolls at the thought.
The woman actually brightens at the reminder. “Yes, there are laws. Which we might also spin to our advantage. You could use it as an example of many antiquated statutes still present in Stelland and get the people on your side. It’s an easy win. Not to mention”—her lips twitch—“it’sterriblyromantic, sir. A real Romeo and Juliet moment. People will love it, and it may take quite a while, but if your relationship progresses to that point, I’m confident we could use the momentum to have the laws changed.”
“I—” Faltering, I clear my throat, struggling to maintain some semblance of decorum when it feels like the walls are closing in on me.
Recreating my thought process on the day I left Zelda at Fernmoor House is a struggle now, removed from the intensity of the situation. Even so, I remember the feeling of bitter hopelessness and the crushing certainty that nothing could possibly come of a relationship with her. For weeks after, I was haunted by the question of what would have happened if I’d done things differently, if I’d held on.
Now, I have my answer, and it’s more gut-wrenching than I could have possibly imagined.
Instead of being met with outrage, I’m being told that this woman is exactly the kind of person my people would like to see at my side, and that any obstacles that stood in our way could have been overcome. I had a chance with her. We could have been something, but I smothered that possibility before it could do more than flicker to life, and I hurt her for nothing.
Is my view of life so dark that it’s capable of overshadowing even Zelda?
Christ, I’m a fucking asshole.
“Are you alright, sir?”
I must have been quiet for a long time, because when I look up, I find all three members of the press corps staring at me with obvious concern.
“Fine,” I brush off the question impatiently, hating that I’m being forced to admit this to Preston Thomas of all people. “Miss Flowers and I parted ways. So, I’m not sure how that will factor into your plans.”
Silence falls. “Perhaps she would be open to an arrangement?” proposes the man on Thomas’ other side hesitantly.
All eyes are on the man nervously tapping his pen on the surface of the table. “What kind of arrangement?” I demand.
His throat bobs, and he looks to his boss, then back to me. “This wouldn’t be a one-way street. The perception of being in a relationship with you would be tremendously beneficial to Miss Flowers as well. It would bring international attention to her, and, when it’s all said and done, likely catapult her to the very top of the A-list. In her line of work, that would mean better roles, more money, advertising opportunities…” He trails off, arching his eyebrows.
“I agree with Marcus, sir,” Thomas tells me with a pained grimace, no doubt traumatized at being forced into such a position. “If your romantic relationship with Miss Flowers is no longer in effect, perhaps she could be persuaded to agree to a short-term, mutually beneficial arrangement.”
