Page 83 of The Promised Prince
It all made sense in his mind. Perhaps therewasa way they could be together.
He just needed to convince his father.
Trev passed a hand over his face, groaning. It wouldn’t be easy. But he had to try.
He had never requested a private audience with the king and could see the shock on Gaines’s face the next morning when he asked for one. Sweat gathered all over his body as he waited in his father’s office. Was it hot, or was it just his nerves? He brought his hand to his mouth, fidgeting with his lower lip. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. The pressure of what he was about to ask weighed him down like a boulder in his heart. It was the conversation of his life.
His father entered the room, barely acknowledging him with a brusque glance. “Make this quick. I only have a few minutes.”
Trev stood as Gaines shut the door, leaving him alone with his father. He didn’t want anyone to overhear what he needed to say. The king sat at his desk and looked down at a stack of papers, giving him no attention.
Trev cleared his throat. “I don’t want to marry Princess Seran.”
His father calmly raised his eyes, keeping his chin down toward the desk. “You don’t have a choice.”
“I want to marry Renna,” he said boldly.
His father’s eye twitched, and Trev could tell he was starting to get annoyed. “Who?”
“Renna Degray, Queen Mariele’s daughter.” He shouldn’t have to remind his father who Renna was.
The king laughed once, though clearly was not amused. “You’re joking.”
“No, I’m not joking. I want you to talk with Queen Mariele and tell her we still want to honor the marriage alliance, but withherdaughter. Not Princess Seran.”
Carver leaned back in his chair, his hands resting behind his head. If Trev didn’t know the seriousness of the conversation, he would have guessed by his father’s relaxed posture that they were talking about the weather.
“This alliance was devised between King Bryant and me. Queen Mariele is here on Bryant’s behalf to approve the treaty, not to rewrite it.”
“Then talk to King Bryant.”
King Carver spoke slowly. “You want me to tell King Bryant that his daughter—hisonlydaughter—who happens to be a beautiful princess, isn’t good enough for my son?”
“She is good enough,” Trev said firmly. “But I want Renna.”
His father stared at him for a long, silent moment. Then he waved his hand casually. “Then have the girl. Just don’t let anyone know. We can set her up with a house in the city.” He looked satisfied, like he had just solved all the world’s problems.
“No.” Keep Renna as a mistress? Sickness stirred in his stomach. He could never do that to her. “No, I want tomarryRenna. Her mother is the queen. She’s part of the royal family too. She has the same connections as Seran, and the alliance with New Hope can stay the same. Just talk to Bryant. I’m sure he won’t mind. Renna is his stepdaughter. He must have fond feelings for her too.”
His father lowered his voice to a disgusted whisper. “The entire future of this country, not to mention your future as King of Albion, depends on the protection and connections that this alliance with New Hope provides.” His voice grew louder. “How will it look to voters if you toss aside an attractive, well-connected princess for apeasantwhose only claim to power is through her mother’s pathetic second marriage to a king?” He scoffed. “They will say that you can’t make up your mind, that you are fickle. You will loseeverything, and Joniss Doman will stand ready to pick up the pieces. I will not speak to King Bryant. You will marry Princess Seran. End of discussion.”
“No, we’re not done here.” Trev’s heart beat faster, determination racing like fire through his veins. He’d never spoken to his father like this. A part of him wanted to shy away, afraid of his anger, but Trev refused to retreat. Not this time. Renna was worth it. “I’m not going to marry Seran. Talk to your advisors, come up with a plan, a new way to spin it.”
“There’s no new way to spin it. She’s completely unsuitable to be queen. She’s a liability!” the king yelled.
“You’re wrong about her.”
A loud knock sounded at the door just before Gaines pushed it open. “You’re ten-o’clock meeting is here.” Gaines held the door open as a group of three men entered the king’s office.
The king lowered his voice so only Trev could hear. “I refuse to hear anything more about this. If you doanythingto jeopardize this alliance or the election, I will see to it that both you and Miss Degray pay the price.” Then he dismissed Trev with a flippant wave of his hand.
With Gaines and the other three men watching, Trev had no choice. He gave his father a stiff nod, then turned and stormed out the door. This wasn’t over. He’d show his father that he could win the election and keep Renna. He had to.
30
Renna
Renna fidgeted with her peach dress under the dinner table, wishing she hadn’t chosen a seat at the royal table. She thought she was a good daughter by sitting by her mother’s side at dinner, even if they still weren’t speaking. But her mother never showed up. Still sick, or at least that was what Renna told everyone when she didn’t come down. Now Renna was alone, watching a room full of conversations take place around her.
