Page 99 of The Promised Prince
“Yes!” he said, a little too energetically. He opened his palm to the crowd. “I caught up to Miss Degray just in time.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd and the tension loosened in the room. Seran’s actions had deflected their suspicions. They believed her.
Queen Mariele stepped onto the dais as Trev slipped the ring onto Seran’s finger. Her expression was guarded, but he could see disappointment behind the brown swirls in her eyes.
“Are you ready to sign the treaty?” Seran asked, leaning into him.
Trev plastered on a smile. “Of course.”
He picked up the feathered-pen and nodded at Seran. She bent over the document and signed her name. Then it was his turn. A heaviness rested on his shoulders. His heart protested that this was wrong, but then his mind reminded him of his kiss with Renna.
Thatwas wrong.
He scrawled his name across the paper as if the very act could somehow take away his sins.
The great hall cheered as King Carver held up the signed document. Then a procession of people came to shake his hand, congratulating him on a job well done.
Trev didn’t deserve their respect. He didn’t deserve anything.
The guests started thinning, and the servants rushed around, picking up glasses and plates.
“I’m going to retire for the night,” Seran said as she passed him.
“Wait,” Trev said, leaving the group of men he was talking with. “Can I walk with you?” He needed to face up to what he’d done, unsure as he was of what the consequences would be.
She nodded, and he followed her out of the great hall.
Neither one of them spoke as they walked to her room. She paused just before her door and turned to him expectantly. Trev rubbed his sweaty palms on the sides of his suit.
“Seran, I’m sorry.” His words held so much shame.
She took a deep breath like she was gathering her own courage. “For chasing after Renna, or for something more?”
He wanted to hang his head, but he didn’t. He looked straight into her dark eyes. “For something more.”
Seran let out a harsh laugh. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” She folded her arms across her chest. “But I thought you were different. I thought you were going to actually try to make this marriage work.”
“I do want to make this marriage work.”
Her dark eyes glossed over. “So then, am I to blame Renna?”
“No! It’s not Renna’s fault. It was all me.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Let me explain what happened. It’s not what you think.”
“Ignorance is bliss,” she whispered as she bit her bottom lip. “My mother was married to a man who loved somebody else, but she never confronted him about it. I remember her saying that what she didn’t know couldn’t hurt her.” Seran puffed out a small laugh. “I used to think that made her weak, but I understand now. I don’t want to know any details about you and Renna. I don’t want them hanging over our relationship the rest of our lives. I just want to know if you can let her go.”
Trev had wondered that same thing a hundred times. “I can let her go.”
Her jaw set. “You’re going to have to because I won’t cover for you again.”
“Why did you cover for me in the first place?”
She laughed her harsh laugh again. “Because I was hoping it was a misunderstanding, but I can see that I was wrong.”
“Seran, I’m so sorry.” His voice was raspy and thick as he tried to hold back his growing emotion. “I betrayed your trust and I don’t blame you for being angry. I promise nothing like this will ever happen again. I know my promises don’t mean much right now, but hopefully someday you can trust me again.”
She placed her hand on the doorknob. “Then there’s nothing else to talk about.” For the first time, she didn’t look like a dignified princess. Just a young girl trying to be brave. He’d been so consumed with his own feelings of not wanting to be forced into marriage; he hadn’t considered Seran’s.
She opened the door to her room. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Then she was gone, and somehow Trev felt worse than he had before.
