Page 129 of The Promised Prince
I’ve thought for weeks about what I would say to you if I saw you. The words take up space in my mind, making it hard for me to think or even sleep. There are so many things I want to tell you. I’ve decided to keep a list of all the things I would say if you were here, if I could talk to you every day.
1. I miss you.
2. I feel like I killed Seran.
3. Tybolt shaved his beard. Shocking, I know!
4. Transportation. You were right. Every working-class person I’ve asked wants an easier way to get around. Bicycles, transporters, you name it. They just want to be able to go places quicker.
5. Dara, the horse, misses you. I miss you.
6. While I was on the campaign tour, someone locked the door to the roof of the palace, and no one can seem to find the key to open it for me. I’m livid.
7. The wedding ceremony.
8. Joniss was the informer. How did I not see that sooner?
9. Joniss kidnapped those girls from Axville. I don’t even know what to say about that. I’m just glad they’re back home.
10. There’s snow on top of the mountains. You would love it.
11. Your mom and King Bryant really love each other. When Seran died, I found myself envying them—how they had each other to lean on. I’ll always be jealous of anyone that gets to be with the person they love.
Trev’s eyes started to get heavy. It felt good to get some of his thoughts out on paper, so they didn’t run a marathon in his mind all night long. He climbed into bed and eased into a heavy sleep for the first time in months.
Writing to Renna became a ritual on the nights Trev couldn’t sleep. Sometimes even during the day, he would think about what he was going to add to his list that night.
12. I’m sick of only the ruling class wearing colored clothes. It’s stupid.
13. It’s freezing outside. I’ve never been so cold in my life.
14. I had a wedding present for Seran. It was silly, a figurine that Crosby picked out. I’m not sure what to do with it now. It’s on my dresser, taunting me.
15. Yesterday I went to the artifact room to look at the magazine picture of the girl in the red dress. I may or may not have used my thumb to cover her face so I could picture you. I know.I’m pathetic.
16. My father is in a terrible mood (more than usual). I think he’s throwing a tantrum because he’s about to lose his role as king.
17. Sometimes I daydream about all of your different expressions. I think my favorite one is the look you get on your face when you are nervous—when I make you nervous because I’ve come too close.
18. I beat Drake in a fight a couple of days agofor real. At least I think I beat him. On second thought, he probably let me win like he always does.
19. I got a new suit for the election. Blue, of course.
20. I moved Colter’s family into a real house with more land. Now they can plant better crops and live off of that money. Don’t worry, though, I’ll still check in on them.
21. I feel bad that I didn’t attend Seran’s funeral. Somehow, that doesn’t seem very kind of me, even though everyone told me I needed to stay in Albion.
22. Drake keeps mentioning Lizanne in conversations—casually as if I wouldn’t notice he keeps bringing her up. Did you know there was a connection there? I didn’t.
23. Crosby wants to start planning my “victory party” for after I win the election. It seems a little presumptuous, don’t you think? Especially after everything that has happened.
24. You would be scared if you knew how much you were on my mind—borderline stalker-ish.
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25. I won the election. Not really a big surprise since Joniss, the only other candidate, is in prison.
