Page 73 of The Promised Prince
They reached the palace courtyard, and Seran grabbed his hand, lacing her fingers through his. Besides the fake kiss, they had never touched this intimately before. Trev wanted to like the way her hand fit in his. He wanted to like the feel of her skin against his. He wanted to feel something, but the gesture felt forced.
Is this how the rest of his life would feel?
26
Renna
Renna craned her neck to see out the transporter window as the vehicle rolled to a stop.
“I’m so happy to get out of the palace!” Jenica said, fluffing her hair, preparing for their exit. “We’ve been cooped up in the palace for two days while Seran got to have all the fun.”
“I don’t think Seran would say visiting nearby estates for the past two days was fun,” Lizanne said.
“But Prince Ezra accompanied her; I’m suresomethingfun happened. If you know what I mean.” A guard opened the door and reached for Jenica’s hand.
Patiently, Renna waited for her turn to exit the transporter so she could get a look at Albana’s market day. Dying grass crunched below her shoes as she stepped out of the vehicle. Tables and stands were set up in rows with products skillfully displayed, enticing prospective customers over. Market peddlers lined the edges, their pushcarts full of goods and supplies. The sounds of buyers haggling over prices filled the square, adding to Renna’s eagerness.
As a young girl, she’d loved going to market day in Vassel with her father. She would help him set up their booth and attractively align their crops so customers could see what they offered.
Today’s market day was different. Renna had arrived in a transporter with the royal entourage, flanked by palace guards. There were no goods to sell or trade, no bottom line that her father had to earn to keep their household running through the winter. Instead, Renna would spend a few hours shopping at the market—just for the fun of it. The stark contrast with her old life sent a wave of guilt over her.
Renna slowed her steps, letting the group of girls walk ahead of her. The crowd around her was dense, forcing her to turn down the first aisle of goods. Ahead of her, Trev and Seran stopped at a vendor, rummaging through hats. Trev’s back was to her, but everything about the ordinary moment paralyzed Renna. She couldn’t move, only watch.
“How much for this hat?” Trev asked the seller, picking up a straw hat with a black ribbon.
“No!” Seran protested.
“Why? You’d look cute in it.” He placed the hat atop Seran’s head and nodded to himself.
Seran twisted her shoulder and dipped her chin in a brief pose.
“See,” Trev said, slightly adjusting the hat. “You look amazing.”
Something about the way Trev complimented Seran scraped Renna’s heart like the ground skinned her knees whenever she fell as a child.
“I don’t know. What do you think, Renna?” Seran looked past Trev right at her.
Trev turned around, his sapphire eyes showing something like embarrassment.
“I think,” Renna said, swallowing the ache in her heart, “the hat suits you.”
Seran shrugged at the vendor. “I suppose if Prince Ezra likes it, then I’ll get it.”
“Great.” Trev forced a smile, handing the man some money for the hat.
“What about you, Renna?” Seran pointed to the table. “Would you like a hat? I’m sure Ezra won’t mind.”
Renna shook her head. “You don’t need to buy me anything.”
“I would love to buy you something,” Trev said with intense eyes that awakened butterflies in Renna’s stomach.
“What about a bracelet?” Seran offered, pointing to the table next to them.
She backed away from them. “Really, I’m good.”
“I know what Renna needs.” Trev’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Follow me.”
Renna followed hesitantly after him, partly to avoid being rude and partly out of curiosity. They stopped in front of trays of rolls and frosted bread lining a table. The sweet scent of fresh-baked dough wafted around her.
