Page 78 of The Promised Prince
Cypress knelt in front of her, forcing Mariele to look her in the eyes. “Breathe with me.” Cypress sucked in slowly then pushed the air out of her lungs dramatically. “In and out.”
The queen followed Cypress’s every action until her breathing became a little steadier.
“Come, Your Majesty. You should lie down,” Cypress said, shooting a pointed look at Mangum. He sprang into action, assisting the queen to her bed.
“Perhaps we should finish this conversation later,” he said as Cypress pulled the covers back and gently helped Mariele into the soft sheets.
“No. I need to...speak...to Renna.” Each word was surrounded by deliberate, heavy breaths.
Mangum and Cypress exchanged a glance.
“I think you should rest awhile, Your Majesty,” Cypress said softly.
“Renna. Get...Renna.” There was no time. Renna was going to ruin the marriage alliance for New Hope. Bryant would never forgive her. She would lose him again. Didn’t Cypress understand that?
No, she needed to talk to Renna now, even if she could barely find the breath to get the words out.
Mariele closed her eyes, trying to shut out her worry. It only felt like a few seconds, but when she opened her eyes again, Renna was there. She must have dozed off.
“Mother, are you ill?” Renna’s face was full of concern as she knelt by the side of her bed.
Mariele brought her hands up from her sides and wrung them together distractedly. “I’ve had devastating news.”
“What is it? Is everything all right?”
Mariele glanced at her nightstand where the letter sat unfolded and crumpled; Renna’s eyes followed. Recognition washed over her face as she picked up the letter.
“You went through my things?” Renna’s voice was small, sadness falling from every word.
Mariele propped herself up on her elbows, waving away Cypress’s murmured protests. She needed strength to say this. She needed Renna to understand. “Prince Ezra will marry Seran.”
Renna didn’t reply, her eyes focused on the letter in her lap.
“This has to stop,” Mariele said with all the authority she could muster.
“There’s nothing to stop.”
“That’s what you said at Wellenbreck.” She shook her head with frustration. “But now I find out you’ve spent time with him since we’ve been at the palace. Do you deny that?”
Her eyes flicked to the ground. “No.”
Mariele let out a whimper as she collapsed back against the pillows. “This is bad, Renna! What if King Carver finds out? What if Seran finds out?” She grabbed Renna’s arm and squeezed it urgently. “Seran will tell Bryant. They’ll throw me out again. I can’t face it. I can’t do it again.”
“What do you mean they’ll throw you outagain?” Renna questioned.
Mariele clamped her mouth shut. She had already said too much—more than she’d ever planned to.
“Mom, what do you mean they’ll throw you out again? Who will throw you out?”
Perhaps it was time to tell Renna the truth. How else could she understand the consequences of falling for a prince?
Renna
The words werehanging on the tip of her mother’s lips, but still the queen didn’t speak. Renna placed her hand on her mother’s arm as though she could prod the words out of her. “Mom, tell me what you’re talking about. Tell me who threw you out.”
Mariele gave a shuddered sigh. “My father was in government, and my family took up residence in the capital so that he could work under King Dayton.”
Renna found herself leaning in, her interest piqued. She didn’t know that her mother had once lived at the Government Center.
