Page 56 of The Rejected King
She was still a long shot, but at least one of Davin’s obstacles was out of the way. What if the other obstacles could be removed as well? What would happen if Davin didn’t choose a girl from the Promenade? What if he chose Emree?
The law stated a member of the ruling class could only marry a member of the ruling class. But as king, he did have the authority to grant an exception. That didn’t mean his people would like it. The people of Enderlin were steeped in tradition—a fact the newswriters frequently exploited.
Taking such action could very well lead to his removal from office. The high rulers would almost definitely force a public revote, and with Davin’s lack of popularity, he would most likely lose. If all that happened, there would be nothing Davin could do. He would have to walk away from his position and from the people of Enderlin.
Davin breathed deeply. Would he be okay with that?
Hope surged in his heart and he knew he would be. If Emree was by his side, he would be content living a normal life, maybe running a book exchange store with her. He’d still be helping people, and the trade-off would be a full and happy life with the woman he loved.
That was the worst-case scenario, but what about the best-case scenario? There was a chance that the high rulers wouldn’t force a revote. There was also a chance that the people of Enderlin would like a working-class woman as their queen. After all, the majority of the population of Enderlinwasworking class.
There was only one way Davin could find out.
Could he gamble with his future like that?
And was Emree worth the gamble?
A few weeks ago, even hours ago, Davin had no choice. He had resigned to marrying a woman he didn’t love because that’s how it had always been done. All the doors had been closed to him. But suddenly, a window had been opened in his mind. There was a chance to be with Emree, and Davin wanted to take it.
She was worth the gamble. But first, he needed to find out if she felt the same way.
25
Emree
Emree walked to the king’s room, pumping herself up for the performance of a lifetime. She hadn’t spoken to him since their kiss yesterday. The kiss he’d said was a mistake.
None of that mattered.
Right now, she was a professional, meeting with her boss to hear who he had chosen to be his wife. She would smile her best smile and beam with excitement when Davin confirmed that he had decided to choose Patrice Kenson.
Tonight would be the ultimate test for Emree. Could she set aside her inner turmoil and still work for the king? If she couldn’t, then she would never be able to accept a permanent position, not one that put her in close proximity to Davin.
Emree sucked in a deep breath. She could do this. She had to. She knocked on his door.
Millar opened it immediately and smiled. “The king’s been waiting for you. He’s out on the balcony.”
She pulled her mouth into the widest smile she could muster, ignoring how tight and painful the action felt. “I’m sure he’s excited for his announcement tonight.”
Millar gave her a knowing look as he stepped out into the hall. “I think he is.”
What was that look about? Emree wanted to ask him, but Millar shut the door before she had the chance.
She sucked in another breath, then walked to the balcony.
Davin leaned against the stone wall, looking out over the city of New Montana, but as she approached, he turned around, appraising every inch of her dress and hair. His smile seemed to fill his entire face.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
Emree’s eyes dropped to her sapphire dress. It was another colored dress on loan from Yvonne Kemp. This one was her favorite. The sleeves were cut short, barely covering the curve of her shoulders, and the fitted bodice was dotted with a few sparkles—something Emree had never worn before. Sparkles weren’t essential to the working class. She had pulled half of her dark hair back on top of her head, leaving the rest down and wavy around her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she said. “You look very nice as well.”
Very nicewas an understatement. Davin was dressed in his finely cut black suit and black tie. His gold crown adorned his head, crooked again like it had been the last time he wore it. His light brown hair wisped back, curling over the peaks and valleys of the golden headdress. He looked devastatingly handsome.
“I put some effort into my appearance.” He shrugged in his easy way. “I hear it’s kind of a big night for me.”
“Yes, it is.” She nodded, dramatically...too dramatically.
