Page 61 of The Rejected King
28
Davin
Davin stared at the knotty wood doors leading into the grand hall. The drone of voices and music seeped through the seams, adding to his anticipation. He tugged on the lapels of his black suit jacket, nerves and anticipation tossing inside him. There would be backlash for his decision, but Davin didn’t care. He had to be true to himself and his heart. That’s the kind of king he wanted to be—a king who led with his heart.
The horns sounded, and his introduction bellowed behind the doors. Davin straightened as the doors swung open, and the last of his introductions rang out. Every eye looked at him. Instinctively he raised his chin, scanning the faces, looking for Emree. His eyes locked with hers. She stood in her usual spot to the side of the dais. She looked terrified. He would do anything to shield her from this moment, but it was a necessary step so that they could be together. Davin walked toward the dais where his mother stood, the slight movement of curtsies and bows waving through the crowd as he passed by. He greeted his mother with a kiss on her cheek, although her actions toward him seemed forced and stiff.
Davin turned to the crowd of guests. Women from the Promenade were scattered among soldiers while newswriters hung back around the fringes of the room. The six high rulers stood toward the front of the hall. Patrice Kenson was in the center next to her father. She smiled at Davin, and his heart dropped to the floor. He had wanted to tell her beforehand, but if he had, her father’s anger would have ruined everything. He’d had to keep Patrice in the dark, and he hated that, but Davin’s decision tonight would be better for them both. She wouldn’t see it that way, at least not at first, but eventually, he hoped he and Patrice could be friends again.
Davin cleared his throat. “Thank you all for coming tonight. Thank you to the High Rulers who have traveled far to be here. Thank you to the castle staff that has worked tirelessly to make the Promenade week such a success. And finally, thank you to the sixty women who have participated in the event. I have enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you.”
Davin paused, taking a moment to look at Emree off to the side. She was beautiful, kind, funny, intelligent, selfless, and hard-working—everything that the kingdom of Enderlin needed. She was what Davin needed, too, and being with her was worth the risk of losing everything.
He took a deep breath, gathering all the confidence and courage he had inside him. “As you all know, it’s customary at the end of Promenade week for the ruler of Enderlin to select a participant that has impressed him or her. Someone with good qualities that make him or her worthy of marrying and becoming a sovereign of Enderlin. I’ll admit, I had my doubts about the Promenade. I knew there would be plenty of women participating that would be worthy of being your queen, but I wasn’t sure if I would find someone that I personally had a connection with. But I was wrong.”
The room at large smiled and nodded along with his speech. Patrice and her mother exchanged knowing glances, and the newswriters furiously wrote each word of his speech.
“My path to finding love was unexpected and unorthodox, and I know my decision may surprise a lot of you, but at the end of the day, it ismydecision.”
Davin glanced at Emree. All the color had drained from her face. He extended his hand, motioning for her to join him on the dais as his mother stiffened next to him. With each of her slow steps, Davin tried to give her confidence and reassurance through his eyes. In the end, everything would be okay, but that didn’t stop his racing heart or diminish the sweat gathering under his suit jacket. The crowd hung in stilled silence as Emree stepped onto the dais. The entire room leaned in, anxiously watching the scene unfold. Davin placed his arm around her waist partly to show everyone his decision and partly to hold Emree up. Everything around him moved in slow motion. He turned his head to his guests. Mouths dropped open. Servants stopped their work, staring with wide eyes. Whispers rumbled through the room. Patrice and her mother froze, a pair of disbelieving statues. In the front row, the six high rulers’ faces turned over with confusion.
Davin tugged Emree closer, digging his fingers into her hip bone. He could hear her audible swallow. His mouth went dry, and his chest constricted. He just needed to get the words out.
“I’ve decided to choose Miss Emree Dutson as my wife and your future queen of Enderlin.” A collective gasp rippled over the crowd. “Emree comes from the working class. She understands the needs of the people and how we as a ruling class can better serve them. She’s smart and hard-working, full of ideas and strength that can benefit Enderlin.” Faces frozen in shock stared blankly back at him, so Davin decided to keep going. “Throughout the process of the Promenade, I fell in love with her. Initially, I didn’t think Miss Dutson was even a possibility for me, but then we opened that pre-Desolation safe and the words of Danny Jakes changed my mind.” From the corner of his eye, he could see Emree turn her head to look at him. “Danny talked about what really mattered and that resonated with me. I decided to listen to him and listen to my heart.”
Murmurs filtered through the room as guests looked at each other then back to Davin.
Barry Kenson moved first. “This is outrageous!” he shouted, taking a step toward the dais. Patrice hid her face in her hands as her mother put a protective arm around her daughter. The high ruler pointed to Emree. “Miss Dutson didn’t even participate in the Promenade. As part of the working class, she’s not even eligible to be queen.”
Davin hugged her close, the sides of their hips touching. He wanted to protect her any way he could, but his efforts were futile.
His plan was to remain calm. The last thing this dramatic scene and his reputation needed was a yelling match. “As you know High Ruler Kemp, I have the authority to grant an exception,” Davin said.
High Ruler Abbott shook his head. “Not for your own marriage! It’s never been done!”
“Why not my own marriage? I’m the king, after all. And I think the people of Enderlin will appreciate a queen that knows more about the lives they lead than anyone in the ruling class.”
“That won’t matter if you aren’t king anymore,” High Ruler Oakes declared, venom in his voice. A few of the other high rulers nodded in agreement.
Emree tensed next to Davin, and he turned his head, giving her a reassuring nod. This was all to be expected. Everything was fine.
“The high rulers can come together and force another public vote if we feel you’re leading our kingdom in a bad direction,” High Ruler Uttmay pronounced.
Davin squared his jaw, but his tone remained even. “Then force another public vote, but I will not deviate from my choice. I stand by my decision to marry Emree Dutson.”
Another wave of gasps and murmurs filled the room, and suddenly every newswriter closed in on the dais, shouting questions at Emree like hyenas stalking their prey. Emree stepped back, trying to deflect their interrogating blows with just the shake of her head. Davin shot Millar a look, and he sprang into action, grabbing Emree by the shoulders. He pushed the newswriters back until he was at the side door. A few other guards stepped in, blocking the newswriters from Millar and Emree so they could make their escape.
Barry Kenson aimed his seething gaze on Davin. He stepped closer to the dais so Davin could hear his voice over the clamor. “How dare you do this to my daughter? When I’m through with you, you’ll be so ruined, you’ll never be allowed to set foot in Enderlin again.”
Davin’s expression turned to stone. “Do your worst.”
29
Emree
Emree sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly into the silence. Dried tears crusted the sides of her cheeks, and her breathing had slowed to a crawling, numbing pace. The embarrassment and shock of the last hour sheathed her mind like a thick fog, making it impossible for her to think. Davin had jeopardized everything forher.She couldn’t help but wonder if she had brought this on herself—if she had somehow wished this moment into reality. She closed her eyes, letting guilt take over her numbness.
Davin loved her.
