Page 67 of The Rejected King
High Ruler Oakes stood next. “In the province of Dakotaland, fifty-two percent in favor, forty-eight percent against.”
Davin let out a rough laugh. He was ahead in the vote. The room must have realized this as well because the whispers in the background picked up volume. His mother’s grip on his hand tightened, thickening the tension pulling in his chest.
“In the province of Greena,” High Ruler Wilkers said, “thirty-one percent in favor of the king and sixty-nine percent against.”
The jilt of optimism Davin had felt moments ago slowly faded. He was behind again.
His mother leaned over, whispering in his ear, “You need at least fifty-eight percent in New Montana to win.”
Davin nodded, giving his mother a nervous smile. “I know. I can do math.” His knee bounced up and down. Fifty-eight percent was a lot. Besides Kenmare, none of the provinces had been that high. His mother let out a deep breath and leaned back to her spot.
The last high ruler, Usan Abbott, stood. He seemed to take an extra-long time unfolding his envelope. Davin swore it was just for a dramatic effect. The room quieted like everyone held their breath. High Ruler Abbott glanced down at his paper, reading it first. His eyes met Davin’s, his expression unreadable. Did he win or lose? Davin couldn’t tell.
“In the province of New Montana, sixty-three percent in favor of the king—”
The room erupted into a loud mixture of cheers and protests, but Davin ignored it all, jumping up to hug his mother.
“I knew you could do it,” she said, laughing into his ear.
Relief coursed through his veins. This entire ordeal had been harrowing for his mother. Davin didn’t like seeing her pain. He wanted her to have the chance to finish her life at Enderlin castle, and now she could.
Davin pulled back, smiling at his mother. “I know this has been hard, but I just wanted to say thank you for supporting me and standing by me.”
His mother’s eyes dropped. “It has been hard. I’m not proud of the way I handled every situation over the last month.” Davin wondered if she was referring to Emree. “But I’m glad everything ended well.”
Fennish Kemp came up, offering out his hand. “I’m glad it ended up the way it did.”
“Thank you,” Davin said, shaking the high ruler’s hand. “You might be the only one.” Davin nodded to the other high rulers, their scowls apparent as they conversed.
“Nah, they’re just scared of losing power.” Fennish placed a hand on Davin’s shoulder, the way his father used to. “You’ve proven them all wrong. They never believed the people of Enderlin would vote you in. But now they’ve done it twice. Move on from this idea that nobody wants you as king because it isn’t true. Be the king you want to be, and don’t worry about the rest.”
Davin appreciated Fennish’s advice. It sounded like something his father would have said. He smiled. He already knew what kind of king he wanted to be, the king with Emree by his side.
Millar came up behind him, bowing. “Your Majesty, I’ve never been more proud to belong to the kingdom of Enderlin than I am today.”
Davin reached his hand out and pulled his guard into a hug. “Millar, ready the horses. It’s time to bring Emree back home.”
33
Emree
Emree stood on a ladder, stacking books on the top shelf of her store. Her hand brushed the wood, sending dust specks floating into the scattered rays coming through the shop’s front windows. The front door swung open, ringing the bell in the corner, and a mother and her two small daughters walked in. Each girl was no older than seven or eight. They were dressed in gray with their hair tied back at the nape of their necks. Emree smiled at them, climbing down the ladder.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“My daughters were hoping to borrow a book about Cinderella or perhaps another fairy tale.”
Emree smiled at the young girls. “You like fairy tales?”
Both girls nodded, half smiling, half hiding behind their mother’s skirt.
“Yes,” their mother said, patting them on their heads. “They’ve been begging me every day to bring them here. I told them the story of Cinderella after the king made his announcement at the ball that he loved a working-class woman.”
Emree’s smile faltered. “Oh.”
“Then, when the king won the revote a few days ago and left Enderlin castle to find her, they haven’t stopped bugging me to come get the book.”
Emree’s heart stopped. “He what?”
