Page 30 of The Rejected King
Emree wondered what the newswriters would say. Would they fault Patrice for breaking the modesty rules? Or would they spin it into something positive? Either way, Patrice looked utterly gorgeous. No one could deny that.
Emree scrunched her nose, looking down at her less-than-average curves. She could still remember a moment from her teenage years when a few boys from school had commented on how small her chest was. Emree was all about loving her own body, but she’d be lying if she said their comments hadn’t hurt. On nights like this, with girls as beautiful as Patrice Kenson, those comments flew to the front of her mind, not easily forgotten.
Patrice leaned in closer to the king, whispering in his ear, and Emree sucked in a deep breath.
Millar eyed her. “Enjoying the show?”
“Of course. I mean...I wish other girls could have a chance to get to know the king. But if he’s happy with Patrice Kenson, that’s all that matters.”
Pat Ricefolded her arms.
Good. She’s finally decided to keep her hands to herself.
Then Pat leaned forward onto the table, making her assets push up and spill over and Emree decided that perhaps it had been better when her hand was on King Davin’s forearm.
Millar puffed out a laugh. “If Miss Kenson isn’t careful, she’s going to have something fall out of that dress. We might end up with more than chicken breasts for dinner tonight.”
A loud cackle escaped from Emree, and immediately King Davin flipped his head to her and Millar. Something behind the king’s eyes made Emree feel like he was upset with her and Millar, and she abruptly stopped her laughter.
“I’m not standing by you anymore,” Emree said as she started walking away. “You’ll get me in trouble.”
She walked the edges of the room, nodding and smiling at a few of the ladies. She came upon the table of newswriters, and one waved her over.
“Miss Dutson, can you tell us if the king is planning on choosing Patrice Kenson for one of his individual activities this week?” Darl Bitter asked.
“Each morning, we’ll let you know which three women the king has decided to spend alone time with.”
“Can you confirm that Patrice Kenson and King Davin are childhood sweethearts?” another newswriter asked.
Emree had used that same wording when she had described her relationship with Portlend to the king. She didn’t like thinking that the king and Patrice had the same years of closeness that she and Portlend had shared.
“They’ve been good friends since childhood,” Emree responded.
“The people are going to love this,” Fiona Rudd said. “A love story born from childhood.” She gave Emree a pointed look. “It just might be the thing to boost the king’s popularity.”
Emree nodded politely then walked away. Her brows folded. Why was Miss Rudd suddenly King Davin’s biggest fan, talking about boosting the king’s popularity? What had changed?
Whatever the cause for the change, Emree should be thrilled. The king would get the girl, and his ratings would go up at the same time. It would be a fairytale happy ending. Just the way Emree liked them.
Why, then, did she feel so disappointed?
13
Emree
After dinner, Emree walked behind the king as one of the newswriters, Sars Linsky, got an exclusive interview about the opening night of the Promenade.
“What stuck out to you the most?” the heavyset man with a pointy nose asked as he tried to keep up with the king’s fast pace.
“Just how many women the number sixty is,” Davin said as he walked and talked.
The newswriter chuckled. “Any chance that there was a love at first sight moment with one of the ladies?”
“No.” King Davin shook his head. “I prefer having some history with a woman before I fall in love.”
Emree tripped, stumbling forward a bit.
The king paused, turning over his shoulder to her.
