Page 42 of The Rejected King
Her expression was playful, drawing out his smile and feelings he wasn’t supposed to have. Everything about her was genuine and authentic, and Davin couldn’t help but admire that about her.
“Youalmostgot it all in your mouth.” He swiped at the sides of his own lips, trying to hint at the crumb still lingering on Emree’s lips.
Her hand darted to her mouth, rubbing all over her face. “My parents say I need to wear a bib when I eat.”
Davin leaned back in his chair. “What are your parents like?”
Emree smiled. “They’re kind, hardworking, loyal—the type of parents who would do anything to make a better life for me.”
“You sound a lot like them.”
She shrugged. “I hope so.”
“Are you close to them?”
She nodded. “They didn’t want me to come to Enderlin Castle.” She laughed. “They said they’d miss me too much.”
“Do you miss them?”
“Sometimes, but honestly, I love it here.” She smiled back at him. “You seem like you have a great relationship with the queen mother. Was it the same with your father?”
“Everyone loved my father. He was always the smartest, funniest, and kindest man in a room. I idolized everything about him.”
“Is that why you wanted to be king?”
“Part of it. My father told me once that my big ideas would make me a great king one day. So when he died, entering the election seemed like the right thing to do.” Davin dropped his eyes. “Turns out it wasn’t.”
Emree shook her head. “Why do you say that?”
“I would think it’s fairly obvious.”
She rolled her eyes. “Who cares about approval ratings, anyway?”
“I do.” Davin shrugged, daring for a moment, to be honest. “It might seem like I don’t care, but the truth is, I wish people liked me. I wish they believed I was as good of a king as my father was. I wish they could see how much I want to help them. But after all my mistakes, I don’t blame the people for doubting me.” He sighed. “Being king is a hard job but doing it when everyone around you thinks you’re a failure is even tougher.”
Emree’s eyes radiated kindness. “People will eventually come around and see what I’ve seen.”
“And what’s that?”
“That you’re a great king.”
“Thank you.” Her compliment meant more to him than any other kind word had in his entire life. Davin had worried that his vulnerability would make him seem weak but opening up to Emree had freed something inside of him, some stress he’d been carrying the last two years.
“That reminds me,” she said, hopping up from her chair and grabbing her bag from the corner. “I started your book last night.” She reached inside her bag, pulling out Davin’s copy ofThe Greatest Salesman in the World.
“How do you like it? I know it’s really different than the others we’ve read.”
“Yes, it’s more inspirational, but there’s a line in it that made me think of you.” She flipped through the pages until she found what she had been looking for. She held her finger up as if commanding Davin’s attention, then she began reading. “Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats.” She whipped her head up with bright eyes. “See? Victory comesafterthe struggles and defeats. You’re going to be victorious!”
Davin smiled back at her. How had Emree picked out the single quote in his book that was his favorite, too? His heart ached, clenching and twisting inside his chest. This woman that seemed to fit him so perfectly was forbidden. Even if she wasn’t already spoken for, she was in the wrong social class. Davin knew the laws. It was written that he had to marry someone from the ruling class, and nothing gets you voted out faster as king than disobeying the laws. No matter how Davin looked at it, he would never be victorious.
17
Emree
Mornings during Promenade week had been busy each day. It was up to Emree to make sure the fifty-seven women who weren’t headed on a one-on-one activity with the king were at the other Promenade events scheduled for everyone else. This morning, however, seemed even busier than usual. Several girls hadn’t come down yet for breakfast. One girl was throwing up in her room, and two girls had been caught sneaking around the castle the night before with some guards. Queen Arillia had made the hard decision to send them home.
“Is everything all right?” Emree asked the queen mother as she walked into the grand hall.
