Page 12 of Crown of Hearts
Of course, he liked the very thing I preferred to avoid as much as possible.
“I wish I was more of a reader, but it seems like there’s always something better to do. I’m rather fond of the outdoors. That is, when I’m not occupied with my duties.” I didn’t want it to sound like I spent my days gallivanting around the palace, with the current state of the kingdom.
“That’s nice.” Edgar already appeared bored, so I decided to change the topic.
“What are your reasons for going along with your father’s proposal?”
“As you said, because I get to be king,” he replied, like I was some kind of idiot.
“Is that all?” I gave him the opportunity to redeem himself.
Edgar’s eyes roamed over me before he smirked and finally said, “No.”
A quick shiver ran down my spine and I looked towards the nearest window, not wanting to meet his eyes. It was probably too late to jump out now.
“Still, not anybody can just wake up one day and decide to rule the kingdom.” I attempted to keep my voice emotionless.
“You did.”
I looked at him in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“You showed up out of nowhere and became Queen of Everness.”
We’d come to a standstill and Edgar looked around the throne room as if contemplating what his future here could look like. Well, not if I could help it.
“That wasn’t my choice. My brother abdicated and I was next in line to rule.”
“Speaking of which.” He gave me a raised eyebrow. “Where is His Highness, again?”
I didn’t answer.
“You have given me no reason whatsoever to accept your hand,” I finally told him, letting my irritation slip into my voice.
He shrugged. “I don’t have to win your approval. You need me.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Without me, you will eventually lose against the aristocrats and the unrest in the east. You have too many enemies from within. You need someone like me to protect your claim, satisfy the public and provide you with an heir.”
Before I would have snorted at him, but now I was plain disgusted. Disgusted at his manners, his lack of propriety and blatant disrespect. And coming from me, the girl who’d once spat in a prince’s face, that was saying a lot. I stepped back to make my way to the dining room again. “I suggest you take your leave.”
Before I make you.
The meeting was over and done with, as far as I was concerned. “I’m starting to think your father isn’t the only onewho likes the sound of his own voice,” I muttered, more to myself than to him.
As I headed for the door, I met the wide eyes of the servant girl who’d now stopped sweeping.
“You’re no more a monarch than I am, thief,” he sneered.
I halted, slowly turning around to face him again. “What?”
“You think I don’t know who you really are?” he said in a low voice.
“You cannot try and blackmail your queen with a rumour. I can have your head for this.”
“Soon the whole of Everness will know your little secret.”
My heart raced. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. Pure ice-cold fear filled every inch of my body. If anyone ever found out I was the Masked Bandit, they would have my head. I wouldn’t even live to see the trial.
