Page 96 of The King's Queen

“We’ve had so many ‘disappearances’ these past few years, I doubt anyone will notice mine.”

“Rewrite the story then.” He shrugs. “Make them remember you.”

The squire standing beside my father clears his throat. All eyes turn towards where I stand, and I realize it is time. Time to face the truth and the consequences of my actions that I’ve been running from.

“Show time,” I whisper with a final look. A goodbye.

Torin nods sympathetically, his mouth set in a firm line. I don’t pretend to not see the slight glisten of his moistening eyes. I bite my cheek as I descend the dais, my father staring down in approval. Lucius stands by his side, his hand outstretched to help me up the final steps. Traitorously, I take it, the movement feeling every bit like a betrayal.

The entire ballroom is silent save for the clicking of my heels on the dais as I take my spot beside my fiancé. My skin grows clammy as my hand continues to rest in his. I hope he hates sweat.

The nobles whisper to themselves, and I catch snippets of it.

‘That’s the princess?’

‘Wasn’t she dancing with that blonde man?’

‘She looks like her mother.’

‘Isn’t that Lady Iales’ gown?’

‘…disgrace…’

‘What would the Queen think?’

My heart stops at the mention of my mother, but I shake her piercing gaze from my head. From the front of the crowd, Aiko finds my attention and motions a rising and falling action with her hands.Breathe. At the same time, her own face looks pale, and I could say the same to her.

I know I appear calm and collected, my mask still covering the majority of my face. But my heart races. Amír and Kya should be waiting in the garden by now, and Rowan is supposed to be setting our distraction. I should be with them, not standing here surrounded by people who look like they would willingly skin me alive.

My eyes scan the crowds for a familiar mercenary as my father begins his speech. My search is interrupted by a cough to my left. Ophelus raises his eyebrows at whatever he said that I had clearly missed.

“He wants me to remove your mask.” Lucius whispers, his fingers already stretching towards the back of my head. I flinch perceptibly and raise my hands. My fingers tangle in my dark hair as I search for the satin ribbon holding the gilded mask to my face. I catch onto the silky band and pull, releasing my mask and revealing my secret to the one my gaze searches for.

Inhale. Exhale.

Before my own unmasking, it seemed like a good idea to have everyone in attendance wear masks, but now, with hundreds of masked blondes standing before me, I begin to question that decision. Still, I know I could pick him apart from a crowd of thousands even with the mask, it is just an excuse for the obvious. Rowan isn’t here.

I need to leave. Now. As I begin to step forward to descend the dais, I catch on to the squire’s words at about the same time Lucius’ hand rests on my waist.

“On this hour in two days’ time, Crown Princess Verosa Elyce of the Kingdom Krycolis will be wed to Crown Prince Lucius Vangar of the Tesslari Empire in a union between lands. All hail the future Emperor and Empress.”

Confusion slows my reflexes as I hear those final words. Father had told me we would be forming an alliance with Tesslari, not merging. I had been promised the title of Queen, not Empress. It is at that moment that Lucius’ grip tightens as he pulls me closer. He murmurs something along the lines of ‘I’m sorry’ before he crashes his lips against mine.

The nobles cheering drowns out my protests. My eyes widen in shock as he holds me tightly against him, his grip a vice as I attempt to squirm out of it. His lips are rough as they capture mine, and I can do nothing but stand still, attempting to press my own lips firmly together. When he pries my mouth open with his tongue, I finally snap, biting down hard. Without so much as a wince, my fiancé releases me, an apologetic look on his face passing for only a moment. I gasp for breath, anger spiking my gut. My skin heats. I have to leave before I light this whole ballroom up.

As the applause sounds, I continue my search for Rowan when I finally see him.

I find him sprinting for the exit.

All the air leaves the room, the many faces blurring together. He had told me his distraction was in the ballroom, there is no reason for him to be running away. Except for one thing. He is going to leave without me.

My face crumples, and I fist my skirts in my hands. Lucius reaches for me but it is too late; I am already leaping from the dais and sprinting towards the hallway where Rowan just exited. The crowd gasps but parts for me as I run after Rowan. My light, my death, my love.

My lungs burn, and my legs groan in protest as I sprint down the corridors. One of my heels snaps with a resounding crack. I ignore it, kicking both shoes off to continue my sprint.

Dark hairs flit around my face, in my eyes, as the doorway I look for comes into view. The breeze calls my name, wicking the sweat from my brow.

I spot him the moment I step onto the balcony. Rowan stands with his back to me, his back and shoulder muscles flexing underneath his black tunic. His coat lay discarded across the railing. I approach slowly, choosing to step on stones I know won’t creak. Silently I approach him, waiting a pace away.

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