Chapter 30 #2
Six heads spun toward her.
“No,” Lord Stuart said. “You aren’t needed.”
Nicolas kicked Evelyn lightly under the table, a reminder that she was not allowed to set lords on fire. “I’m sure we won’t be long.”
The men left the dining room and headed upstairs.
“Do you always have to be so abrasive?” Hannah accused.
“Don’t be such a princess,” Evelyn hissed.
“I won’t be much longer.”
Evelyn flung a piece of toast at her sister, who shrieked at the butter stain on her dress.
I shouldn’t have done that. Father will tell me off later. But… Hannah can’t become a queen here. She can’t marry Leo.
Evelyn made it to the second floor in time to see which room the men were entering. She put a finger over her lips, warning Rory and Simon not to make any noise. After handing her shoes to a confused Simon, she tiptoed silently down the hallway.
Thankfully, the men hadn’t bothered to close the meeting room door all the way. Evelyn couldn’t see them, but their voices carried into the hall.
“It doesn’t feel right to focus on this right now,” Leo muttered.
“I know the timing is atrocious,” Lord Grégory said. “But it’s only increased the necessity.”
“You would double your magic, Alexander,” Lord Robert reminded him. “Access to Elemental power is a game-changer.”
“Even General Savatier admits he doesn’t know what we’re up against,” Lord Stuart added. “A variety of magic gives you much better odds in case of an attack.”
“The plan to marry was already in place,” Lord Grégory said. “That’s why the Connollys are here. All we’re doing is moving up the timeline.”
“The Kennedy girls weren’t old enough to get married,” King Tristan told them. “Their deaths were tragic and Carrowmore still mourns the loss. But the gods have given us an opportunity here.”
“That’s a good point,” Lord Stuart chimed in. “Three months ago, this wasn’t even a possibility.”
“Princess Hannah seems like a sweet girl,” Lord Grégory said. “She will make a lovely queen.”
“Hannah is ready to get married,” King Tristan stated. “She understands why she’s here.”
Everyone went quiet, presumably waiting for Leo’s response. But he didn’t share his thoughts.
“I may be out of the loop,” Lord Nicolas said, “but what about the younger princess?”
“Evelyn!” Lord Robert called out. “I quite like her. She’s a spitfire, that one.”
“I thought she was seeing Captain Fontaine?” Lord Grégory asked.
“I don’t think they’re together,” Lord Nicolas said.
“Well, they haven’t made that very clear,” Lord Stuart sneered. “It isn’t appropriate for her to be so friendly with my son and marry a king.”
“She would be a queen!” Lord Robert argued. “Fuck what people say!”
“The goal is to gain power by marrying a Carrowmore princess,” Lord Grégory reasoned. “Technically, Princess Evelyn could fulfill that if Alexander prefers—”
“Evelyn is not well suited to be a queen,” King Tristan interrupted. “She’s not prepared for it. We planned for Hannah in the first place because she is the better option.”
Evelyn’s heart stopped.
Did my own father really tell the lords of Gryon that I shouldn’t be a queen? Did my father tell Leo not to marry me?
The room fell quiet again.
Leo! For fuck’s sake, say something! Tell my father he’s wrong! Tell them you care about me! Tell them you don’t want to marry Hannah!
Lord Grégory broke the silence. “Okay. Princess Hannah, then.”
“That simplifies things,” Lord Stuart said. “We can’t keep wasting time.”
“Alexander, are you ready to propose?” Lord Robert asked.
Several heartbeats passed with no response.
No. No. He isn’t ready. Just say no, Leo. Tell them no. Tell them the truth. Tell them to fuck off. Tell them—
“Yes,” Leo said.
Evelyn’s knees buckled, but a pair of arms wrapped around her before she could collapse to the floor.
Leo agreed to marry Hannah.
Evelyn allowed herself to be carried down the hallway and brought into an empty office. The door clicked shut and Damien appeared in front of her.
“He’s going to marry Hannah!” Evelyn cried.
Damien waved a hand at the door, putting up a sound shield. “Yes.”
“He can’t! He doesn’t love her!”
“It isn’t about love, Princess.”
“You knew this was going to happen!”
“I didn’t know your father was going to toss you in the fire like that.”
She doubled over like the memory was a stomach cramp. “Leo didn’t even say anything.”
“Yeah, he’s going to fucking hear about that later.”
Evelyn straightened. “What do I do now?”
Damien stepped closer to her. “Do you trust me?”
“Why?”
“Because I know you would rather throw fireballs at everyone in that room than take the advice I’m going to give you.”
That option does have some appeal.
“Yes,” Evelyn said. “I trust you.”
“Then keep quiet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t say anything,” Damien ordered. “Don’t let any of them know what you heard. Don’t confront your father or make Leo feel guilty.”
“You want me to let it go?”
“No. You should be so fucking angry at them. You never have to forgive them if you don’t want to. But if Leo wants to ruin his own fucking life, let him. If your father wants to destroy his relationship with you, let him. Don’t let their terrible choices control you.”
“But I’m stuck in this palace. How do I act like everything is fine?”
Damien tilted Evelyn’s chin up and locked eyes with her. “Stand up straight and smile. Pretend you’re a princess.”
“I am a princess,” Evelyn whispered, recognizing the command.
“Then pretend to be good at it.” He wiped the tears off her cheeks. “You deserve better than this. They’re using Hannah for her magic. You deserve to be with someone who will love you without an agenda.”
Evelyn couldn’t tear her gaze away from his green eyes that seemed to glow. “Someone who will dance with me all night. Someone who introduces me to his family. Someone who brings breakfast to my room when he knows I’m upset.”
Damien smiled. “That someone sounds great. Is he handsome, too?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me when you find this perfect man. I bet he would love you.”