39. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
VERONICA
He told me he loved me.
Me.
Sebastian Baros loves me.
If I weren’t sitting beside a toilet right now, I’d be dancing around my chambers, that much I know.
Everything is still so surreal. I want to ask Georgina to send someone to the village and bring Gareth here for a day, or even a few hours.
I want to tell him everything that’s happened in my time here.
His laughter and boyish charm is something I truly need.
He’d be sitting with me right now, holding my hair back while reprimanding me over ogling Sebastian’s ass.
I miss him.
I miss him so much.
Warmth blooms across my chest at the memories of Gareth and I can’t help the smile that rests easily on my lips.
He was my saving grace after my uncle passed and I was alone.
Without me, I’m sure he’s managed to survive solely off blueberry muffins and stolen butterscotch candies.
I need to check on him, maybe try to get him a position here so I can see him often.
My eyes close as I sift through all the possibilities of a future inside the palace.
Gareth wouldn’t do well in the kitchen, he’d end up tossed out because he tried everything he made.
The man has no green thumb so a gardener wouldn’t work.
I know all the plants I had inside our small home are probably wilted and damned.
He’s too mouthy to be a butler. Maybe he could be a knight of some sort.
Though, a sword in his hand makes me nervous.
He’d end up falling on it and stabbing himself.
I press my palm to my growing stomach, my smile lifting higher. Gareth would be an amazing nanny. I’ve seen him with the village kids. He adores them, whether he admits to it or not. Unfortunately, Mary would never allow it.
The smile on my lips fades at the thought of her. What will happen once the baby is born? It’s all still so early, but there are so many questions that need to be answered.
I discard the crumpled piece of toilet paper I ‘ve been holding into the bowl before standing. My eyes lift to the mirror delicately above the porcelain sink and I take myself in, really in. When I arrived I didn’t really get a good look at myself.
The mirror in the maids bathroom was always being used and by the time I was able to brush my teeth, I didn’t care to look.
My hair is longer than I remembered, it curls under my breasts, but oddly enough that is the only wave to it.
I’d always considered myself a brunette but in dim lighting, my hair seems almost black with how rich it is.
I allow my fingers to slide through the long strands as I take in my face.
Dark brown eyes, skin flushed in a pale pink and for a moment, I can see my mother in the reflection.
Is this what she looked like when she was pregnant with me? I’m glowing; I can see it clearly. Did she see herself glow?
I leave the bathroom connected to my room and freeze as soon as I see Addie sitting on the end of my bed. She’s frowning, her green eyes laced with something that looks a lot like guilt. When had she even come in? Why didn’t she say anything?
“Ms. Prim, are you okay?” I say hesitantly as I step closer.
The sun is shining through the thin curtains by the window on the far wall of my room. There isn’t a balcony like the other guest rooms, but I know that was purposeful. They don’t want the maid running off with the future king’s heir. As if I’d jump a balcony.
“Addie?” I say again, this time using her first name, when she doesn’t respond.
She lifts her eyes to mine and when I see the tears pooling, the sight has me pausing altogether. Why is she here and why is she crying?
“What is going on?” I say, my voice firm as I take a quick step back.
“Victoria, I am so sorry.” Addie’s voice is broken, riddled with an emotion I can’t pinpoint.
My eyebrows furrow in confusion as she stands up and moves to the windows. I watch her hands shake while she pulls back the curtains to allow daylight to flood in. What time is it? I left Sebastian’s room early, when I felt sick, but I can’t have been sitting in my bathroom that long, have I?
Addie steps back from the window and turns away from it, allowing her back to touch the drawn curtain. Her gaze locks on the floor while her hand presses to her lips. What the hell is going on?
I hurry to the window, my eyes frantically searching for whatever Addie has brought to my attention.
My heart sinks when I catch sight of Sebastian standing by his father and another man I don’t know.
No, there are a lot of men I don’t know, and they are all wearing turquoise jackets.
They look like knights, but they aren’t from Hawthorn, and neither is the carriage waiting on the rocky gravel.
Two jet black horses pull the carriage. Hawthorn’s horses are white, they are always white.
“Addie.” I breathe, her name coming out like a secret being whispered.
She doesn’t respond. She hasn’t even turned to face me, but I can hear her soft whimpers.
A large fountain with intricate patterns flows behind the carriage, resting in the middle of the circular path that leads from the doors of the palace and exits to the town.
Neatly trimmed bushes surround the fountain, with small cut outs for marbled benches every few feet.
In another instance I would enjoy the contrast of how dark the horses look against the light of the palace but the darkness is trying to tell me something.
I fumble with the lock on the window, my fingers trembling as I unlatch it fully.
In seconds the window is open and I’m practically leaning over the sill to try to hear what’s happening below.
Of course, it’s no use when I’m on the third floor and the flow of the fountains circulating water clouds any chance I have.
Addie grips my arm, her green eyes startled and wide with fear, as if I plan on jumping.
If I weren’t pregnant, I would probably think about it for a moment.
Probably.
My gaze locks on Sebastian. He’s stiff, standing with his arms behind his back and from up here I can tell his jaw is clenched tightly.
Whoever these men are, he isn’t too happy about them being here.
I watch as he’s handed a turquoise jacket, one that matches the other men’s.
Anxiety shoots up my spine, igniting in my veins as I lean further out the window, ignoring the frantic movement of Addie trying to pull me back in.
“Victoria, please.” Addie begs, but I don’t care. I need to know what’s going on.
“You brought me to the window! Do not act like this surprises you,” I snap, my eyes flitting to hers for a moment before I look back down to see King Deacon gesture to someone I can’t quite see.
The blonde-haired woman steps out and I immediately know it’s Mary. She’s holding a sword.
A sword.
Deacon rests his hand on Mary’s shoulder and I watch as the sheathed sword is extended out to Sebastian.
It’s gold, like the accents on the palace walls.
At least, the sheath is. Sebastian hesitates before he takes the sword from Mary’s hands.
He doesn’t inspect it, doesn’t even glance at it.
His face is like stone, even as the carriage door is opened beside him.
“He’s leaving?” I say, more to myself than Addie. “Why is he leaving? What…” I shake my head, hands gripping the sides of the window frame. I press my foot down on the sill, giving myself some leverage to lean further. Addie is right there, holding my waist and shouting for help.
The sound must carry because it’s only then Sebastian looks up. Our eyes meet and I can see the pain etched across his handsome face. His eyebrows are pinched tightly together, hazel eyes wide and filled with unspoken words.
Every man below has turned their attention toward me, but I can’t look away from Sebastian.
He’s scared, I can see it in his eyes, even from this far.
The King is shouting, but I can’t hear him over the ringing in my ears.
More hands are grabbing me now and I know it’s no longer just Addie trying to get me down.
“Sebastian!” I shout, the taste of salt explodes on my tongue from the tears that fall down my ivory cheeks.
“SEBASTIAN!” My scream must startle whomever is gripping me because for a second their hands loosen and I’m able to lean forward again. Strands of dark hair fall into my face, causing my vision to blur. I shake my head frantically as my fingers dig into the wood of the window frame.
“SEBASTIAN!”
I’m still screaming as my body is yanked away from the window. The window is slammed shut, the faint click of the latch following behind. I don’t stop fighting the many hands trying to keep me down. I can’t.
“Veronica.” Georgina’s voice is sharp, she speaks low into my ear.
She’s smacking away other hands until I only feel her warm ones cradling me to her chest. “I’m here.
” She murmurs into my hair, brushing it back from my tear-stained face.
My whole-body trembles as I grip onto her sleeves, bringing my face into her chest, as if I were a little girl again.
Every ounce of fight leaves me as the sound of trumpets fill the air. I know that sound. The song of Hawthorn.
It’s only played on special occasions but, mostly when one of ours is going to war.
Georgina must feel my whole body stiffen, because her arms wrap tighter, holding me in place. The ache in my chest is unbearable as I listen to the melody of our kingdom, the trumpets blare along with soft wisps of chimes and thuds of drums. Each second is torture.
I allow my body to fully collapse against Georgina, my hands loose against her arm as she tucks me against her chest. She rocks me back and forth, combing her fingers through my hair until my eyes grow heavy and everything stops hurting.