I nod affirmatively. “Yes. I love him. And I choose to stand by his side as he chooses me.”
And to my utter shock, the queen smiles a genuine, dethawing, toothy grin. “I’m so pleased to hear that, Lorelei.” She sets her tea down and claps her hands together. “Please allow me to explain my actions. So many women in the past have tried to use Finley. They wanted his money or his title. He was too much of a gentleman with a heart of gold to see the blackened souls of those who attempted to have him. The princess of our neighboring country, Karin, is as sweet a soul as Finley is, if not a little more abrupt in nature. She agreed to take the fall if my plan went south, which it obviously did, and I plan to make everything right with her.
“But I digress. I wanted to make sure Finley found a woman who could be his counterpart. You see, my husband is the older version of his son. We are opposites in many ways, but that helps us. Whereas he is spontaneous and full of laughter, I am structured and serious. Where he is anxious and questions his decisions, I stick to decisions once I arrive at them. There are many other things I could say, but I see that you and Finley will interact in very similar ways to me and my husband. You will be good for him, Lorelei. I can tell from what his siblings and father have told me and from what little I’ve seen in you myself.”
I feel like I should want to cry, but I don’t. Instead, I’m just purely thankful. I’m thankful she is accepting me, is doing me the honor of explaining herself, and is welcoming me into her life.
“Thank you for sharing that with me,” I say to the queen. I don’t offer more because I’m unsure of what to say. So, I end with, “Please explain everything to Finley. He is very hurt by your actions and just wants you to trust and believe in him.”
The queen’s smile softens as she tilts her head. The simplistic nighttime gown she wears is navy, contrasting against her pale skin and silvery hair nicely.
“I will, Lorelei. I haven’t done a great job in the past of trusting and believing in him, but it wasn’t because of him. It was because of my own controlling nature. I want what’s best for my son. And that does appear to be you. I know he wouldn’t settle for just anyone.”
“He wouldn’t,” I agree. “Nor would I.”
She smiles again then rises. I stand with her. Then, she opens her arms.
Despite not wanting to hug, I embrace the queen. I feel like she needs this hug more than I do judging by the water pooling in her eyes. Thankfully, she breaks the contact after five seconds.
“Thank you, Lorelei,” she says in Korsan.
I respond in Korsan, bowing my respects to the Queen.
As I turn to leave the room, she speaks up in a voice that has warmed like a kindling fire since I first walked into this room, “Please, call me Sylvia.”
Lucy’s Journal
Saturday, April 11th * 11:09 pm CET * underneath the silkiest sheets I’ve ever experienced
I’m in KORSA. In a PALACE. Where my SISTER will become QUEEN in less than a year. We are only here for a few days, but this will become her life soon. Wow. That is something, I tell you. How quickly life can change…
Astrid is really cool. She’s already given me her personal number, so I’m excited to keep in touch after I leave. I fear Lorelei might not want to come home at this rate. She’s completely enamored with this place and its rich history, not to mention her prince. I’m kind of reconsidering Gabriel, but honestly, I know myself. I wouldn’t be able to handle it when he’s gone. I need a man who can come home to me every single night, and with his career, he wouldn’t be able to. But honestly, being here has been such an experience. And I still have two more days to go until I fly back to reality and my stupid career and my frustrating boss. Maybe I can use all the fodder I’m gaining on this trip to write a bestseller. Then I quit Stone Harper for good. Speak of the devil… looks like I got a text from him.Ugh. He asked me to organize an event for the community baseball team. Which is now my actual job since he combined event coordinator duties with assistant duties into a decently-paid role, but still. I’m on vacay. Can’t it wait? I better get to it so he doesn’t keep pestering me. I swear this is simply an attempt to keep him on my mind while I’m away. He did tell me not to go fall for a prince or duke or other rich, titled fellow. UGH. Why does he even care?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Finley
“Finley, breathe,” Lorelei instructs, gently squeezing my hand. “Everything will be okay. I may have spoken with your mother last night when I slipped away from dinner.”
An error message flashes across my vision. “You… what?”
She smiles sheepishly. “I should have told you last night when you stopped by to tell me goodnight, but I was still processing. We had a good conversation. I wanted to tell her that I’m staying by your side no matter what. She apologized to me, Finley, and I’m certain she is ready to do the same for you.”
We stand outside Father’s office. Beyond that door is a king trying to manage the land while his wife tries to manage her son. And today we have to get to the bottom of everything because Lorelei will remain by my side no matter what Mother wishes. But apparently Lorelei has already embarked on that mission. I stare at the woman I will call my wife in less than a year. She is brilliant, lovely, and confident. She utterly amazes me with every day that passes.
Mother has to be impressed with Lorelei if my woman waltzed into my mother’s space and spoke clearly with her. From the outset, I believed Mother would like Lorelei if given the chance to know her like I do; I think her dilemma was not having control over my life like she was used to doing. The lack of control made her do something irrational. That’s what I’m choosing to believe.
“I trust you, bae,” I say to lighten the mood. “Let’s get this over with.” I squeeze Lorelei’s hand back. I look at my girlfriend who is dressed in a black pantsuit that fits her curves in all the right places. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail, and of course, she is wearing her white sneakers. My woman means business today, and I’m a little afraid of what she might do to my mother if Mother doesn’t do whatever it is she led Lorelei to believe she would.
I never once feared Lorelei would be worrying about how to impress the queen. My Leilei is who she is. She only feared that who she is wouldn’t be enough, but she never set out to change that. Something has shifted though, and it’s as if Lorelei finally believes that she is absolutely enough for me and is fit for the role that is demanded of her if she marries me.
Correction.
Whenshe marries me.
A spark of thankfulness jolts my heart, and I bend to plant a light kiss on her lips before knocking on Father’s door. I’ve been kissing her lightly every chance I get since our first one two days ago, trying to help make her more comfortable. So far, she hasn’t pushed me away. In fact, earlier this morning, she pulled me back for a longer, lingering kiss. It was closed-lipped, but it’s still a win.
The door swings open, and Henrick, Father’s regent, ushers us into the small, cluttered room. I sit down on one of the golden velvet chairs in the corner of his office, and Lorelei sits on the one located on the other side of the side table between us. Mother stands beside Father’s large desk while Father sits in his rolling chair with his fingers templed under his chin. The air is thick with apprehension; it could strangle a person.
