Now, they were literally expecting me to sign away my prospects of any future happiness, with no regards for what I wanted. But would that even be enough? What would I be forced into next while property of King Aswell? It could domino into one thing after the next. I would never be doing anythingIwanted to do. Something must give. I highly suspected it wasn’t going to be Father’s pride. If I didn’t stand up for myself sooner or later, it was never going to end. I blew out my frustratedbreath as I slapped some fresh powder on my face. It was spotty and not blended even the slightest, but it would have to do. Maybe if I’m lucky my appearance might scare King Aswell away. I giggled, wishing so much my silly thoughts would come true.
“There she is!” Father extended an arm toward the grand staircase as both men observed my descent. Father wore his long-tailed red and gold coat, the one he normally reserved for formal military events. If this whole arrangement didn’t already feel like a sham, his presentation made me ill. “Isn’t she beautiful?” He trumpeted so loudly his voice echoed against the cathedral style ceilings.
I put on my best happy-to-be-here fake grin as I approached them. “Good morning.” Before I could say anything else, Father ushered me forward, almost pushing me out of the door. “Come, Erralee. King Aswell has asked for your company. We don’t want to keep him waiting. I have arranged for you two to go on a drive,” he exclaimed with an enormous smile, but I knew that smile wasn’t for me. If I had looked hard enough, I would have seen dollar signs on each corner of his lips. “You can show him our countryside while you get to know each other.”
“I, ah.” I held my chest in pause, as I wasn’t ready to leave. I hadn’t had breakfast, and everything was making me flustered. “What’s the rush?”
“The driver is waiting.” Father’s hand found the small of my back and forcefully pushed me toward King Aswell, causing me to stumble forward. Being treated this way was humiliating, as ifI were a puppet. Father was acting ridiculous.Seriously straight out of the ancient times!
“Perhaps we can stop for brunch?” King Aswell stepped forward, his eyes finding mine and softly pleading for understanding. Though he was dressed more casually today, without his royal cape, he was still in full black. Black still wasn’t his color. His ominous vibe returned, and I felt as if a shadow fell over me. “Is there somewhere you’d like to eat?” His eyes paced over my face, studying me.
Father didn’t like me to dine in town unless it was for his ratings. The only diner was a bit of a dive place, and it was “too common for people like us.” With his recent actions, I was at the point where I didn’t care anymore what Father wanted, or his forced etiquette. I’d walk down Main Street while hogging a pink hotdog with the mustard dripping off my chin. “That would be lovely,” I replied loudly enough for Father to hear. “I’m quite hungry.”
“Alright.” Father clasped his hands in front of him, pointing toward the exit. “Have a nice time.”
With Father’s eyes locked on me, I didn’t have anywhere to go but out the door. My foot was barely over the threshold when the door slammed behind us. I glanced back, doing my best to stay positive. I wasn’t trying to be difficult, but I had nothing to say to King Aswell. This whole date was so awkward, and the only thing I could come up with was an apology. “I’m sorry if this looks extreme.” I laced my fingers together, feeling the need to hold onto something. “My Father has never acted like this.”
“Don’t apologize. I have had many talks with him. I can assure you that I understand his position, and I don’t fault you for it. He’s under a great deal of stress. Which, I hope I can assist him with.” He smiled at me in a way that was more genuine than anything, but I didn’t want to see that. I didn’t want to be the solution to anyone’s problems other than my own. He motionedto the motorcade, waiting for us with my security car, and his car behind the royal cruiser.
I searched for Weston, panic seeding in my chest. If he was here, I’d at least have someone to secretly roll my eyes at. I found him sitting in the driver’s seat of the cruiser, elbow out the open window, staring forward. He always found a way to be there for me. His gaze never wavered as we walked to the car, but he saw me. Always my protector, and I felt better as I climbed inside. Without being signaled, Weston started the car and drove forward.
“I brought a book I wanted to show you.” King Aswell leaned forward and dug into a leather pouch. I hadn’t even realized he’d had a bag with him. Then again, I was doing everything I could to avoid looking at him. It wasn’t even his looks that I avoided, but it’s as if every ounce of my soul was fighting to stop this, and since I had no control over where I was going, my only choice was where I laid my eyes. He pulled out a large picture book and slid it over to me.
“A book.” I forced myself to grin. I didn’t want to waste the effort to tell him I wasn’t one of those people who liked to read.
“It’s a collection of art by one of my friends. He has painted many of the landscapes in my home. I thought you might want to familiarize yourself with his style. If you would allow it, I would love for him to paint you someday.”
I opened the cover and fanned through the first few pages. My governess had drilled art history into my core ever since I was a child. I was able to recognize the impressionist style, but I wasn’t thrilled. “I don’t know if painting portraits is something people do much anymore.” I tried to sound as if I was contemplating more than looking for a way out of posing for a portrait. “Doesn’t it make more sense to use a camera?”
“You don’t like it?” His eyes traced my face, but he didn’t sound disappointed. If anything, he seemed intrigued.
“Does it seem like a waste of time when a camera is more efficient? Not to mention all the different editing programs. You could have a picture that looks like it was painted, but in half of the time.”
“But is it really the same?” He rubbed his chin before tacking on, “To me, art is half the process.”
I shivered. Nothing he said, or did, brought goosebumps to dot my arm. The air was chilly. In the bustle of getting kicked out of my house, I hadn’t had time to grab a coat. I wrapped my arms in front of me and wished for a warm coffee. “I could stop for that brunch you offered,” I said, forcing a pleasant smile.
“Where would you like to go?” His salt and pepper brows snapped up to his hairline. “You know your little town best.”
“The diner on Main Street is the only place there is.” I leaned forward, speaking to Weston. “Do you think you can take us to the diner?”
He stole a glance at me in the rearview mirror. An amused spark in the corner of his eye caught my attention. Obviously, he could see how much I was forcing this. “I can call ahead, and we can pick it up and take you to the country for a picnic? That way you avoid making a public scene.”
Even though this wasn’t his date, sweet Weston understood what made me happy and tried to make this situation bearable. “I’d love—”
“A princess can’t eat outside,” King Aswell cut me off in answer to Weston. “The bugs are terrible this time of year.”
I lowered my lashes, staring down at my feet. “You’re right. What was I thinking?” I stifled a whimper while I internally begged for help.Is this really going to be my life? I have no voice.
“Perhaps, we can still order ahead, and take it to go,” Weston rebutted with an eye on King Aswell in the rearview mirror.“Little towns are awfully gossipy, and you wouldn’t get much time to chat.”
King Aswell angled his chin sharply toward me and placed a hand over his mouth, concealing it as he spoke in a hushed voice. “Does your help always talk to you like they have a voice in what you do?”
“Oh, this is Weston.” I waved my hand dismissively, fully understanding how this might not be seen as appropriate. “He’s my personal guard and knows me well. He’s just looking out for us.” I motioned to the front seat, where Weston had appeared to slouch way down in his driver’s seat. “I think it’s a great idea to grab the food and eat it while we drive.”Not as pleasant as a picnic, but a compromise I was willing to make to avoid a public scene.
King Aswell opened his mouth wide, but closed it before he spoke. Then he opened it again, saying, “Very well. If you insist, that's what you want.”
“It’s just easier to have a private conversation, and since that’s what we are trying to do . . . You know, get to know each other.” I lifted one shoulder in pause, as tension pooled in my upper back.Why is this so hard?
