Come to think of it, why hadn’t he glamoured himself to look like someone else?
She must have asked out loud, because he replied, “I need to focus all of my attention on the puzzles, not glamour.”
“Why did you take your mask off?”
He shrugged. “I needed to kiss you.”
* * *
“Your Grace?” a voice said from behind Roman and Violet. They both turned to see the moderator of the competition holding a trophy. A golden cube-shaped shape shifting puzzle sat atop a black stand with a golden plaque that said SHAPE SHIFTING CHAMPION.
Roman beamed with pride and thought this might be the best day of his life, having his girl here while he won something he’d wanted since he’d first discovered the competitions existed.
Roman chuckled. “I guess the secret is out.”
“Hiding your hideous face was smart, Your Grace,” a boisterous voice boomed good-naturedly. “Wouldn’t want to scare the others. It’d be an unfair advantage.”
Kelty appeared from behind the moderator and stuck out his hand with a wide smile. Roman’s large hand engulfed the other man’s and he grinned back. “Don’t be jealous because I’m prettier than you.”
Kelty laughed, a loud, infectious sound. “It’s been an honor going against you this year.” He looked at Violet and winked. “I beat him more times than he beat me.”
Roman tugged her into his side. The bastard was too charming for his own good. Violet held out her hand. “I’m Violet.”
Kelty bobbed his head. “The queen.”
Violet fidgeted with the necklace around her neck and laughed. “Not yet.”
Kelty grinned from ear to ear. “Tomorrow is close enough. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace.”
Violet waved him off. “Please, call me Violet.”
“Call her Your Grace,” Roman interjected, “or I’ll kill you.”
Kelty threw his head back with a loud laugh and clapped his hands. “So I’ve heard. Don’t worry, Mask, I won’t touch your bride.”
Violet jabbed Roman in the side with her elbow. “Stop threatening to kill people.”
Roman looked down with a crooked smile. “No.”
“Why’d you really hide your face?” Kelty mused, picking up Roman’s mask from the ground.
Roman scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I didn’t want people to treat me differently because of who I am.”
Kelty snorted. “Confident in your importance, aren’t you?” Violet giggled, and Roman cut his eyes to her. “Will you compete next year?”
“Probably not now that everyone knows.” He looked pointedly at the crowd watching him with rapt attention.
Kelty twisted around the stare at the others on the competition floor. “They’re looking at me.” He pointed to his face. “This is a work of art.”
Violet laughed again and Roman frowned, not liking another man’s jokes summoning her laughter.
“Your Grace, we typically have the top three winners stand on the podium to have their pictured sketched,” the moderator said and held out the trophy. “If that’s okay?”
Roman accepted the trophy and clapped Kelty on the shoulder. “I don’t mind at all.”
“Congratulations, son,” Roman’s father said as he and the queen approached. “A perfect way to start your reign.”
Roman’s mother pulled him into a tight hug. “We’re so proud of you.”
