“Do it,” Lance agreed. “But that will be your last act as my servant.”
“Your Majesty?” Talbot's face fell.
“None of you are servants here any longer,” Lance went on. “My court fled but all of you remained, and that loyalty is valuable to me. I need you to become my new court, so that I may surround myself with people I can trust.”
“But who will care for the palace, Your Majesty?” Pierre asked.
“All right, I'll need you to hire new servants for us before you leave my employ.” Lance chuckled. “And while you're hiring them, be sure to find someone capable of organizing a wedding.”
“Yourwedding, Your Majesty?” Martha looked hopeful.
Lance looked at Audric and Blaise, who nodded at him.
“Ourwedding,” Lancelot said. “My brothers and I are marrying Sylvaine.”
The crowd gaped at their king for a few moments before bursting into cheers, my family included. I was the only one who scowled at the princes. Oh, excuse me, two princes and a king.
“What's wrong?” King Lancelot asked me.
“We're getting married, are we?” I huffed. “I don't recall you asking.”
“Sylvaine,” Lance snarled, “you have controlled us from the very beginning, but in this, I will have my way. We are getting married, and that is final.”
“That was a horrible proposal!” I shouted.
“I love you!” Lance shouted back.
“I love you too!”
“Then marry me, god-damn it!”
“All right!”
“All right?” Lance simmered down and smiled. “You'll marry us; all three of us?”
“I'll marry you,” I agreed. “All of you. You're the mates I've been waiting for.”
“Post the wedding announcement too, Talbot,” Audric said, then amended it with, “if you'd be so kind?”
“I'd be very happy to post it for you, Your Highness,” Talbot declared. “Very happy indeed.”
Chapter Seventeen
The Kingdom of Lupienne was re-established, and while its people were still reeling from the news of their returned royals, they were informed of those same royal brother's upcoming nuptials... to one woman. But the announcements of a witch and her vicious monsters holding the princes prisoner seemed to be confirmed by the surviving villagers who had battled the beasts. And the lack of monsters confirmed the claim that the same princes had killed the beasts. So, the citizens were too relieved to raise their eyebrows at the odd choice of one bride for all three of their heroic royals. In fact, they came to the wedding.
No one knew that the new courtiers were the old servants; too many years had passed for anyone to remember them. After all their years of silent service, the household staff was justifiably enjoying their new status; prancing about in their finery and dancing across the ballroom in delight. I watched them with a smile, sitting at the high table with my three husbands and my family.
Our ceremony had been private; just the priest, my family and my husbands. It was sweet and simple, the most basic of vows for the most important bond that I would ever make. I was still amazed that two little words had joined me to three men forever. As soon as the priest proclaimed us to be men and wife, we were led out to the front steps of the palace to greet our guests and welcome them into our home to celebrate.
A roaring cheer had echoed out as we stepped outside, shocking me a little. Part of me had worried that the announcements wouldn't be well-received. But, in general, people wanted to be happy, and they would accept any explanation that allowed them to continue their existence peacefully. But not everyone was so willing to overlook the holes in our story.
When my husbands and I finished our meal and went out among our guests to socialize, there was a brief moment when I was alone. My husbands were distracted by visiting royals, and I had wandered off to retrieve my glass of champagne from the high table. While there, I paused to admire the centerpiece; a rose in full bloom that appeared to be carved from jewels. It was faceted and sparkled like stars under the candlelight, looking every bit as precious as it was. But its value went far beyond that of treasure. This was the cursed flower that had bound the brothers and their household to the castle in stasis. After the curse had been broken, we'd gone into the tower, expecting to find the rose dead or vanished. Instead, we had found this. This eternal flower; a perfect representation of our love.
“A rose,” Theo said as he stepped up beside me. “That reminds me of a story.”
I looked at him sideways, and found him staring intensely at me.
“Was there something you wanted to ask me, Theo?”
