“Well, Warren, I have worked hard to surround myself with trusted and adept advisers. We mulled over this idea for a while and felt like it would be a great way to give the people of Wexstone a feeling of being involved and included in what was happening with their country’s leadership.”
“Did you read any of the pieces written about the competition and did you take into account the things that your subjects were saying?”
“Oh, absolutely. It is my job to hear what my people are saying,” I replied easily.
That was a bold lie there, Oliver,I thought, adding it to the list of untruths I had uttered just that morning. I actually hated reading the way the media had objectified and scrutinized the women I’d been courting. But this interview was not the time or place to call out the press for their bad behavior. After this morning’s headlines, my goal needed to be instilling hope in those watching and to leave them loving Adelaide; stirring up dissent wasn’t on my docket.
“Well, I think I can speak for almost the entire country when I say that we are ready to meet our future queen. Are you ready to ask her to be your bride?”
I smiled broadly. “I can’t wait to see her.” It was perhaps the first true thing I had said that day. I was verymuch ready to have Adelaide beside me on the couch. Even in the midst of the craziest moments in the last few months, I always felt more at ease when she was around. Time somehow stood stillandflew by when we were together. Regardless of whether our engagement was real, I was sincerely excited to have her by my side for this next part of the journey.
“Well, let’s not keep you waiting any longer,” Warren said as we both stood. “Wexstone, may I present your future queen: Adelaide Levy.”
A monitor was turned, allowing me a glimpse of what viewers could now see: the cameras panning the women waiting in the adjoining space, taking in their polite smiles, before stopping on Adelaide. The air left my lungs as I took in her chic, asymmetrical white knee-length sheath dress. Her golden hair was curled into perfect waves that flowed over her shoulders, and she was doing an excellent job of appearing surprised to hear her name called.
“Hell yes!” Birdie hissed from behind the cameras, breaking up the sound of Adelaide’s gold heels as she walked across the marble floor, through a set of white double doors, and onto the set with me.
I could barely hear any of it over the pounding rhythm of my own heart.
Adelaide’s vivid green eyes met mine and I felt my chest tighten and my palms start to sweat.Okay, we can do this.We know she will say yes. We agreed to this. Don’t pass out. You’re fine. This is fine. Just breathe.
I finally moved my feet, meeting her halfway. Once I was by her side, I took her hand and kissed her cheek, relaxing a tiny bit as I pulled back and saw her conspiratorial smile. She gave me a barely noticeable wink and my confidence returned.
“Hi,” I whispered, turning to face her.
“Hi,” she replied softly.
I lowered myself onto one knee, never once breaking eye contact with her. She was my anchor. Her gaze kept me grounded as I tuned out the cameras, the sounds of my mother, Rosie, and Gram sniffling in the corner, and my own thoughts about how they would be devastated when Adelaide and I called this off.
“Adelaide Levy, the first time I noticed you, we were five and seven. You had just started kindergarten and were bent down on one knee by the oak tree on the playground, getting grass stains on your knee socks as you fed two hungry squirrels bites of bread from your lunch. I didn’t know then that twenty-three years later the roles would be reversed, and I would be the one down on one knee, asking you to be my wife. I’ve known since that day that you were generous and caring, but courting you in the last few months has only reiterated to me how empathetic, gracious, and kind-hearted you are.” I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. “It doesn’t hurt that you’re also brilliant and absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.” I gave her a quick wink as she rolled her eyes, a smile on her lips.
“I have full confidence that the people of this country saw those same characteristics shine through as they watched us fall in love, and I believe they will agree with me when I say that those are the characteristics we want in the Queen of Wexstone.”
Adelaide’s eyes began to glass over with unshed tears. Either she was a better actress than I had anticipated, or I was truly fumbling this moment, and she wanted to be put out of her misery. I opened the velvet box in my right hand, grasping her left hand in my own.
“Today, instead of offering you a piece of bread like you gave to those squirrels many years ago, I’m offering you notonly my heart, but a place by my side to lead our country. Will you marry me?”
Adelaide squeaked out a yes and I slid the ruby onto her finger, trying to ignore the way it looked slightly out of place on her delicate hand. I stood, pulling her close as I met her gaze, asking the question I couldn’t voice out loud. Even though she had agreed last night that we could kiss for public appearances, I still wanted her permission. She dipped her chin in an imperceptible nod, and I lowered my mouth to hers.
As soon as her soft lips brushed mine, I couldn’t help but pull her closer. I kept my word from the night before and kept my tongue in my mouth, despite every nerve in me screaming otherwise. I slid my hand into her hair, settling the other onto her lower back as the world melted away. The pressures of becoming king, of running a country, the constant worries of what would happen next ceased to exist.
After a few seconds, I felt Adelaide’s back stiffen and the world came crashing back. No matter how much I wanted to stay in that moment with her, I had promised to respect her boundaries.
I slowly moved back and looked into her eyes. The unshed tears had cleared away, and I was left with a small smile. I gently moved a lock of hair away from her face and grasped her hand as we took our places on the loveseat.
“Well, there certainly isn’t a dry eye in this room!” Warren said through a sniffle. “Thank you for allowing all of us”—he gestured to the cameras—“to witness this special moment.”
“Thank you for having us here,” Adelaide replied, her hand still in mine.
“Ms. Levy, how are you feeling right now?”
“This is all quite surreal if I’m being honest.” She gavehim a dazzling smile, though a slight tremble in her hand belied her easy manner.
“Can you tell us what it has been like to be a part of this courtship competition?”
“It was a delightful experience. Everyone—from the royal family, to the press, to the contestants—has been so kind.” At least I wasn’t the only one lying today; while I knew my family had been nothing but welcoming, I also knew for a fact that she had not enjoyed much of the competition experience. “I even made some lifelong friends,” she continued, motioning to where Mel now stood by Birdie, the two women grinning from ear to ear.
“I know that my own family, along with so many others, have enjoyed getting to know you through this experience. I can only assume that my own husband is celebrating right now; you were the top pick for many following along at home.” Adelaide blushed as Warren continued. “As Prince Oliver said in his proposal, you’ve known each other since childhood. Had you ever thought about dating each other before this?”
