And why wouldn’t I go along with it? There was no future for me in Greenwood Abbey. I had dedicated myself to be the perfect crown princess. A crown princess must be unfazed. A crown princess must not be jeered at.
A crown princess Ishallbe.
Taking a breath, I nodded.
Crown Prince Bennett leaned in. I braced myself as the crowd roared.
Hesitant lips grazed the corner of mine. I waited for a firmer press, but he merely stood frozen, a full two feet away. He was either the most unenthusiastic kisser I had ever come across, or he had never done this before.
It was most likely the latter, if the guards’ gossip had any ring of truth. I was dangerously close to laughing at the absurdity of the situation. Heavens. The people of Vandil would humiliate him into the next millennia.
There was no time for wallowing in self-pity. I had a performance to give, and it must not disappoint.
I yanked the crown prince into me, holding his face in hopes it would shield the spectators from his inexperience. My gloves dropped to the floor.
The crowd crescendoed.
Crown Prince Bennett’s cheeks burned hot against my palms. Though he still didn’t move his lips, they were soft and smooth and pliable beneath mine. His skin carried a heady scent of cedar and spices, masculine and warm. My knees weakened. I began to count, hoping it would steady me.
One.
Two.
Three.
It was a shame—or perhaps a blessing—that he didn’t know how to kiss properly.
Four.
I was sure I would dissolve into pudding if he did anything more than stand there.
Five.
Six.
His breath hitched.
I released him.
Cheers and hoots exploded from the audience. I opened my eyes in time to see Crown Prince Bennett gape at me. His mouth was smudged with berry red rouge.
“Apologies,” I whispered. I quickly wiped it away with my fingers, lest the people found something else to make fun of him for.
“I...” He exhaled, staring at me with wide eyes.
I stared right back.
“Er, that was a lovely speech, Your Highness,” Lord Irving said.
The crown prince stumbled back like a child caught doing something he shouldn’t have. I touched my lips, wishing they would stop tingling, or better yet, disappear all together.
Because a quiet, curious part of me wanted to kiss him even without the chanting crowd.
Crown Prince Bennett bent to retrieve my gloves from the floor. “Yours,” he mumbled.
I took them. “Thank you.”
He gave a jerky nod before turning on his heel. “Lord Irving, be sure to take the appointments and bring them to me. Ulysses, let us go.”
