Evelyn stared at him, at this man she thought she knew but clearly didn’t.
He had me envisioning a future with him, but it was all fake. I wouldn’t be staying here to marry a guard. I wouldn’t be getting away from court politics. He’s the heir to the fucking kingdom!
Her anger rose inside her like a fire engulfing a pyre. “You tricked me.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“You’ve lied to me since I got here!”
“You didn’t recognize me!”
“So this ismyfault?” Evelyn fumed. “I’m to blame for your deception?”
Leo flinched. “No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Whatdidyou mean? What was your intent when you lied that first night and told me you were a guard?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Yes, you did!”
“YouguessedI was a guard.”
Evelyn glared at him, wishing she had a rock to throw at his head.
“You asked if I worked at the palace,” he continued. “And then you assumed I was a guard.”
“You could have told me you were aprince!”
“I didn’t understand what was going on!” Leo said. “I thought you just didn’t recognize me in the dark and that you would figure it out later.”
“I shouldn’t have needed to figure out anything! You should have told me the truth!”
“I didn’t know anything was wrong until you asked why my eyes were different colors. That’s when I realized you truly didn’t know who I was, that the illusion wasn’t working on you.”
“That’s when you should have told me everything!” Evelyn shouted.
“Would you have believed me that night?”
“Yes!”
“Honestly?” Leo raised a brow. “You had just arrived in the kingdom of illusions. Then, in the dark and alone, a stranger with brown hair and blue eyes tells you he’s the Ducasse prince? You would have thought me crazy or dangerous!”
He has a good point, but I’m not going to admit that now.
“And the rest of the week?” Evelyn asked. “Do you have an excuse for every other moment we spent together?”
“I nearly told you yesterday, and then I was going to tell you this morning. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“This morning was several days too late! You’re the one who helped me understand that I can’t see illusions here. I would have believed you then!”
“I…” Leo hesitated. “I liked that you didn’t know who I was.”
“What? Youlikedlying to me?”
“No! I hated the lies. But I liked that you didn’t treat me like a prince.”
“Explain,” Evelyn demanded.
