Page 130 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown

Has no one else seen how terrible Prince Archie actually is or has he only shown me and charmed everyone else?

“Let’s go,” he snaps his fingers, gaining my attention.

Taking a deep breath, I close the door behind me and walk next to him, straight toward the forest. I hope no Fae are around to hear what we are going to talk about. I don’t need them getting mad like Zahra said they were and do something to start a war or get them all killed.

“Your lessons with Hilga are going well?” Prince Archie inquires as we step into the forest. “You are progressing far enough that soon you will be able to have lunch with me and my father?”

My steps falter, and I shake my head. “I am learning a little at a time, but there is so much to learn. It may take longer than I thought it was going to. You can ask Hilga. I don’t think she likes me very much.”

Her not liking me is an understatement. I’m pretty sure she loathes me. Hilga doesn’t try to hide it either. Anytime I step inside that room, she is looking at me in disgust and glares at me.

“Hilga says you have a lot to learn.” Prince Archie hums. “Have you been practicing at home?”

I rub the back of my neck. “I try to, but by the time I eat, I am so exhausted from the day and just try to get food in my stomach before I go to bed.” And that isn’t a lie. I don’t have hours to dedicate to getting better at this like he did.

“Unacceptable,” he snaps. “You should be practicing every day.”

I bow. “Sorry. I will try harder.”

But that’s a lie. I’m not going to waste my time on practicing that when I’m never going to use it. No one in town cares how you eat or hold your utensils.

“You may leave us for a little while,” Prince Archie dismisses the guards. “Thirty minutes of alone time. Nothing will happen.”

The guards leave us, and Prince Archie sits on the blanket.

“Sit here. We will eat.” He pats the spot next to him.

I hesitantly walk toward the blanket and sit on the opposite side of it. His eyes narrow on me, but I don’t pay any attention to him. He wants me close to him, but I want to make it clear that I don’t want to be. I don’t want to be anywhere near him but he doesn’t seem to get that.

Will he ever?

Prince Archie doesn’t say anything as he pulls out bread and ham, handing me some before taking some for himself. I should eat, but I’m not hungry. I don’t know if Prince Archie didn’t have his people poison the food and he knew which one to give me.

I shouldn’t be this paranoid, but so many things weren’t what I was expecting. Things are coming unraveled that I thought were right and could never be wrong.

“I would like to talk about marriage. I’ve been speaking to your friend, Skylar, about what you would like when I propose, but I wanted to hear from you. Is there anything specific you want that she doesn’t know about?”

For him not to propose.

I hold my tongue and think about it. Can I tell him how I really feel or is it going to bite me in the ass later?

“Adeline?” he asks, tilting his head to the side. “Is there anything else you want that she doesn’t know? Money is not a problem. I will give you whatever you want.”

I suck in a small breath. He will give me whatever I want in regard to the wedding and proposal, but not what I actually want in life.

“May I be frank?” I gently ask.

“Of course. You are to be my wife, and you should be able to talk to me about anything,” Prince Archie replies.

Talk to him about anything and yet I don’t feel like I can. I feel like I could get killed for a simple mistake and he wouldn’t blink an eye to that.

“I do not want to marry you,” I quietly say. “I have no intention of saying yes when you ask me.”

Prince Archie stares at me, blinking as the words sink into his brain. I hold my breath, waiting to see his reaction. Should I have kept it to myself?

“What was that?” he asks. “I think I heard you wrong.”

But he didn’t.