Page 22 of Royal Resistance

“Of course not. It’s your refusal to even consider my offer that stings.”

I don’t want to think about how she’s refusing to consider me as well as the offer. Prince Magnus of Laandia was always a catch, but as king, I have even more to offer, especially to someone like Selene.

“Is this a serious offer?”

I hold her gaze, and for the first time, there’s a… spark… in the blue depths.

Whether that is interest or anger, I can’t quite tell. “It could be,” I admit, keeping my voice low.

Selene studies me as much as I study her, like it’s the first time we’re seeing each other. And maybe it is. Maybe for the first time we’re looking. “I don’t know anything about you,” she says reluctantly.

I lift a shoulder in a shrug. “But you could. That’s what I’m offering.” For a moment there’s… a moment. Something passes between us. “I’ll try again.”

The blue eyes shutter. “I doubt you’ll want to bother.”

“You’d be surprised what I want to be bothered about,” I tell her with a grin. “Selene, formerly of Avelaine, it would give me the greatest honour if you would consider my most heartfelt and sincere proposal of marriage. My country needs you. I need you.”

This time, she lets the words hang between us for at least thirty seconds.

“No,” she says. This time, she walks away.

“‘You know what would make it better?’” Duncan echoes with a groan. “Mag—I don’t believe you.”

Duncan rescued me as soon as Selene walked away. I think it was more because he worried that I might have offended her, and whether it could lead to an international incident, than helping a buddy out. So, of course, I told him and Diandra about my proposal to Selene.

Hiring Duncan as my advisor was a no-brainer. We’d been practically inseparable since I joined the band, and I couldn’t imagine navigating a change this big without him.

Besides, we’d always made a great team. Kräftig might have started as Benny’s band, but before long, it became Duncan’s and mine. Musically, logistically—until we hired a manager—we were the ones making the decisions. And we were good at it.

So when I came back to Battle Harbour to learn the ropes, Duncan offered to stay in Battle Harbour until I found my footing. He never left.

Diandra has been hanging out here as well, working on her art. It’s nice to have friends around.

“I thought it was going pretty well,” I protest, motioning to a server across the room for a drink.

Duncan shakes his head. “Until you came up with that.”

“Haven’t you ever tried to romance a woman?” Diandra demands. “Wait—don’t answer that. You don’t think you need to because you’re a rock star prince.”

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to. Your face said it all.”

“My face didn’t say anything,” I mutter.

“And neither did Selene. Or wait—she did. She said no.” Diandra shakes her head. The family resemblance between the two of them right now is insane, but I’m not saying a word because I don’t want to point out it’s because of matching expressions of disappointment over my lack of wooing skills.

I never thought I lacked anything when it came to attracting women, but it’s clear I need help. With Selene, at least.

I really proposed marriage to her.

Part of me wants to take back the last ten minutes of my life, but part of me still thinks it’s an idea worth investigating.

And maybe working on it a little.

“I can’t blame her,” Dee continues. “But I do blame you, because I spent a lot of time talking you up. And that is now time wasted.”

“Apparently, not good enough,” Duncan says, still looking disgusted.