Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Disgusting.
Not for me.
And a black crown? That just screamed damning for our countries! Somehow that was taboo, right?
I looked away. “Don’t be crude, gentleman.”
Zautland coughed out a demeaning laugh. “You were the one that offered, princess. Or were you lying? You know, I despise liars, right Frederick?”
Frederick smirked down at me. “You could barely handle Zautland looking your direction, do you really think you could even begin handle me?” His words, his mouth, everything about him mocked me.
Stupid kings and their good looks and even better wordsmith ability.
My cheeks heated. “I’m a woman.”
Zautland cursed under his breath. “I can’t decide if I like your fire or want to douse it with a hose.”
“It gets complicated.” Frederick agreed with a hard nod of his head.
“I’m currently present, hearing all these words,” I said.
“Yes, but you’re so short.” Zautland walked around and faced both of us, still holding hands. “It’s hard to see you, you blended right in with the curtains behind you for a solid five seconds.”
“Ah…” Frederick nodded. “Because they’re plain?”
“Are you kidding me?” I dropped his hand. “I’m not plain!”
Zautland ignored me. “Mainly because her hair’s so dark and long I thought it was part of the side of the black drapes and when I realized it was too late, I was already staring at her too long, looking like an idiot.”
“It happens,” Frederick said helpfully.
“She’s used to it, I’m sure.” Zautland agreed.
I squeeze my eyes shut. These idiots.
“So…” Zautland walked around the table and poured himself some whiskey into a crystal glass, then took a sip. “I feel I was promised a show, you said five minutes, so princess, your time is about to start now, if you can convince him to marry you in five minutes, I’ll break off the engagement. He’s a wonderful friend, horrible at pickleball, which he admits every time he loses, but would be a lovely husband.”
Panic rose in my chest, why did this feel like a sudden set up? “So if I win, you break the engagement?”
“Yes.” Zautland took another sip. “But then you’ll have to convince him to marry you, which might be harder, any man might give into your soft touches, but when it comes to marrying you, they often times forget the very sharp claws hidden beneath your perfectly polished nails. Oh look, you changed them to pink, how very out of character, I think I preferred the dark red or black.”
I rolled my eyes. Claws? I had them for good reason! “I’ll prove it.”
“Okay.” Zautland grinned. “And you, Frederick? Are you okay with this?”
“If she can convince me she’s earnest, then yes.” He looked down at me. “But I’d like to remind you—you wouldn’t be able to handle me.”
He was soft. Weak. He read books. I could handle someone who would prefer to be a researcher than a king. “Bet.”
“You heard her.” Zautland grinned and reached for more whiskey. “She said bet.”
Chapter Two
Zautland
It’s not that I wanted to call her bluff—okay, I wanted to call her bluff, wow that didn’t take too long. I loved Frederick; I respected him; we were cousins through marriage and he did an excellent job running his small country.
He never asked for a lot.
Loved his books.
Loved women, though that wasn’t public knowledge since he liked to also fall in love with all the secrets he held over their heads whenever they dated him.
He did in fact do a lot in return, it wouldn’t be a horrible idea for her to marry him, on top of that, if she didn’t want to marry me—which she’d made painfully clear and at times at loud volume, why would I take a chance on her?
I wanted my freedom.
I wanted to see my sister, my adoptive parents and stop staring at a random family photo of the late King and Queen who demanded in their last will I come back “home” and take the throne, yet the more I learned about them the more it became apparent that they were not just great parents, great people, but that, my duty had to be fulfilled with or without her by my side.
I knew I had responsibilities, how nice to have someone by my side, to guide me, to help me. I didn’t want someone who hated me, I wanted someone who would partner with me. After being adopted out of the country because of fear of an uprising coup that ended up actually happening—I’d been hidden away from the world. Trained at the best schools? Yes. Wanted for nothing? Yes. Amazing adoptive parents who doted on me along with a younger sister who had no clue the entire time that she was throwing spaghetti at a future king? Had that too.
But now, now that it was announced I was risen from the dead, back in the country, ready to take the throne, all I had were the people around me that two years ago were strangers, Samira included.