I swore and Lavena’s mask faltered. “Liam, you clumsy oaf. You are the most pathetic prince who’s ever—” She snapped her mouth shut and forced a sickly smile. “Poor clumsy dear, you seem rather rattled by my presence.”
I glared at her. “Quit the act, Lavena. And stop touching me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You let the handmaiden touch you.”
I couldn’t bear to hear her refer to you in that way. “Just leave me alone.”
I stomped down the hall. The noise attracted my parents, who’d been in a nearby room going over reports. They frowned at me from the doorway. “Liam, what on earth—”
I jabbed my finger in Lavena’s direction. “We need to break that contract before she’s the death of me.”
“We’re trying, Liam,” Mother said with a stroke of my hair. “But if we can’t manage it, you’ll have to try to make it work with—”
No, I wouldn’t even entertain such a repulsive thought. “I won’t,” I said. “I already played that game with Anwen, and now it’s too late to play it with anyone else; I only want her. Contract or not, I refuse to marry Lavena.” I went to the library, where I redoubled my efforts to find a way out of my upcoming prison sentence. Still nothing. It’s unbelievably frustrating.
But I won’t give up. I may have consigned myself to honor and duty before I met you, but now I can’t be the dutiful prince I’m supposed to be. I’ve never wanted this, but now I definitely can’t accept this arrangement after having experienced love.
I’ll close with writing your name again: Anwen. I love your real name. It fits you perfectly. I miss you, Anwen. I miss all the adventures we had, seeing your smile, enjoying our long conversations…everything. Please write back soon.
Your Liam
My Anwen,
I adored your recent letter and have already read it a dozen times. I love how each of your letters reveals more pieces to the Anwen puzzle I’m happily constructing. The more I learn about you, the more I care for you, not to mention your advice on how to deal with Lavena was both humorous and helpful. For now, I’ll do my best to ignore her.
Still no progress with my horrible engagement contract. The longer our efforts are thwarted, the tighter the chains binding me feel. It’s not only put me in a foul mood, but my motivation to be a good crown prince is faltering, especially considering you—the one who inspired me to embrace my role—are missing.
My parents have noticed my increased apathy, and seem both disapproving and worried. After a meeting when I was particularly inattentive, Father sat me down.
“What are you doing, Liam? You’d made such progress and now you’re regressing.”
I slumped in my seat. “What’s the point? I’m a terrible heir anyway.”
“No, you’re not,” he said fiercely. “In the past you’ve merely been a lazy one, but the last several months you were different—you’ve been flourishing, only to revert back to your old habits. Why the change?”
I sighed and stared unseeing out the window. “Because the one who made me different is no longer here.”
He was silent a moment. Then, gently, he asked, “The handmaiden?”
“Her name is Anwen.”
Father nodded with a look like he was going to make an effort to remember it. “You miss her, don’t you?”
“I see her everywhere,” I confessed. “I miss her so much.”
“I’m sure you do. She’s a sweet girl. It’s a shame…” He rested his hand on my shoulder. “You know your mother and I support your desires to marry her, but we’re still in quite the bind.”
Yes, the engagement contract I curse.
“I know this is hard for you,” Father continued. “But you need to keep making an effort to live up to your role.”
“I’m trying,” I said. “But it’s so hard without her.”
Father managed a smile. “She’ll make you a better king.”
“And she’ll make a wonderful queen herself.”
“I don’t doubt that.” He patted my shoulder. “We’re doing all we can. Don’t give up. Anwen wouldn’t want you to.”
I know he’s right. You’d want me to push forward like I always do. It’s strange how easy it was to do when we were together, but it seems so much harder now that you’re gone. But I’ll keep trying to be the man you believe me to be.
And our seemingly hopeless situation just got worse, for the King and Queen of Lyceria have insisted on a deadline—if we haven’t found a loophole by the end of the month, the wedding between Lavena and me will take place. In order to maintain our relations with Lyceria, my parents have unfortunately agreed. The impending deadline feels like a noose.
But I’ll never give up trying to find a way to keep you, the only woman I’ve ever wanted.
Your Liam
Chapter 25
I giggled as my geese waddled around my ankles, alternating between nuzzling against me and investigating my hands for clover. When they failed to find any, they nipped my fingers in disappointment.
“No need to be cross, dears,” I scolded half-heartedly. “You have plenty of meadow to wander and graze, you spoiled darlings.”
They seemed to be paying me no mind as they continued to poke their beaks against my hand, investigating. They honked in protest at discovering no tasty morsels, and I soothed them by stroking their feathery heads.
How I loved being back with my geese. I’d missed them these past several years I’d served as Princess Lavena’s handmaiden. They’d been adorably animated to see me upon my return. Their reaction had helped ease some of the pain of my aching heart, although not enough.
The tiny, affectionate, and extremely fluffy goose Bumblebee fluttered about excitedly in the way she always did when she wanted to be held. I settled in the grass and pulled her onto my lap. She snuggled up to me as if she were a cat.
“Did you need some love, sweetheart?” I cooed as I pet her feathers. My spoiling was interrupted when the geese suddenly began fluttering about, honking in agitation. “What’s gotten your feathers ruffled? There’s nothing to be—” My words died in my throat as my gaze caught sight of Liam, standing at the edge of the meadow.
My breath hooked as I stared at him. Despite loving his wonderful letters, I’d been trying hard not to think about him, to instead treasure the beautiful memories we’d created together and move on. But it’d been impossible.
And now he was here. How could he be in Lyceria, and in my small, inconsequential village? As happy as I was to see him, his presence would deepen the wounds our separation had created, for despite his assurances that we’d find a way, our being together seemed utterly impossible.
But he looked at me as if none of that mattered. He stared hungrily, his gaze stroking my face like he was committing it to memory. My cheeks warmed as I realized how I looked—tangled, windswept hair; a simple peasant’s dress; dirt-covered hands; bare feet—so unlike how he’d known me at the palace. For as much as I’d yearned for Liam to see the true me, I now wanted to hide, terrified he’d reject me, and then I’d lose not only him, but even the hope of him that had been sustaining me since our separation.
His expression softened into the most tender look. “Oh Anwen, I’ve missed you.”
I couldn’t hold myself back from him any longer. I sprang to my feet—dislodging poor Bumblebee from my lap—and ran to him. He met me halfway and seized me in a tight hug that lifted my feet off the ground. He spun around, both of us laughing in our joy. When he set me down, I burrowed my face against his neck.
“Is it really you?”
He chuckled. “I’m not sure. Do you recognize me?” He stepped back so I could take in his clothes.
I wrinkled my nose. “Whatever are you wearing?”
“It’s my disguise.” He extended his arms so I could get a full view of his peasant attire, looking too new and clean to convince anyone—not to mention his distinctive golden hair, bright blue eyes, and charming smile that gave him away as the Crown Princ
e of Draceria.
I giggled. “It’s not a very good one. You don’t exactly blend into your surroundings.”
He frowned down at his outfit. “What’s wrong with it?”
I perched my chin on my fist and examined him more carefully. “You’re far too clean, as if you haven’t done a single day’s work in them.” Which only reminded me of how unclean I was. Liam wasn’t used to seeing me not groomed and elegant like a princess. I nibbled my lip. What must he think of me?
Liam must have sensed my paranoid thoughts, because he tilted his head and examined me more closely. Cheeks burning, I ran my fingers through my tangled hair in an attempt to tame it. He smiled sweetly as he tucked a loose strand behind my ear. “This look suits you. It reminds me of how you looked the day of the village disaster. You were as beautiful to me then as you are now.”
I released a pent-up breath, his sweet words dispelling the insecurity tightening my chest. I felt strangely shy being around Liam in this way. As well as I knew him and cared about him—and despite our letters—a lot of Anwen was still a stranger to him.
Bumblebee fluttered at my ankles, seeking my attention once more. I picked her up and settled back on the grass, her warm, soft body helping ease my nerves. Liam crouched beside me and caressed my cheek. “It’s truly wonderful to see you again, Anwen.” He lightly traced my smile with his fingertip. “You look happy.”
I started to fiddle with my hair but caught myself. I wasn’t pretending to be the princess any longer. “I do love my geese.” Talking about the geese felt safe in this new relationship of ours. I gave Bumblebee an affectionate snuggle.
“You spoke of them often in your letters. I’m eager to finally make their acquaintance.”
“I’m afraid they don’t know how to behave for a prince,” I said, my attention not on him, but on stroking up and down Bumblebee’s back.
“But I’m not a prince,” he said. “I’m merely a man wanting to spend more time with a wonderful woman named Anwen. Perhaps you’ve met her?”
I managed a smile. “She and I used to be great friends before she had to leave for several months. We’ve since been getting reacquainted.”
“And how is it going?”
I paused in my petting to consider. “I’m not sure.”
I looked around the meadow, with its lush grass and dapples of wildflowers. Nearby was the creek I’d spent my childhood both wading in and investigating for water insects, and on the edge of the meadow was the grove of trees I’d spent years exploring, all encircled by the majestic mountains Lyceria was known for. The surroundings were so familiar, yet I almost felt separate from them, considering the person I used to be seemed so different from who I was now.
“Anwen?”
I smiled as I turned back to Liam. “I love hearing you say my name.”
“It truly is lovely, just like you.”
He settled more comfortably beside me and looped his arm around my shoulders to nestle me against his side, a position so familiar from our marriage. I happily snuggled closer and rested my head on his shoulder. But despite finally being back with Liam, it felt different now that I was no longer pretending to be a princess. Now I was simply goose girl Anwen. Could I ever really belong at his side?
Liam sobered as he searched my expression. “Are you alright?”
“I’m always happy to see you.” I hesitated before slowly reaching for his hand, knowing I wasn’t supposed to hold it anymore, but wanting to all the same. He happily relinquished it, giving my own hand an affectionate squeeze.
“As I am to see you.” He stroked my cheek, beckoning me to turn my face towards his own. “Even though you seem pleased to see me, something is clearly bothering you. Won’t you tell me what it is?”
Out of habit, I reached for the contract ring that I’d always twisted on my finger in my agitation, only it was missing. Its absence reminded me I could now be completely honest with Liam. “I’m feeling as if I’ve become two people: Anwen—who happily tends her geese and enjoys her life of simplicity—and Lavena, the one who adapted to your world of elegance.”
Liam’s lips quirked into a mischievous smile. “I hate to contradict you, darling, but I don’t recall ever seeing Lavena when I was with you.”
My brow furrowed. “But she was who I was pretending to be.”
“And I’m afraid you did a rather terrible job of imitating her. You see, I’m acquainted with both Anwen and Lavena, and you two are drastically different.” He cupped my chin.
My heart swelled, and all the love I felt for this dear, wonderful man returned anew, made even sweeter by his acceptance of me—he genuinely cared for me. At that sweet reminder, hope filled my heart. Could he be here now because…
“Have you found the loophole?” I asked breathlessly.
His cheerful expression faltered. “No, I haven’t. I’ve written Aiden, Prince Ronan, and even Prince Briar, seeking their assistance, but they, like everyone else, are at a loss.”
My heart sank. “Perhaps there isn’t even a loophole.” I hated saying the words, for if they were true, it wasn’t right for Liam to be here with me.
“Don’t say that,” he whispered. “There has to be.”
“But your wedding is only a few days away. How can we—”
“We’ll find a way.” Determination filled his expression. “I won’t rest until we do. I thought perhaps we could look together. Maybe you’ll see something we’ve all missed.” He motioned to his satchel, stuffed with documents and books.
I nodded, despite the doubts squeezing my heart. Bumblebee shifted in my lap to nestle her head against my neck, providing a much needed distraction from our somber conversation. I giggled and kissed the top of her fluffy head. “Are you feeling neglected? You do like your affection, don’t you, Bumblebee darling?”
“It appears I’ll have to compete for your attention,” Liam said. “Shall I attempt to befriend her?” He reached out to stroke Bumblebee, but she nipped him. “Ow!”
“Oh dear, she’s normally quite friendly,” I said. “Bumblebee darling, you shouldn’t harm the prince.”
Bumblebee ignored my scolding. Instead, she nuzzled up against me, as if to appease my irritation and reclaim my affections.
“Oh no, you don’t. You shan’t try and humor me out of my disappointment in your behavior.”
She kept nuzzling and I naturally softened, just as I always did. I gave Liam an apologetic smile. “Now you can see who’s clearly in charge here. I’m wrapped around their—wings.” I examined Liam’s finger, red from Bumblebee’s mischief. “Did she hurt you?”
“Just my pride. I thought it’d be easier to get in her good graces.”
“You are rather charming, so I have no doubt you’ll win her heart in the end, but in the meantime, let me help.” I took his hand and rested it on Bumblebee’s back. He hesitated before beginning to stroke her. When she made no move to attack him again, his tension melted away, replaced with my favorite boyish smile.
“I knew I could charm her. I charm all the ladies.” He winked at me.
“Do you now?” I pretended to be affronted.
“I do,” he said, unabashed. “But there’s only one I flirt with.”
He nuzzled his nose with mine before placing a sweet kiss on the tip. Then his gaze, glinting with purpose, lowered to my lips. It was a look I knew well, one I’d previously loved but was frightened of now. He’d no sooner begun to dip down than I pulled away.
He sighed. “I know why you’re resisting, but it feels wrong for us to be in the same place we started at the beginning of our marriage.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s inappropriate for us to kiss when you’re betrothed to someone else. Besides, the more I give you, the more painful it’ll be to lose you.”
He cradled my face. “Is that why you resisted me during our marriage?”
I nodded, relieved to finally be allowed to share the reason. “I knew Princess Lavena would one day return, and thus I could neve
r keep you. Yet you captured my heart anyway. That’s what makes this so difficult. Why are you here, Liam? I’m both happy to see you and terrified of allowing myself to get closer to you.”
He grinned. “It was a joint effort by all who are invested in our relationship. Elodie came up with the idea, and after I wrote a letter to Aiden pleading for him to send a fake invitation to invite me to Sortileya for business, I was able to escape Lavena while also having the opportunity to see you again so that I may court you to my heart’s content.”
That sounded wonderful…and painful. “But Liam, as lovely as that would be, it’ll make it so much harder to let one another go should this end in the way we fear.”
“We won’t have to let one another go,” he said fiercely, determination in his eyes. “We’ll find a way out of my engagement contract. I promise. In the meantime, we need to spend time together.” He snuggled me closer. “I want to be with you in your natural habitat like you were in mine.”
How could I resist such an invitation? So even though I knew doing so was unwise considering our circumstances, I allowed myself to nestle against him. He began tickling up and down my arm, and in this cozy position we remained…until my geese considered themselves neglected for a bit too long. They waddled over, honking and ruffling their wings.
“You spoiled things,” I scolded gently. “You can never go long without my attention, can you?”
Liam leaned down to whisper into my ear. “They seem pretty loyal to you. Perhaps the solution to our dilemma is to train your geese as our army to storm the castle and frighten Lavena away.” He tilted his head and studied them. “Are aggravating, spoiled princesses part of a geese’s diet?”
“Liam!” I smothered a laugh with my hand but it escaped anyway.
His grin broadened. “Yes, Anwen darling?” he asked, far too innocently. “Do you not approve of my plan?”
“My geese mean a lot to me. I don’t want them to get indigestion.”
He tipped his head back and laughed. “Oh, Anwen.” He pulled me into a hug, his expression adoring. “You’ve always been willing to play along with my nonsense.”
The Kingdom Chronicles Box Set 1 Page 84
