“I did.”
“What aboutthe ball?”
“As if my mother’s silly party means more to me than you,my flame—”
I put my hand up, shaking my head. I don’t want him to see my cry; if he feels sorry for me, it might add to whatever obligation he feels to stay here by my side.
“I read the letter,” I choke out, brushing tears away from my eyes before theycan fall.
“The letter?” He tilts his head. I huff, crossing my arms protectively. How dare he act like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about?
“‘How can I exchange a golden crown with a simple band offlowers?’”
“‘With ease. I will let the crown fall to another while I warm the side of my flame in the place I truly belong. For the love I have found here shines brighter than gemstones, and blooms wilder than a garden filled with neat rows of flowers.’ I am sorry you had to see it unfinished.”
“You wrote that for me?” I gasp, unable to fathom that the breakup letter of my nightmares was actually the most romantic poem I’ve ever heard.
He nods, the barest hint of a smile onhis lips.
“I’man idiot.”
“You are an unfathomable dream—”
“—who acted likean idiot.”
“Heather…”
“I can’t—I shouldn’t be selfish. You belong to your kingdom. You’re supposed tobe king.”
“I belong to you and noone else.”
“I’ve been rude, and irresponsible, and weird, and—”
“Mine,” he fondly strokes my cheek, “and I would like to marry the rude, irresponsible, weird woman who stands before me.”
“You know you could do like, so much better, right?” I shrink a little under his gaze. “There’s a whole realm of suitors just waitingfor you…”
“I could say the samefor you.”
Ugh, Moth clearly never saw my online dating matches—it’s slim pickings out there. “Please.Everyone at that festival wants tobang you.”
“But would theylove me?”
“Probably? Yes?”
“Would they dance with me in a cramped kitchen and wipe sweat off my brow when I am ill? Would they stay by my side on dark lonely nights and be the light that shines through the window in the morning? Would they smell of lavender and fresh-baked cookies and scrunch their nose when they smile? Only you, my flame, can set my soul ablaze. It is you I want, forever and always.”
“I love you,” I say, unsure if it’s enough but hoping itwill be.
“Then, be my bride, Heather. Be my partner in all things from here on out.”
“Yes, obviously yes.” I wrap my arms around him and feel the slip of something cold on my finger. When I look down, there’s a golden band, designed to look like a small wildflower tied in a knot around my finger. A stone gleams in the center, and each petal twinkles with cut ambergemstones.
“It is why you found me in the ballroom instead of next to you in bed,” he explains. “I procured it from a jeweler at the market, but it was delivered to the palace the evening of the ball. I was spotted in the hallway and dragged into the festivities before I couldprotest.”
“You were going to propose to me in bed?”
“It would have been on the saucer of your teacup, waiting to benoticed.”
