Page 61 of The Princess and the SEAL

Wow. I was surprised that Miguel was honest. Maybe he had been dreading this marriage as much as I had been.

“Ryan’s an honorable young man, a warrior. A Navy SEAL. He asked for your hand in marriage, and I gave him my blessing, but only if you will have him. I only want you to be happy. If you don’t want to get married, we can call the wedding off now.”

My eyes darted between my father and Ryan. Was this truly happening? My own fairy tale was coming true.

Ryan was at the altar, and my father had given him my hand in marriage.

“But what about Miguel? And our country’s military?”

“I talked to Miguel, and he understood. We have always had arranged marriages, but . . . times have changed. I’m the king, so I decided to act like one. As for our military, Ryan and I had a detailed discussion on how we might fix it. And since he will be your husband and a prince, I will consult with him on managing it in the future.”

Well, that worked out well. Miguel would’ve spent our marriage at the casinos. At least Ryan had expertise to lend to our country.

“I’m so sorry, Papa. I love you so much. I just didn’t want to disappoint you. Or endanger our country. You don’t know what this means to me. Thank you!” I wrapped my arms around my father’s neck, and he kissed me softly on the cheek.

The priest stepped forward. “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

My father presented me. “I do.”

Ryan shook my father’s hand, but my father embraced him. Then Ryan kissed my hand.

The guests gasped and chatted amongst themselves. I was well aware that this scandal would be the talk of Santa Cariña for months.

I stared at Ryan through my veil, completely speechless. Ryan pulled me closer, motioning for the priest to wait.

“You look beautiful, Princess. I told you I was never letting you go. But you were forced into accepting one engagement, and I’m not going to make you marry me if you don’t want to.” Erik handed him a ring, and Ryan knelt before me. “Will you marry me, Princess Giselle Katherine Garabaldi of Santa Cariña?”

I gazed at the ring, a small princess-cut diamond.

It was just perfect.

I choked up. Ryan must’ve purchased this ring himself, though I was certain my father would have offered him a family heirloom. “Yes. A thousand time yes!”

Our guests erupted in applause.

I wanted to kiss him and jump into his arms, but we had a ceremony to start.

For the rest of the wedding, I was in some sort of haze, incredulous that this had really just happened to me. Where were we going to live? Would he still deploy? But the details did not matter. All that mattered was that we would be together.

Forever.

When the vows began, I choked back tears. But when the priest offered me a script to recite, I pushed it back. Ryan and I had forged our own path—I wanted to be bound to him on my independence, too.

“Ryan. You are the most handsome, bravest man I have ever met. God shined down on me the day he placed you in my path. You are the only man I have ever loved, and the only man I will ever love. I vow to be faithful, honest, and loyal to you every day of my life.”

Ryan wiped back a tear.

“Giselle, meeting you was the best thing that has ever happened to me. My entire life, I’ve yearned for someone to love, and to love me, and that someone was you. You are completely out of my league, and I will live the rest of my life trying to be worthy of your love. I plan to honorably serve your country as well as I serve my own. I never imagined myself as a husband or a father, but now I can’t imagine my life any other way.”

My heart couldn’t take much more. Was this real?

“By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

Ryan finally lifted my veil and gave me a slow, sweet kiss. I never thought I’d kiss his lips again. Now I would get to kiss them forever.

“May I now present to you for the first time ever, Prince Ryan Shelton and Princess Giselle Shelton.”

He took my hand, and the crowd cheered. My aunt was crying, Lucia was giving me a thumbs-up, and even my father looked pleased.