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I wished I could pretend I didn’t know why, that I wasn’t fully aware of what kept me from being excited by the prospect of a life here with the charming prince and his perfect family.A family that would be mine in truth, if I said yes.
“I want what is best for Ellaria. And Mother… well, between the rebellions and the way she is half ready to adopt you, I believe she might have hopes in that direction, though she hasn’t directly mentioned it.”
I must have blanched a bit, because he held out a hand.
“Please, don’t misunderstand me. My mother is very fond of you, regardless of anything that happens between us.”
I couldn't deny the relief seeping over me. At least, there had been no subterfuge. Just a typical mother, wanting to see her son married off. I could hardly blame her for that.
“And you?” I forced myself to ask. “This isn’t a decision that should be made for other people. It should be something that you want.”
He considered me seriously for a moment.
“There’s nothing set in stone, despite my parents’ urging for the past few years. And though we don’t know each other well, I already feel like we’re friends. Like we could be even better friends, with time… and maybe even more than that.” He sighed. “Isn’t that what anyone wants in a partner?”
His words sent an unexpected pang through me.
Friends. Best friends.That would make for an ideal relationship.
“Yes.” I let out a slow breath. “I think you and I could be very good friends.”
“So maybe we owe it to ourselves to consider it, then,” he added, after a moment.
I thought about what he was offering me. A future with a kind, considerate husband. A family. And one day,a kingdom.
Then I thought about my reasons for hesitating, and how they hinged on a man who had been forced to look after me and was going back to being roughly a hundred times my size in a day.
I would be an idiot not to at least think it over.
“That much, I can promise you.”
44
Edrich
Imunched on a tiny scone, marveling at how much richer everything tasted at this size, like it was in a super concentrated form. I thought about how comfortable my loose tunic and leggings were, how even though I was indoors, it felt fresh and open with all the flowers, less claustrophobic feeling than the average room.
Mostly, I thought about anything and everything I could to avoid thinking about Lina, or why I had agreed to stay here when I knew it would make walking away that much harder.
I was grateful when a rapid knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. Aster barged in before I answered, the same way she had to Lina’s room.
“What if I had been changing?” I demanded.
“Then we would have both been scandalized. Alas, we would have found some way to move forward.” She placed a dramatic arm on her forehead and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“For what?”
“To come shopping with me and Lina.”
“Um, I didn’t realize… ”
“Well you don’t want to be stuck in this stuffy room all day, do you?”
This room wasn’t stuffy, but she had a point.It’s not like I have anything else to do.
“Of course not.” I kept my tone wry to show her I knew she was plotting. “I guess I’m ready, then.”
