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I sighed. “What’s your problem with Leo?” I asked, curious as to why he was being so cruel.
“I think you know what my problem is, Christine,” he said, making my heart stall in my chest. Did he know that I kissed him? What difference did it make? It wasn’t like this marriage was real.
So why did I care?
“Let’s get this sham over with,” he grunted, annoying me once again.
Leo shook his head in frustration at the annoying king while I tilted my chin up defiantly. “I see you managed to sober up at least,” I said to August.
He arched his eyebrow. “I don’t do coke before noon, darling.”
“Enough,” Isabelle snapped. “All you have to do is walk out on the terrace and wave at your subjects. Do you think the two of you can handle this? We must get it right.”
August picked at the cufflink on his wrist. “I’ve got it covered, Mother. Should I kiss Lady Christine? Perhaps even grab her ass?”
I scowled at him. August was incapable of taking anything seriously. “What is your problem?” I asked, my eyes boring into his.
“Forgive me for not wanting to stand in front of thousands of people and pretend to be madly in love with the girl who abandoned me three years ago. The girl who promised to stay and then disappeared a few hours later.”
I shook my head while staring at the ceiling, righteous indignation flooding my emotions. “You are one selfish bastard, you know that?”
He took a step closer to me. “I don’t know why you’re so upset. This is what you wanted, isn’t it? When we were teens, you always followed me around like a lost puppy, staring at me like I was God’s gift to man. I could’ve had you then, but I didn’t. And now that I have you, I want nothing to do with you. You’re a flight risk, Christine.”
“You’re an asshole,” I spat.
He grinned, as if the insult was something to be proud of. “Unless you left for a reason, hmm? Do you want to tell me what really happened?”
“Enough,” Isabelle seethed. She walked over to her son and gave him a death glare. “One of these days, you will look back on this moment and feel ashamed of yourself. Christine left under my command.”
His eyes widened. “What? You told her to leave?”
Isabelle straightened his jacket as he glared at her. “And you quickly believed it. A king takes charge of the situation instead of sitting back and accepting everything at face value. It was a bitter lesson that you have yet to learn. So right now, you’re going to go stand on that platform and wave at the crowd. You’re going to look madly in love with Christine. And you’re going to grow up. If you want someone to be angry with for her disappearance, then you aim it at me. I’m not going to sit here and watch you ruin everything I’ve done for you because of your petty insecurities.”
August’s face burned red with anger, and maybe even a hint of embarrassment.
He looked over his mother’s shoulder at me. “Why didn’t you tell me? What aren’t you telling me?”
His mother snapped her hand up and jerked his chin so that he was staring at her. “Stop acting like you’re a normal boy with a normal life. Stop hoping the world will bend to your will, and demand it. Start bleeding like a king.” He swallowed. Trumpets outside began playing loudly. “That’s our cue.”
Isabelle shoved her son over to my side, and then she lifted his arm up for me to take. It was a shitty time to step out on the stage. I wasn’t sure how we could look madly in love when there was still so much turmoil sitting stagnant between us.
Sucking in a deep breath, I braved a curious glance at August and was overwhelmed by the pain in his expression. I wished Isabelle hadn’t told him that it was she who sent me away. It was easier to keep distance between us when I could take on the burden of that responsibility. Because if August knew what really happened, I wasn’t sure he would ever look at me the same way again. I would rather have his disappointment than his hate or disgust.
With his spine rigid and his chin held high, August took large strides across the room, pulling me along. Two attendants opened the door, and I forced a smile. The moment we stepped outside, crisp spring air caressed my skin, and the screaming crowd made my knees buckle.
August jerked me forward, and we both positioned ourselves at the guardrail. My eyes scanned the crowd, noting a few women who were crying, and some royal enthusiasts held signs that said things like, Marry me, King Augustus.
August looked at me for a moment, and I couldn’t tell where our roles ended and his true feelings began. It was a look that held so much tenderness and care that my heart nearly stopped beating. “Wave at the crowd, Lady Christine. Because the moment we’re done here, you have some explaining to do.”
Chapter Eleven
AUGUST
The roaring crowd swelled as I clasped Christine’s hand in mine. She played her part well, wearing the mask of a doting, blushing bride as she tossed humble smiles at the paparazzi. Time seemed to slow as I stared at her. The sun made her blonde hair glow, and a brief wisp of wind made a stray strand brush against her pink cheek.
Her fiery gaze landed on mine, and she squeezed my hand harder, challenging me.
My mind was racing with a million possibilities. My mother bruised my ego, but it emboldened me, too. She was right. I was the fucking king, and it was time I demanded answers. I couldn’t sulk like an asshole because Leo was staring at my bride like she was water in a desert. I couldn’t fight with Atticus because he called me out on all of my shit. And I definitely couldn’t let Christine keep her secrets any longer.
