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We ordered our ice cream and sat outside to eat it. I saw how much she liked it. I loved seeing how happy I could make her.
“Is it time to go back?” she asked. I heard the disappointment in her voice.
“No.” I shook my head. “I want to show you something else.”
The driver drove back to our property but not to the house. We got out and headed for the private beach. “This is ours,” I told her. “We’re alone out here. It’s just me and you.”
“There is so much privacy,” she said, sighing. She held on to my arm and took off her heels. I kicked off my shoes and rolled up my pantlegs.
We walked down to the water’s edge and stood quietly watching the water.
“Theo,” Emilie said softly. “I need you to know something. I feel like I owe you a bit of an explanation.”
“Explanation?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve spent so many years feeling closed off from everyone, especially from my parents.”
I squeezed her hand reassuringly and encouraged her to continue. “I know. You don’t have to explain anything.”
“No, I do,” she said. “I need you to understand.”
“I’m listening,” I said and squeezed her hand.
“I’ve never had a close relationship with my parents. I’ve never seen the kind of relationship your parents have. My house was very cold and quiet. It’s been lonely, Theo. Isolating. I never wanted that for myself. I never wanted to become someone who’s distant and reserved. It just kind of happened.”
I continued to listen, giving her the space she needed to talk. It was what I had been waiting for. I knew she had a story to tell and I was ready to hear it.
She took a shaky breath. Her emotions were breaking free. “And it’s not just about me. I hurt for them too. For each of them. It’s created this deep-seated need to never disappoint them, to fulfill their expectations, to prove that I can be the perfect daughter they want me to be. I feel like they are already so miserable, I don’t want to do anything to make it worse.”
“You are a thoughtful, caring person,” I said.
“I never wanted the crown. It was never my dream. What I truly desire is a simple life. A life near the water, with a husband who loves and respects me, babies who depend on me, and relationships that aren’t built on monetary or political value. Just trust and love, Theo. That’s all I’ve ever longed for. This life I was pushed into is hard for me to accept.I am struggling to get my head into this new life I was dropped into.”
“Emilie, I hear you. I see you. And I want you to know that I’m here for you every step of the way. You don’t have to be alone anymore. We can build a life together, one that fulfills your dreams and aspirations without taking away from anything. Marriage doesn’t have to be a death sentence. It can be exciting and fulfilling, if we make it so. And children? They can bring so much joy into our lives whenever we’re ready for them. But most of all, I want you to know that you don’t have to prove yourself to anyone. Not your parents, not the people around you, not even me. You are enough just the way you are.”
Emilie looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Theo. Thank you for seeing me and accepting me for who I am. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s scary, but it’s also exhilarating.”
I took her hand and brought it to my lips, kissing it softly. “I’m glad you feel that way. And I promise to make you feel that way every day for the rest of our lives, if you’ll let me. I know it’s not a fairytale, but we can be happy.”
“Even with the stupid crown,” she muttered.
I had always hoped that she would see me as more than just a means to an end. Now, I had a chance to prove it to her. “Even with the crown. You can dictate your duties. There is no reason you have to sit on a throne day in and day out. Honestly, what would you be doing?”
“There’s always something,” she said, sighing.
“Because they want it to be something,” I replied. “Your parents are working hard to stay in the spotlight. Honestly, no one is going to care if you fade a little. You don’t owe anyone anything.”
Emilie looked at me and smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes. “You’re right. I don’t owe anyone anything. And I want to be with you, Theo. I want to build a life together with you, on our terms. And if that means not conforming to what society expects of us, then so be it.”
As we walked along the moonlit beach, the waves gently lapping at the shore, Emilie’s confession hung in the air. Her vulnerability touched my heart. She was finally seeing what life with me could be like. She’d been bogged down by duty, but I hoped she understood it wasn’t all about doing what you were told.
“I still have hard moments, Theo,” she admitted, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation. “Even this far into the Wed season, I catch myself falling back into the trap of thinking that maybe all I want is a business partner, someone to lean on. That’s what my father wants.”
I turned to her, my gaze steady. “Emilie, do you want more than that now?” I was practically holding my breath as I waited for her to answer.
“I think so.”
The words hung in the night air, a subtle shift in her way of thinking. It was the glimmer of hope I’d been waiting for. She was coming around. I could win her love. The sigh of relief I felt in that moment was overwhelming.
