Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

“ Y ou don’t have to come back with me, you know,” Korth told me after I boarded his ship. “You have a home here now.”

“I also have a sentence to serve, and I will answer for my crimes. I won’t hide my true identity anymore. Besides, Father told me it would be safer for me in Haven Harbor. Odette still has followers out there; an entire regime doesn’t fall in just one night.”

“It was just like you said,” Korth sighed, burying his head into his hands as we set sail back to Haven Harbor. “The people there…they were starving and mistreated, and I didn’t do anything.”

I longed to pull him into an embrace but refrained. Familiarity with the crown prince of Haven Harbor was a privilege I no longer had, and that loss cut my soul to my core. The only sound was the gentle slosh of the waves against the boat as it glided gracefully through the water, out of the harbor and toward the distant sun.

“You didn’t know about it. Besides, you aren’t engaged to Odette anymore; Ebora’s problems aren’t yours to handle.”

“But we’re all human,” he protested. “I can’t stand idly by knowing that injustices are being dealt.”

The ghost of a smile flickered across my mouth. “I know the feeling. There’s a fine line between heroism and villainy.”

Korth pulled his hand down his face and stared at me. “What have we done to each other?”

I stared at the endless ocean that stretched out as far as the eye could see. “I’d like to think we improved each other.”

“They’ll make you stand trial,” he groaned. “Once we get back.”

I shrugged. “I’m ready to accept my punishment. I did some time engaged to this honorable prince I know, and it seems to have instilled a vague sense of morality into me. Besides, life in a tiny prison cell there will be a jolly holiday compared to what life was like for most people back home.” I gestured at the fading coastline as the ship sailed away. “I did everything I could; I can’t help them anymore, not in the way they need.”

“But I could,” Korth murmured, so quietly that the words were nearly lost over the flapping of the sails.

“We’d be grateful to have you as an ally, but nothing is required of you. I manipulated you for my own ends before, and I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for lying to me?” He shook his head. “You were right; if you’d told me the truth I never would have helped.”

“I’m sorry I hurt someone as honorable as you are. Before I arrived, I thought it would be easy to hate you. I assumed you would be the same selfish type of leader as Odette, who cared more about themselves than they did about their people, but I was wrong.”

“Maybe you weren’t,” Korth whispered, staring at the rolling waves. “If I ignore the issues and pretend like everything is all right because it doesn’t affect me, I’m no better than they are.” He turned to look at me. “I think it is time Haven Harbor took a more active role in humanity as a whole, not just our own people.”

The light of hope, nearly extinguished, flared back to life. “Do you mean…?”

“Everyone deserves a life that isn’t overshadowed by an oppressive ruler. You’ve converted me to your cause.”

Abandoning all care of our station difference, I threw myself into Korth’s arms, burying my face against his chest. “You have no idea how much that means to me,” I sobbed, clutching at his shirt. “And what it will mean to everyone there. You are going to change lives. I love you.” The words escaped from my mouth before I could stop them. Fully aware of how inappropriate they were now, I began to pull away, but Korth’s arms wrapped around me, holding me in place.

After a breath of hesitation, I leaned back against him, basking in the security of his embrace. “I’ve loved you for a long time. I wish—” So many unsaid words hung in the air. I wished Korth and I had been able to get married. I wished I could have always been honest with him. I wished I was really a princess so he and I could be in a real courtship, not just a false one.

“Once we get back,” he began, “we can’t…”

“I know. I’ll be convicted and sent to prison. At least I’ll be an honest convict at that point. Maybe I’ll get lucky and just be exiled.”

“Living in exile can’t be a good option.”

“But at least I would live,” I said quietly. “I know what would have happened to Peter Pan if Tess hadn’t…”

“I won’t let that happen to you,” Korth promised. “You aren’t to blame?—”

“I am, Korth. I am to blame. I’m not innocent, not even close.”

He stared hard at the line where the sky met the sea. “With things the way they are right now, you and I…we can’t?—”

“I understand.” My throat choked up and I leaned on the railing next to him, shoulders an inch apart as we both stared at the horizon. “I’m no princess, and you deserve one.”

Korth exhaled slightly through his nose. “I deserve a princess like Odette? I’m honored.”

I bumped his shoulder. “Your Highness, was that a joke from you? I never thought I’d see the day.” The melancholy persisted, hovering over us like the oppressive clouds before a storm. “Thank you for saving me.”

His jaw tensed. “Granting sanctuary will still need to be cleared. There is a process, paperwork to file, and…”

“Even if I sit in a prison cell, it’s better than what Odette would have done to me if you hadn’t been there. You’re a good man, Korth, and you’ll make a great king.” Slowly, my fingers inched over to touch his. “I wish we could’ve had more time together.”

His pinkie finger curled around mine and he let out a ragged groan. “Dahlia, I can’t imagine life without you. You live every day with more intensity and passion than I have ever expressed in my entire life. I’ve been told that the mark of a true leader is being willing to dedicate one’s life to their people, but you did more than that. You were willing to die for what you believed in. I was born into my station and was raised knowing every day that I would have the kingdom handed to me. I took it for granted. But you, you’ve never taken anything for granted. You weren’t given anything in life; you’ve had to fight for everything.”

“And now you can fight for what you believe in, too. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.”

From behind us, someone loudly cleared their throat, and Korth pulsed his fingers once around mine before releasing them as he straightened and pivoted. “Godfrey, I didn’t see you there.”

Godfrey glared. “We can all see you two.”

I looked past him to where several of the crew suddenly busied themselves with whatever task was closest. Sighing, Korth took a half step away from me as he stared straight ahead again. “There is one other thing I need to discuss with you.” His tone became bashful.

“Anything.”

“When we get back, you will be under Haven Harbor’s protection as an asylum seeker.” Korth fidgeted with a splinter peeling off the bulwarks, unable to look at me.

“Right.”

Korth uncomfortably shifted his weight from one foot to the other, glancing over his shoulder again to ensure that no one was within earshot as he lowered his voice to almost inaudible. “But…um, you never actually requested it.”

I thought my heart would burst from how adorable his shy request was. Sweet Korth, who never wanted to break the rules.

“Prince Korth, would you offer me sanctuary in Haven Harbor?” I whispered, wishing desperately that I would never have to stop looking. “Will you keep me safe?”

His shoulders relaxed. “As long as there is breath in my body, yes.”