35. Adina

35

ADINA

T he queen watched her son go, then turned to me, and I prepared myself for interrogation.

She had to be suspicious as hell and wonder whether I'd drugged her son or bewitched him. Would she threaten to throw me in the dungeon?

"Oh, Aramar!" The queen laughed, pulling down her veil and pressing her hands to her blushing cheeks. I could see now where James had gotten his elegant looks. "You are a marvel!"

I hadn't had the pleasure of maternal approval and encouragement since my mother had passed away when I was a young girl, and to receive it now felt like a warm hug.

"Thank you," I whispered. "But what did I do to deserve such praise?"

"The miracle you've wrought, and in just a few days! How did you manage it? You two didn't seem to be saying much of anything at all, and then—oh, my goodness!" She walked over and dropped into the seat James had been in a moment ago, still beaming.

I didn't know what to say to that.

"I apologize for listening in," she said after a second of silence on my part. "It's just that, well, there's no such thing as privacy in the palace, not even for a royal family member. Our meetings are monitored for our safety."

"It's fine," I said quickly. "I know how it can be."

I wondered what she had heard. The language model had probably spouted a string of nonsensical pleasantries, and it must have looked odd that it had led to us kissing. She probably thought that we had been seized by uncontrollable lust just from facing one another across the table.

"Oh, of course you do," the queen said. "Being a princess."

"Right."

A princess. Me. Except I wasn't one, and despite Gene's hard work at setting me up to be the closest thing to a princess I could be in Londabad, I still didn't have the pedigree. It was hard to communicate with Edinbai, but not impossible. What would happen when, down the road, the royal family learned that I wasn't who I said I was?

I'd been so obsessed with nothing but contacting James, reconnecting with him in any way I could, that I hadn't even considered any long-term plans.

Well, that was only partially true. I loved James, and I wanted to be with him, but my subterfuge was only skin deep, and it wasn't enough to make me a suitable bride. Not even Gene could fabricate a royal family for me. The way things stood now, the only way James and I could be together was to escape the palace, but where in Londabad could we go where we wouldn't be found?

"Darling, you look a bit troubled." The queen leaned forward and took my hand in hers. "What's wrong? I thought you wanted to have James's attentions like this."

"I do," I assured her, my voice slightly choked up. "I do, I just... I feel that I can't take credit for his transformation. I'm no miracle worker. I'm just..." I took a deep breath. "I suppose I feel a little bit unworthy, that's all."

"Oh, Aramar." The queen patted my hand. "I know how hard it can be to accept that you're a source of joy for someone you love. Look at me!" She laughed. "I never imagined I'd catch the king's interest when I was performing down on the Promenade! But from the moment our eyes met, I knew we had the potential for something extraordinary. We were engaged in no time and then married. He knew what he wanted, and I knew what I wanted, too."

She sighed, her eyes going slightly distant. "It hasn't all been as I imagined early on. Being queen is a privilege, I'm very conscious of that, but it's also an immense responsibility. And I wasn't born to this level of society, which has led to some friction with the peerage over the years." She refocused on me. "I'm very grateful you'll be spared that."

"Slow down, Your Majesty!" I laughed, trying to mask my growing unease. "We've only just kissed! We're far from engaged."

"Oh, don't think I can't read my own son." She shook a finger playfully at me. "James is not going to want to wait, and I don't think you are either. The men of this family are prone to falling in love quickly and with their whole hearts. I think it's entirely possible that before the month is over, you will be wed. If that's what you want, of course," she added. "I know I asked this of you, but you are under no obligation to?—"

"I would love to marry James," I said with perfect honesty, because I wanted to be with him however I could be. Marriage would mean whatever we wanted it to mean. It didn't have to be a cage. It could mean the ultimate freedom.

"Then that's wonderful!" The queen clapped her hands. "Don't worry about a thing for now. Keep getting to know each other, and I'll take over the planning from here."

"Don't plan too much too soon, Your Majesty," I begged her. "And please, don't reach out to my family. Not yet."

"Oh, darling." She looked sympathetic. "Are you afraid they'll say no?"

"Something like that." I was afraid they'd say, who the hell are you talking about? Aramar is right here in Edinbai .

It was a problem I needed to talk to Gene about solving fast.

"I'll give you two some time to get used to the idea of marriage," she promised me, then clapped her hands with glee. "I can't believe it! I was so worried about James just a day ago, and now I'm so happy for him. And for you!"

I hoped I would be able to keep her happy.

As the queen continued to chatter excitedly about wedding plans and the future, my mind raced, thinking of all the obstacles in the way of our happiness—Jeffry's schemes, the king's suspicions, the political machinations, and all the dangers lurking in the shadows of the palace.