The Promised Prince: A YA Dystopian Romance

by Kortney Keisel

  “Good morning.” Seran’s genuine smile was a great reminder of why Renna needed to keep her distance from Trev.

  The two women stood in silence until Renna couldn’t stand it any longer and said something inappropriate.

  “I saw your kiss with the prince.”

  Nice one.

  “I think everyone did.” Seran laughed. “I guess it’s all part of the arranged marriage—part of the job.”

  “Is that what your relationship feels like to you? A job?” Renna tried to mask her hurt. Being with Trev wasn’t a job or hard work. Everything between them felt easy and natural to her.

  Seran met Renna’s eyes and sighed. “It’s difficult to feel otherwise when every moment I have with him is a public relations stunt. We’ve hardly had time alone together.”

  Renna nodded, hating the rush of relief she felt. Much as she hated to admit it, she needed things to go well between them. She needed Trev to fall madly in love with Seran, and she with him. It hurt, of course, but how else could Renna move on?

  “I suppose things are going well,” Seran continued. “Ezra has a lot of wonderful qualities that make us a fine match. But in other ways, I wonder if we are too different.”

  “How so?”

  “Oh, he’s silly when I’m serious, that sort of thing. But maybe that doesn’t matter. Maybe our differences are a good thing.” Seran shrugged. “Perhaps we will complement each other.”

  “Is that how it was with your parents?” Renna didn’t have much experience with arranged marriages.

  Seran laughed half-heartedly. “I could pretend that my parents loved each other, but that would be a lie. They respectfully tolerated each other. I see that now that my father is with your mother. He loves Queen Mariele very much.”

  “I see it too,” Renna admitted. “I don’t think my mother loved my father the way she loves Bryant.” A familiar pang of heartache pulsed inside her heart as she thought back to her father, desperately trying to win her mother’s love.

  “And your father?” Seran asked suddenly. “Do you think he ever loved your mother?”

  “I think he did. He was kind to my mother. And patient.” Renna swallowed her emotion. “I think he loved her as much as she allowed him to.”

  Seran smiled ruefully. “Then I suppose we should feel grateful that our parents finally found love with each other.”

  Grateful? Renna had never thought of it that way.

  They lapsed into silence, watching a few servants in the field below battle a breeze as they set up a shade tent.

  Seran was quiet for a moment, then said matter-of-factly, “I know my marriage isn’t about love, but I still worry that I’ll end up like your father and my mother—married to someone who will never love me back.” Then, with detached emotion, she added, “The prince might even love someone else.”

  Renna’s chest constricted. Did Seran suspect something? “I’m sure Prince Ezra isn’t like that.”

  Seran shrugged. “I wouldn’t know if he is or isn’t. I barely know anything about him. But I hope you’re right.”

  The palace door opened behind them and they both turned. Trev emerged, wearing fitted, black athletic pants and a blue t-shirt that made his eyes pop more than usual.

  Seran greeted him with a full smile.

  “Good morning, ladies,” he said, glancing briefly at Renna before kissing Seran’s cheek. Then he turned his attention on everywhere else but Renna. He was obviously trying to avoid her after the way they had left things last night.

  The gates down the driveway opened up in front of them, letting six palace transporters in. Little heads popped out the open windows as the children tried to get a better view of the palace. Against her better judgment, Renna stole a glance at Trev. He waved at the vehicles, showing his charming, boyish grin.

  He was cute—obnoxiously and excruciatingly cute.

  Trev

  Bringing school children to the palace was another brilliant idea from somebody on his father’s staff. Let the public see how excellent Princess Seran and Prince Ezra are with children. Real life at the palace wasn’t really like this. Inside, men were brainstorming ways to attack the world’s most threatening kingdom, while Trev was outside playing kickball. He hated missing those meetings. His father was pushing for revenge on Tolsten. Trev needed to be there to talk some sense into him, but he didn’t have a choice. He was the host for the children’s field trip.

  Somehow Trev found himself in the middle of a game of tag. The kids loved trying to get him as he darted in and out, dodging little hands. Seran stood timidly on the sidelines, smiling and laughing at his antics. He was keenly aware of Renna across the lawn watching him as well, but he avoided her. Was she still mad at him for warning her about Joniss? He hated the way they had left things, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Now, his duty was to Seran.

  “When I say go,” he told a group of kids huddled around him, “I want everyone to run to Princess Seran and tickle her.”

  They nodded in excitement.

  “Ready? Go!”

  The children shrieked and burst toward her.

  Seran squealed with wide eyes. She tried to jog away, but Trev was faster and quickly caught her around the waist.

  “Tickle her!” he yelled.

  The children descended in a mess of little bodies, fingers, and giggles. Trev let go of Seran and managed to wriggle out of the children’s grasp as they focused on the princess. Seran dropped to her knees and tried to shield herself with her arms, laughing and begging for mercy. The children only tickled harder.

  After a few seconds, Seran pointed desperately to Renna, who stood twenty feet from them, watching the spectacle. “It’s Miss Degray’s turn,” she said. “Go get Miss Degray!”

  Renna’s eyes flew wide open. She started to back away, shaking her head comically. Laughing, the children broke away from Seran and charged toward Renna, tackling her until they all toppled to the ground. Renna laughed from the bottom of the pile.

  “Oh dear.” Seran chuckled, still on her knees. “You better go call them off.”

  Trev hesitated. He had purposely avoided Renna all morning. He offered his hand to help Seran stand. “I’m sure she doesn’t need our help.”

  “Those kids will never release her, and it’s my fault.” Seran laughed, accepting his hand. She rose gracefully, then reached down to beat a few blades of grass from her skirt. “Go help her.”

  Trev nodded, reluctantly making his way to the pile of kids. “All right, all right. Give Miss Degray a break.”

  The children groaned, but dutifully scattered, leaving Renna sprawled out on the grass, her face flushed, her hair mussed, and a bright smile on her lips. She looked up at him, her green eyes glimmering in their playful way. “I think they won.”

  “It looks like it,” was all Trev dared to say. He held his hand out to help her up, knowing that when her skin touched his, everything inside him would feel it. Their fingers touched, and their eyes locked, the spark between them bursting to life.

  “You’re good with them,” she said through heavy breaths as she stood, not pulling her hand away immediately.

  “I don’t know about that.” Trev shrugged. He let his fingers slowly slide over her palm as he released it.

  He stared at her for one long moment, unsure what to say but wanting to say so much. He wanted to tell her he was sorry for upsetting her last night. He wanted to explain that the thought of her with Joniss tore him up inside. He wanted her to understand that she was the best thing that had ever happened to him—and the worst.

  Renna broke the silence first. “I’m sorry I snapped at you last night.”

  “No.” He shook his head apologetically. “I shouldn’t have gotten involved in your personal life.”

  “True,” Renna said, “but you were right about Joniss. He was just using me.”

  Trev couldn’t hide his smile.

  “Oh, don’t look so happy about it.” Renna rolled her eyes.<
br />
  “I’m not!” But his laugh gave him away.

  A little boy missing his two front teeth appeared at Renna’s side and tugged her arm, breaking the moment. “Come play with me, Miss Renna,” he begged.

  “Colter,” Renna smiled at the scrawny boy, “have you met Prince Ezra yet?”

  “No, I don’t care about the prince,” the boy said, still tugging on Renna’s arm as he looked up at Trev. “I just want to play with you.”

  Trev raised his eyebrows in amusement. “I know how you feel. I just want to play with Miss Renna too.”

  Renna dropped her eyes, alerting him to the fact that he shouldn’t have said that. He tried to change the subject. “Where do you live, Colter?”

  “My momma and papa live by the market square. They sell squash and zucchini and sometimes tomatoes if they aren’t bad.”

  “When I was your age, my momma and papa sold vegetables too,” Renna said, bending down so she matched his height.

  Colter’s eyes lit up. “They must’ve sold a lot of vegetables because now you live at the palace.”

  Renna laughed. “I don’t live here. I’m just visiting.”

  “Like me!” Colter beamed.

  “Just like you.” Renna tousled his long brown hair.

  “Do you wish you lived here?” the boy asked.

  She shook her head, glancing up at Trev. “I don’t belong here.”

  Trev hated the truth in her words.

  Colter scrunched his nose. “Momma says I don’t belong here either. I’m too dirty.”

  Renna frowned. “You look clean to me.”

  “My teacher scrubbed me clean so I could come, but Momma says it was a waste of time.”

  Trev caught the concerned look in Renna’s eyes.

  “Can we play now?” Colter tugged on her arm again.

  “Yes.” Renna smiled back at him and let the boy’s small strength pull her away across the field to another game. Trev’s eyes followed her retreating back as he breathed out one long, deep sigh.

  Tearing his gaze from Renna, Trev turned to his right and his eyes locked with Queen Mariele’s. She sat under a shade tent, methodically waving a small fan back and forth in front of her face to keep cool. But her eyes watched him.

  Trev inclined his head respectfully, though his stomach twisted. How long had she been watching him? He thought back through his actions all morning: he had been with Seran, played with Seran, until the brief moment she had asked him to help Renna. He hadn’t done anything wrong—at least not today—but the queen’s gaze felt heavy with suspicion just the same.

  He needed to find Seran.

  With little searching, Trev found her kneeling under a tree, braiding a little girl’s hair who looked no more than seven or eight-years-old. Her gray school dress was too big, hanging over her thin body and crisscrossed legs like a blanket.

  “It’s Prince Ezra!” The little girl squirmed excitedly as Trev approached. She tried to bow her head, but with her brown hair already in Seran’s hands, she couldn’t move much.

  “Hello.” He swept into a gallant bow. “What’s your name?”

  “Nalissy.”

  “What a beautiful name.”

  “That’s exactly what I thought.” Seran smiled at him. “I told Nalissy that I would do her hair like a princess today.”

  “Aren’t I lucky?” Nalissy beamed.

  “Very lucky.” Trev looked past the girl to see if Queen Mariele was still watching him. She was.

  He plopped down on the grass behind Seran. “Well, if Princess Seran gets to do your hair, then I should be able to do Princess Seran’s hair.”

  Seran turned her dark eyes toward him. “I don’t know if I can trust you. A princess must always look her best.”

  “Oh, please let Prince Ezra do your hair,” Nalissy pleaded.

  Seran leaned into the little girl. “How can I resist you? I suppose it’s all right then.”

  Trev started combing his fingers through Seran’s hair, noticing how the smooth strands were like silk against his fingers. The whole scene with Seran and the little girl surprised him. He hadn’t pictured her playing with children. She seemed too refined for that.

  “Am I invited to your wedding?” Nalissy asked.

  Seran smiled at Trev, then answered, “I don’t think so, but I promise we’ll wave to you from the palace balcony afterward.”

  Trev twisted Seran’s hair as if he knew what he was doing. “The wedding is in three weeks. Can you believe it?” He tried to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach.

  “It definitely feels surreal. Everyone has been talking about it for ten years. Now it’s finally happening.”

  He let out a breath, hoping it didn’t sound as heavy as he felt. “I know what you mean.”

  “I suppose we’ll be busy the next few months with the election approaching. My advisors say we’re going on a few city tours . . . to promote the alliance.”

  “That’s the plan. If it’s okay with you, of course.” Trev had never asked Seran what she wanted to do after they were married.

  “It’s okay with me,” Nalissy chirped, clapping her hands in front of her.

  Seran reached forward and nudged the small girl. “If it is okay with Nalissy, then it’s okay with me. I’m happy to do whatever is necessary for the election.”

  He bit his lip. “You know, there’s a chance I won’t win, even with you by my side. Joniss is extremely popular.”

  Seran worked a braid through Nalissy’s hair. “I know. My father prepared me for that possibility.”

  “What does your father think if I lose? I’m guessing that would make me a disappointing choice in husband for his only daughter.”

  “It would be a bit of a shock, I’m sure. But, if you lost, we would go back to New Hope, establish a presence there, and then you or I could run for king or queen when my father’s reign is up.”

  Trev didn’t like that plan. How would he ever get over Renna if he had to live so near her?

  Seran continued, clearly oblivious to the battle raging inside him. “The more I get to know you, the more I am convinced that you will win Albion’s election. Joniss has some popularity, but he doesn’t have my country backing him.”

  Trev released the hair twist, letting Seran’s black hair fall onto her back. “That’s what my father says.”

  “King Carver!” Nalissy interjected, picking up bits and pieces of their conversation.

  “I believe in you,” Seran said. “And I will stand by you. I’ll help you win the election. And together, we’ll rule the kingdom honorably.”

  He appreciated Seran’s loyalty and unwavering support, but it came with a fresh dose of guilt centered around Renna. On paper, it all seemed so perfect. So easy. But nothing about Trev’s situation felt easy.

  He spent the next hour with Seran and Nalissy talking about silly things, laughing, and playing until the transporters arrived to take the children back into the city. Seran waved at the little arms and hands stretching out from the windows until they all disappeared down the royal drive and out the gates.

  “That was fun,” she said as they walked back across the lawn toward the palace, servants already bustling around them to collapse tents and gather up lawn games. “Usually I’m not fun in settings like these.”

  Trev shook his head. “I thought you did great.”

  Seran hesitated like she was trying to find the right words. “Sometimes I worry so much about being dignified that I don’t connect well with people. I try so hard to be a princess that I forget to be a person.”

  “I think everyone struggles to be themselves in front of others.”

  “You don’t seem to, and neither does Renna. She’s always herself. You’re very similar in that way, and I sometimes wonder if you would have been better suited marrying someone with a personality like hers.”

  Trev’s stomach dropped. How was he supposed to respond to that? “Renna and I do get along well. She’s easy to talk to, so we’ve be
come friends.” At least, he was trying to put her in the friend category; he wasn’t making much progress. “But if our friendship makes you feel uncomfortable, I can . . .” What? Try harder? Lock her in her room? Put a blindfold on whenever she was near, so he didn’t notice the nuances of her facial expressions? There was no right answer.

  “I can avoid her,” he said finally.

  I think.

  “That won’t be necessary.” She pursed her lips together into a slight smile. “Renna is harmless.”

  He was starting to think she didn’t know Renna that well because she definitely wasn’t harmless. She was harming his thoughts, his sleep, his work—pretty much every aspect of his life.

  Seran straightened. “I just hope that I can complement your life in the way you need me to.”

  Trev tried to offer a reassuring smile. “I hope to do the same for you.”

  Seran nodded before changing the subject. “Any word about the missing girls from Axville?” The concern in her eyes was apparent.

  Trev shook his head. “Nothing yet. We sent a letter to King Adler last week, but it’s still too soon to have received his response. I don’t want to go to war with Tolsten. I just want to resolve this peacefully.”

  She gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m sure it will all work out.”

  They reached the palace courtyard, and Seran grabbed his hand, lacing her fingers through his. Besides the fake kiss, they had never touched this intimately before. Trev wanted to like the way her hand fit in his. He wanted to like the feel of her skin against his. He wanted to feel something, but the gesture felt forced.

  Is this how the rest of his life would feel?

  26

  Renna

  Renna craned her neck to see out the transporter window as the vehicle rolled to a stop.

  “I’m so happy to get out of the palace!” Jenica said, fluffing her hair, preparing for their exit. “We’ve been cooped up in the palace for two days while Seran got to have all the fun.”