“Cosette.”
“Conrad.”
“Come with me.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
“I don’t understand.”
Conrad was quiet as he led me out from the prison and back into the light of day.
“I thought the King was going to kill me.”
Still no answer.
I asked again what was going on. Conrad huffed as he looked around. He stopped walking and turned to face me.
“What are you doing?” he yelled.
“I don’t even know what you’re doing.”
Conrad crossed his arms. “We had a plan. It was going to work. You would get engaged to me, we would take the throne, then break the engagement. But instead you had to go make my father mad and try to get yourself killed! Is the idea of being with me that horrible?”
I drew myself back. I had never seen Conrad mad before, he always wore a huge smile on his face. That smile was gone now, replaced by thin lips and scrunched up eyes. I cleared my throat. “I will not be a pawn in his game. I don’t think he will go through with killing me.”
Conrad laughed and grabbed my sleeve, pulling me so I would continue walking. “Then you’re crazy. My father has no rationality.” He dragged me back toward the throne room.
“Will you at least tell me where we are going?”
“Well,” Conrad’s voice was still louder than it needed to be. “Since you seem so intent on making a spectacle, father wants to announce your decision to all the advisors at once. He’s called a meeting.”
That seemed unnecessary to me, but I wasn’t in a position to argue. Conrad was furious with me. I looked over my dress. It remained fairly clean in the dungeon, but I knew the smell clung to it.
I didn’t have time to worry about that. Conrad pushed open the doors to the throne room and pulled me in by the hand. I tried to keep up with him, so I didn’t look like I was being dragged. I had been dragged through this room enough.
Conrad stopped next to his father and turned me around. I looked around the room at people who I shared dinner with over the past few months. Would any of them stop the King from killing me?
We stood on the platform, a few steps above the rest. The men straightened their suits and stood in a rough formation in front of us, waiting to hear the announcement. They waited patiently, but when the King spoke, it was to me alone. He turned his face to whispered in my direction. “You tested me. Now I will test you. You don’t want to die.”
I tried to assess his meaning while he turned to the room. “Ladies and gentlemen of Westfallen! Today is a wonderous day. Today, my son has won the hand of Lady Cosette!”
Oh. That’s what he meant.
My jaw dropped as the room roared with applause. At my side Conrad looked as shocked as I was, and I was pleased to know that he hadn’t orchestrated this. The King clapped loudly and stepped back to give us the stage. His eyes were on me, challenging my next move.
Very few people knew I had already told the King that I rejected the marriage proposal to his son. And they couldn’t know that I’d come back and changed my mind. The King was making it look like this was my choice. He was choosing for me.
And he bet that I wouldn’t fight, because I didn’t want to die.
My first instinct was to clarify the situation, explain that I was not marrying Conrad, but the thought of going back to that vile prison intimidated me. I wasn’t going to fight right here, but I wasn’t going to marry his son. I would find a different way to fight.
I calmly walked toward the King and said, “I will continue spinning gold tomorrow night. Tonight, I need to wash this stench off me.”
With that, I exited the room, leaving the cheers of the people behind me.
Anna was surprised to see me. She was folding up the sheets from my bed while dabbing her red cheeks. She dropped the sheets in surprise when I came in the room.
“I thought you were going to die!” she wailed as she flung herself across the room and into my arms, weeping. I had shared my decision with her this morning, as well as my assumption that the King was bluffing. Apparently, she hadn’t shared my confidence. I patted her on the back, sorry to have caused her pain.
“No, evidently I’m engaged to Conrad now.”
She perked up instantly. “I knew it! You’ll be such a good queen!”
I hated to let her down, but I didn’t want anyone to think that I would be the next queen. “I don’t love Conrad, so I won’t marry him.”
Her face fell again. “But you aren’t going to die?”
I grinned. “That’s not in the plans.” I moved to help her remake my bed, then she asked if she could draw a bath. I was going to take a bath anyway, but she suggested it first. I guess I smelled more than I realized.
“Are your reservations about Conrad, or about being queen?” Anna asked. I stopped to consider the depth of the question.
“I never thought about being queen. I don’t know what I think about it. I wouldn’t mind being queen, but I’d feel like a fraud. There are so many people better suited to that role than me.”
“That’s true,” Anna replied honestly as she repositioned some of her hair in her bun. “There are better people out there for the throne. But there are also worse people. I think you’d do just fine. Now, I’m going to go and I’m not coming back until you smell decent.”
I laughed and watched her go. Then I slipped out of my dress and into the warm tub. The water greeted me favorably, soaking away my worries. I leaned my head back, closed my eyes, and daydreamed about being queen.
A noise startled me, and I threw my arms around myself. Anna shrieked.
“I’m so sorry, I was sure you would be out by now!”
“You’re fine, I should have gotten out already. My skin will be pruned for the rest of the evening. Turn around so I can get out.”
“You should get dressed quickly; you have a visitor waiting.”
I shook my hair into my towel. “Who?”
“Your fiancé.” Her voice carried an apology with it. I sighed loudly. I wanted an evening to myself.
I took my time as I dressed in a plain shirt and flowy skirt. I left my hair down to dry as it was. I didn’t feel the need to dress up for Conrad.
Anna fussed over my appearance, but I shook my head at her. I would see Conrad, then I would be right back for my warm bed and a plate of treats. My stomach was already growling at the thought of them.
Conrad was sitting in the hallway when I came out, looking like a lost puppy. My heart softened a bit. Perhaps I needed to take his feelings into greater consideration. He had displayed nothing but kindness to me and I had, in return, been cold and inconsiderate.
Papa would be disappointed in me.
Conrad had taken off his suit coat and jacket, leaving him with a loose plain shirt tucked in carelessly. He held his hands on his head and his eyes were red.
I sat down next to him, lacing my arm in his. We sat quietly for a few moments until my stomach ruined it by growling obnoxiously.
“Do you want to go get food with me?” Conrad asked in a voice no greater than a whisper. I nodded in reply.
He pulled himself up and offered me his hand. “Come on then, I heard the cook made cinnamon cookies and duck soup that I want to try.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
In a total change of mood, Conrad showered me with compliments that I didn’t deserve, telling me how brave I was, how strong-minded and beautiful. They were just the things that someone I rejected publicly shouldn’t be saying. He understood, he claimed, how I couldn’t get engaged to him when I didn’t love him. He was sorry that his father pushed it, but he was glad that I wasn’t in that filthy dungeon anymore.
I was glad too. That had been the grossest few hours of my life.
Still, his pleasantries confused me. He should hate me.
I enjoyed his company with a cautious mind. We ate our early dinner and walked in the gardens while the sun was starting to descend. B
it by bit, I let my guard down as I assured myself that I was in control of the situation. My confusion, however, was reignited when he started speaking about his mother.
“I’m sorry, I’m confused.” I put up my hand and shook my head. “I rejected you, twice, publicly. I know that you are happier than the normal person, but you are supposed to be mad right now. Instead you’re acting like everything is normal. Great, even!”
Conrad didn’t reply but searched for a flower instead. Bewildered, I watched as he meticulously chose one, then plucked it. He turned to me, twisting the flower in his fingertips. “I was hurt, yes. But I sense your dislike for me comes from hatred for my father, and not anything I’ve done. Beyond that, I recognize that we are trying to end the engagement between us, but this is still my first time getting engaged. Everyone is thrilled for me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to enjoy it a little. So, will you, as my fake betrothed, grant me pleasant company so that I can find some joy in the situation?”
He held out the flower at the last words and waited for me to take it. I felt like I was being unfaithful to Rumpel simply by being with Conrad, but he was right. He was my friend, and there was no reason we couldn’t enjoy each other’s company in an innocent way. I took the flower, feeling foolish for my actions.
“I really am sorry. I know you didn’t plan any of this.”
Conrad laughed through his nose. “I didn’t want this at all. I like you, that’s no secret, but it was never my intention to bully you into companionship.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for taking out my anger on you. From now on, I will be nothing but pleasant. As long as you know that I have no interest in marrying you.”
“Trust me, message received.” He turned and held out his arm, inviting me to continue walking with him.
Conrad shared his heart with me that night. He told me about his mother and the songs she used to sing while she tended the garden when he was a boy. He told me about his father and how different he was then. He shared his dreams and fears freely, holding nothing back. In turn I tried to share my own heart but found it difficult. So much of my life, my dreams and fears and interests, had to do with Rumpel. I wasn’t willing to let Conrad see that part of me. Still, I shared what I could.
I never realized how easy it was to talk to Conrad. His laugh was contagious and his voice inviting. It was easy to feel safe with him, like any secret you told him would be kept safe forever. He didn’t make my heart flutter like Rumpel did, but I realized I missed out on a great friendship.
Conrad picked a different flower for me from each patch that we walked by, until I could hardly hold them all in my hands. I laughed as he stacked flower upon flower until my hands were overflowing with beauty. Conrad threw his head back to laugh too.
His back stiffened when a guard came around the corner.
“Sorry, I heard noises, I was coming to investigate.”
“All is well here.” Conrad smiled at him, but his eyes weren’t as happy anymore. When the guard left, he turned to me and sighed. “They ruin things sometimes. I’m sorry you have to deal with guards everywhere. I know it’s not what you’re used to.”
“I’ve never been this watched before. But I don’t hate it like I thought I would.”
Conrad shoved his hands into his pockets. “Could you live like this the rest of your life?”
I hated having to tell him this so many times, but I couldn’t play with his heart. “I don’t want this life.”
Conrad looked around before steering me toward a bench. Some of the flowers fell into my lap as I sat down next to him.
“Is there someone back home who has your heart? Is that why it’s closed off to me?”
I ducked my head. “It’s something like that.”
Conrad nodded. “If you didn’t have him, do you think you could ever want me?”
He must have amazing confidence to willingly set himself up for rejection so many times. It brought me no pleasure to continue hurting him, so I softened my answer. “Maybe. But I love him.”
“Your actions make more sense now. Still, I think you could love me, if you tried.” His eyes looked at my own, peering as if looking into my very soul for the information he sought. I wanted to give him some relief, some glimmer of hope that I could perhaps love him, but my heart was so full of love for another that there was no room for him. Even knowing that Rumpel’s love was not one that I could have for life, I couldn’t imagine another beyond it. My heart very much belonged to him, and I wasn’t willing to share it with anyone else.
Either Conrad couldn’t see this, or he simply didn’t want to. Either way, he remained hopeful for the rest of the evening that my feelings could change, ending the night with a kiss on my hand and a brisk walk away as if his spirit danced in his feet.
* * *
“This contract is to officially declare…” The King stopped to cough. “The engagement between Prince Conrad of Westfallen and Lady Cosette of Westfallen.” Another cough.
My hands were sweating, and my head felt heavy. Anna had piled my hair up and set an elaborate crown upon my head as if I was queen already. She found another one of the queen’s old dresses and altered it for me. It was deep purple with gold lining, and it was majestic. Anna had hung jewelry on my neck and arms and went as far as insisting that we pierce my ears. I told her that no such thing would be done.
Anna was there, somewhere in that room, watching with bright eyes.
I had been encouraged to get a few more maids, as the future queen, but I thought Anna was enough. She, though, had been taken off her other duties. I felt so embarrassed; I didn’t even know that she still served anyone but me.
All the advisors stood near the front of the room, and the rest of it was filled with the ladies and the gentlemen of the court. It appeared that announcing an engagement was quite the spectacle.
My family had been invited, but I purposefully didn’t send their letter. I didn’t want them to witness this. With luck, this engagement would end soon, and I didn’t want to have to explain that to them. I just prayed that word didn’t spread to them before I had a chance to clarify.
I wondered if Rumpel was here too, hiding in the shadows. The thought made me want to pull my hand from Conrad’s, but duty held me still.
Conrad was dressed finer than I had ever seen him. His suit was pinned with medals that caught the sun and reflected brilliant colors. In a way, he matched the decorations on the wall, bearing the country’s colors. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought to wear those symbolic colors. It was just another thing that showed I clearly didn’t belong here.
Conrad squeezed my hand gently while keeping his chin up and eyes rested on his father and the scribe. I turned my head ever so slightly to glance at him. He didn’t look nervous at all.
I took a shaky breath and hoped that my body wasn’t trembling hard enough for the whole room to notice. My muscles didn’t listen to my desires as the shivers extended to my very toes.
“If you will sign." The scribe held up a large quill. I thought he meant the King, but it was Conrad who stepped forward, bringing me along by the hand. I stiffly ascended the stairwell, praying that I didn’t fall. The King stepped back and folded his hands over his stomach, looking as if he had gotten his life’s wish. He coughed again, ducking his head into his shoulder. His shoulders shook with the force of it.
Conrad looked over the document that had just been read out loud. I peeked at it, but the handwriting consisted of so many swirls and large words that it would take me an hour to get through it all.
“I didn’t know we had to sign something.” My face leaned in close to Conrad as I voiced my concerns. To anyone looking on, which was a room full of people, it would look like a tender whisper to my love.
Conrad leaned back. “Don’t worry about it.” He peeked at the scribe, giving him a nod, before bowing down to sign his name. He signed his full name, curling the end around the bottom. The quill was then passed to me.
The scribe didn’t bat an eye as he took the document and rolled it up. It was then sealed with wax and the King’s ring.
The King held up the document and Conrad and I turned to face the room. His hand slid into mine and held them up for the audience to see. From one wall to the other, the throne room exploded in cheers.
The King showed a deep smile as he applauded for us. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
I didn’t feel right accepting gifts, but my ill wishes did no harm to the relentless pile growing against the wall. My feet hurt and my cheeks were sore from the fake smile I plastered on for the advisors to see.
Conrad stayed close to my side, shaking hands and accepting congratulations. He answered all the questions that we encountered, for which I was grateful. Even so, if I had to hear someone ask where we would honeymoon one more time, I was going to hurl something.
The prince answered graciously that we hadn’t planned that yet, without looking bothered at all. It took a little extra strength to keep my smile in place. The thought of sharing a room with Conrad made my skin crawl. I distracted myself with the sweet aromas of the dinner that I hadn’t had the opportunity yet to taste.
Dinner was served in a buffet style, with round tables set up along half the room for us to eat when and what we desired. I desperately wanted a break to rest my feet and shove my face in a strawberry cake, but there never seemed to be a moment.
The Storyteller’s Daughter Page 20