A Tangled Web of Truth | Complete (ONC 2021 Shortlister)

12. The Queen's Decision

"Where are the other girls?" Alicia asked as she followed Alejandro down the corridor to announce the news to his mother.

"On another tour," Alejandro admitted. "I had Fetu steal you away so I could ask you before I did anything else. I was really hoping you'd say yes. Didn't really have a solid second choice lined up so we would have been in for a long evening if you'd turned me down." Alejandro tried to hide his smile, but there was no stopping his cheeks from betraying him. She was giving him a chance.

"So they're still here? What are you planning to do? Let them all think it's them until they turn on the news this evening?" Alicia shook her head and continued to bounce in her flats as they walked down the final stone hallway that led to his mother's study.

"No. I'm thinking of letting them all know it's you after my mother agrees to it."

A blush crept up Alicia's face and she spun the ring around on her finger, smiling gently as it caught the light and threw tiny rainbows onto the walls. She suddenly stopped and the smile slid off her face as she turned to face Alejandro. "Wait! Agrees? I have to convince her? I've barely convinced myself."

Alejandro tightened his grip on her hand slightly and rested his other hand on her shoulder. "Alicia. Please breathe. I've discussed it with her, but we do still have to make it official."

"So, she knows already?"

"Well, she knows of my intention to ask you, yes. She's about to find out I actually did it. And that you said yes." He couldn't keep himself from smiling. She said yes. He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it before weaving her arm through his. "You're going to be all right. I already talked to her about it."

Alicia's eyes wandered up the hallway to the ornate door attended by two of the guards in grey uniforms. Her hand tightened on his arm and he could have sworn she was taking a deep breath.

"Ready?"

"Right. Yes, I'm ready."

Alejandro nodded to the guards, Emil and Javier, and placed his hand over Alicia's as the doors opened in front of them. "Hello, Mother!" he called. "We have news!"

Queen Sofia stood from her desk and took off her reading glasses. "Alejandro? Ah, I see you've managed to convince your Alicia." A knowing smile crossed her face. She had indeed won the bet. She's never going to let me live that down. She loves a reason to remind me she knows me better than I do. She's wrong, of course.

"My Alicia," Alejandro rolled his eyes and shook his head at Alicia, whose face was about three shades paler than usual. "Are you all right?" he whispered.

She didn't get the chance to answer, though, because his mother crossed the floor and pulled Alicia into a tight hug. "We are so glad you've accepted. You're all he's been able to talk about all week. But I'll leave those details to him to share with you. We should celebrate! Take a seat." She swept her hand around Alicia's back and led her to the nearby couch, gently pushing her down on the cushion and offering her tea and pastries.

Alicia's face was still frozen as the statues that lined the walls of the palace, but her colour was returning. He couldn't help but notice her hand float to the small bracelet on her arm. I wonder if she knows the inscription.

"Alejandro," his mother quipped. "What are you still doing there? I'm sure Alicia and I can manage the logistics without you. Go break the news to those other young ladies. They've been on a tour for hours. In heels. Their feet must be getting sore."

Alicia sputtered and coughed as she attempted to drink the tea from her cup amid Queen Sofia's conversation. "I'm sorry. I'll be fine," she said before anyone could ask if she was okay.