Cover art by JenPotato
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Prince Bright Guntithanon is betrothed to Dara Kittiyangkul. Well, sort of bethrothed. She has the option to dissolve the union. But Bright is handsome, char...
"You cannot tell me what to do," he answers , contempt obvious in his tone.
But I can tell him what to do.
"Stop walking away. That's an order."
He keeps walking.
"That's a royal order."
That works. He stops and faces me.
"Isn't this an abuse of power, Your Highness?"
I slowly walk closer. "Perhaps but it seemed like nothing else would work."
"Go back to Dara. She's who you came for."
Were my ears deceiving me? Did he sound hurt? "Meta, you can eat with us. I would have told you about this if you replied to my message last night." Why was I explaining myself? I pause, confused at my desire to explain and apologize.
I am courting Dara. She is my intended. Why should I tell Metawin about our plans?
"So now this is my fault?"
"I don't even know what this is. How did I upset you?"
Metawin looks down. I realize I have never seen him this way. He was always smiling when he wasn't he looked haughty and sure. But right now, he seemed small and hollow- like he needed me to hold him and put him in my pocket for safekeeping.
I almost want to do so.
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Finally, he looks up. "Please just let me be. I'm just having a bad day. Am I free to go, Your Highness?"
"Since when is my title important to you?"
He doesn't answer. I give up.
"You may go."
He's about to walk away when he stops himself. He looks at me, eyes searching mine. "Marriage shouldn't be a business deal. When you marry someone, it should be for love. Or at least the chance at it."
"Not all of us are that lucky. This my duty."
"Dara is an amazing woman and she deserves more than duty. Her Prince should love her."
"And you love her?"
A shadow passes over Metawin's face. "Don't deflect."
It is my turn to sigh loudly. "I don't have a choice in this matter, Meta. This is what I need to do as your prince."
"My prince?"
His question does something to my chest. I cannot explain it but I had to ignore it. "The Kingdom's prince. As a royal."
