The Guard

15

THE GUARD
• Serena's pov •

Oh, Bridget Cunningham would absolutely kill me right now if he witnessed me. The carriage stops in its tracks, and my heart thumps against my ribcage with nerves when I come face to face with the gentleman I hold guilt with. Whom almost ruined me, but it was my own fault for going against the world.

He smiles gently, placing his hands inside his pockets and I look around at the now curious stares we are getting. I know their thoughts, I can hear them now.

What is she doing with him again?

How is he able to be around her?

Sir Kingsley does not look any different from the moment I ran at the altar away from him.

"Serena Houstings," he greets, bowing to my presence. "Or shall I say Princess Houstings."

"Sir Kingsley, how lovely it is to see you," I say, giving him the softest smile I could muster.

He holds his arm out, wishing for a walk as people lurk around us- wondering why he's even offering his existence to me.

I take it willingly. "Thank you for meeting with me, I wished to speak to you for the longest but never had the courage to."

"It is alright." We continue our path, but with another guard of mine behind me. Bridger was long back home at the palace, thinking I was alone at the barn.

"I wish to spread my apologies to you," I start. "I never meant to run from you and embarrass you and your title. That was never my intention."

"I will admit, it was quite embarrassing, but I wished to thank you." He surprises me with another cheeky smile, and I furrow my brows with questions.

"Excuse me?"

"Thank you for running," he says. "I did not wish for you to marry me if you did not love me, and it was not fair to you what I had done and not love you as well. We both deserve a type of love that we know for sure to not run."

"What did you do?" I question softly, not wishing to push the situation further or cause any trouble, I was simply seeking for answers.

He cringes, but insists on sharing the truth. "I seeked your sister first, I truly apologize." He hesitates, watching my reaction to which I frown at.

Of course. Was I surprised? No.

There was no surprise that everyone wished for my sister at one point. Our very own king wished for her hand, and he won the battle between the gentlemen.

No wonder my sister distasted our hand in marriage together.

"Oh." Is all I could muster out. What could I say? This was what I deserved after hurting him too.

"I asked for your hand in marriage to get closer to Arabella. She did not wish for my attention, and I yearned for it so bad. I did not realize the hurt I could have caused if you would have found out. I guess… I guess we both have made mistakes we are not proud of," he explains and I am happy that he is sharing this. I know how hard it could be, telling someone the ugly truth, and I give him a sad smile.

Even if I am smiling, it still hurts.

Though, I was not in love with Sir Kingsley and never will be. It hurt to know that he was only with me for my sister.

He holds a guilt stringing in his eyes, and I shake my head. "We are humans, I have had to learn that the hard way. We make mistakes, and I think it is good to learn from this."