The King's Bride

Not Enough

Everleigh stands next to Jensen in the Great Hall, talking and overall enjoying herself with him. He had agreed to host the wedding of the son of a close family friend and, even though Everleigh would rather not be there, she has to admit that she is actually enjoying herself, just because she is with him.

She knows that the only reason why she has been invited is because she is Jensen's bride, otherwise she wouldn't be there, but she doesn't care, she will enjoy the banquet nonetheless and the time she gets to spend with Jensen.

They stand to one side of the Great Hall, Jensen telling her about the bride's family, when they are interrupted by Lord Evans, one of the more vocal Lords against her marriage to Jensen.

-"Your Majesty, apologies, but there are some people here to greet you."

-"It seems a King's work is never over." - Jensen chuckles and looks back at Everleigh, who smiles back at him, before signaling to Lord Evans to present who it is that wishes to greet him.

Lord Evans nods and signals behind him, a man and a young woman approaching them. He introduces them as Lord Turner and his daughter, Lady Laila, to Jensen and, reluctantly, to Everleigh.

Everleigh can feel her confidence die down with each word from Lord Evans, as he goes on listing all of Lady Laila's many qualities, a clear attempt at showing Everleigh just how of place she is, no matter how hard she tries to fit in, as well as at how beautiful the young woman is.

Jensen greets them both and strikes up a conversation with them. After greeting them as well, Everleigh watches them, thinking that this Lady is a much better match to Jensen that she could ever be. Everleigh wasn't raised to, one day, be a Queen and from all that Lord Evans had said, Lady Laila definitely was.

Everleigh needs to collect her thoughts, so she excuses herself, claiming she needs some water, and walks over to Mackenzie, trying her hardest to keep a pleasant expression on her face. But that doesn't fool Mackenzie, who by now already knows enough about her to know when something is upsetting her.

-"What's wrong?" - Mackenzie looks at her, seeing a sad smile on Everleigh's lips.

-"I just realized I truly don't belong here, no matter how hard I might try to deny it. Jensen deserves more that what I can offer him."

Everleigh's eyes return to where Jensen is, still completely immersed in his conversation with Lady Laila and her father, making Mackenzie turn back in that direction as well. Mackenzie sees Jensen completely immersed in his conversation, not looking twice to search for Everleigh.

Mackenzie looks back to tell Everleigh that she doesn't agree, that she is the one Jensen wants to marry, but by then Everleigh is already gone, leaving Mackenzie wishing that this isn't what is going to break Everleigh's already fragile confidence regarding her place in Court and in Jensen's life.

Mackenzie shakes her head and hopes that Jensen is able to fix this.