The King's Bride

Be Yourself

The following days were strange for Everleigh. She tried to get back into her old life in Court, but no matter how hard she tried, she always felt as if she wasn't quite there, almost as if there was something missing.

People still make her feel as if she doesn't belong there and, as she tries to follow Lucia's advise, she still feels like that it isn't enough. She thinks that maybe she is just overthinking it, after all she did manage to build herself a home in a place where she didn't belong before, so what was so different now?

Everleigh and Jensen are in the gardens, late one night, just watching the moon, surrounded by her orchids, but although she is there, her mind is miles away. She lets out a sad sigh.

-"What's wrong?" - There's a hint of worry in his voice, as he looks at her.

-"It's nothing."

-"I can tell there's something on your mind, sweetheart. What's wrong?" - Jensen hears her sigh again, before answering.

-"I'm struggling."

-"With what?"

-"Everything. Being back, trying to find my place back in Court, all of it."

-"Are you rethinking your decision of being back?" - Now there's fear in his voice.

-"No, not at all. I just don't know how to fit in in Court anymore."

-"How did you do it the first time?"

-"I didn't. Back then I was just trying to make it through the days. But now it's different."

-"Okay. Then, how did you do it back at the village?" - She looks back at him surprised, making him smile. -"Josh watched you for a little while before talking to you. He told me you looked like you belonged there, like that had been your life all along."

-"That was different. Back there, if someone told me I didn't belong there or say something I didn't like, I could always talk back or tell them to go to hell, without worrying I might be causing an incident. Lucia, the tavern owner, would always have my back no matter who the patron was." - Everleigh smiles at the memory of her friend.

-"Why don't you do that here?"

-"Are you serious?" - She dry-laughs, looking back at him and seeing that he is serious. -"I can't do that here, Jensen. I might cause an incident between the Lords and you, especially with Lord Evans. I don't want to put you in a position where you have to make concessions to accommodate some butt-hurt Lord that can't handle a woman talking back at him."

Jensen nods, understanding, and looks up at the sky, before leaning towards her, his eyes still on the night sky above them.

-"I wouldn't."

-"You wouldn't what?"

-"Accommodate some butt-hurt Lord just because you spoke your mind." - He looks back at her with a smile. -"Everleigh, I would never ask you to be anything but yourself. If you need to tell some Lord or Lady to fuck off, then you should be able to do so without having to worry if it's going to put me in a difficult position. And that includes any and all former members of my Private Council."

-"That's not how things work and you know it."

-"Well, that's how things will work from here on out. I will always have your back, no matter who it is against."

-"You don't mean that. There's too much at risk for me to be able to do that. I'm sure I'll be able to find a way that doesn't involve the Lords running to you every time I open my mouth." - Everleigh feels him holding her hand.

-"I want you to be yourself and that includes you talking back whenever someone is unkind or disrespectful towards you. I love you and the last thing I want is for you to feel trapped in a place where you feel like you don't belong. You do belong here and it's about time people around here realize you're not going anywhere."

-"Are you sure? If we do this, if I'm truly to be myself, there will be a never ending parade of Lords and Ladies knocking on your door asking for apologies from you on my behalf." - Everleigh watches a smirk making its way onto his lips.

-"I can't wait to tell them to just suck it up and deal with it. To tell them that you are to be their Queen and they better get used to it."

-"I can't wait to see the look on their faces when you do." - She laughs.

-"I love you."

Jensen pulls her into a kiss, Everleigh kissing him back, and when they break for air, she tells him she loves him too, thinking that things are about to get very interesting in Court.