Page 56 of Royal Secret

I trail behind him, returning to the warm glow of the dining hall, where Courtney sits amid a circle of curious, polite faces. She looks up as we enter, her smile unsure but brave. The air shifts subtly, as if everyone senses the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface.

“Everyone,” my father begins, his voice commanding the room’s attention. Inwardly, I brace myself. “Courtney,” he continues, and there’s something unexpected in his tone now, a graciousness that wasn’t there before. “It is a pleasure to have you as our guest.”

My breath hitches slightly. This isn’t the reaction I anticipated. He steps forward, extending a hand toward her in a gesture of formal welcome. “Bergovia is, after all, your family’s homeland too.”

A collective pause grips the room, my siblings exchanging glances that mirror my own surprise.

“Furthermore,” my father adds, turning his gaze to both of us, “I approve of this union.”

For a moment, I can only stare at him, trying to reconcile the man before me with the one who raged just minutes ago. Disappointment still lingers — the conversation was cut short, unfinished — but it is quickly overshadowed by the profound relief washing over me.

“Thank you, Father,” I manage, my voice steady despite the emotion clawing at my throat.

Courtney’s eyes meet mine, and I see the reflection of my own wonder in them. It’s a new beginning, fragile and bright, and I silently vow to protect it, come what may.

It’s almost too much to handle. Courtney. The baby. Now this. Emotions crest within me like the rolling waves hitting the coast. My father’s approval, unexpected and warming, ignites something deep inside my chest.

“Father.” I clear my throat, trying to stop my voice from cracking. “This means more to me than you know.”

The room — usually so loud when all of the family gathers for a meal — is still as I turn toward Courtney. Her eyes, wide with a blend of surprise and hope, lock onto mine. The air is thick with anticipation, each breath shared between us like a whispered promise.

In this moment, everything that has happened between us, all the expectations, all the fears and worries, it all fades away; it’s just Courtney and me, surrounded by the silent witnesses of those closest to me. It’s now or never.

Andnowhappens to be the closest thing to perfection that I have ever felt.

“Actually,” I start, my heart threatening to beat its way out of my chest, “there’s something I’ve been wanting to do since you arrived today.”

I step toward her, aware of every pair of eyes upon us. Dropping to one knee, I take her hand gently in mine, the polished marble floor cool against my leg.

“Courtney Fuller,” I say, taking my time, savoring my every word, her every breath. “Will you marry me?”

A gasp sweeps through the gathered family, but all I see is the joy blooming across Courtney’s face. “Yes,” she says, her voice barely above a breath but clear as a bell in the silence. “Yes, Jakob, I will.”

I rise to my feet, my heart soaring — but falter slightly. I have no ring to offer, no tangible symbol of the promise we’ve just made.

“Wait,” my mother says, stepping forward with a grace that is both practiced over a lifetime and natural. She slips off a ring — a delicate band crowned with a stone that holds a century of love stories.

“Here,” she offers, her voice soft but certain. “This was my grandmother’s. I want Courtney to have it.”

I take the ring from her outstretched palm, feeling the strength of tradition and the warmth of acceptance. Sliding it onto Courtney’s finger, I marvel at how something so small can signify something so vast.

“Thank you, Mother,” I say, my gratitude echoing through the room.

I pull Courtney into my arms and kiss her, sealing our commitment amid the silent applause of ancestors who’vegraced these halls before us. We step back, hands entwined, her new ring catching the light. In her eyes, I see our future unfolding. All the worries I had, all the fears, they dissipate into the air.

Almost as if they had never existed in the first place.

CHAPTER 32

COURTNEY

Another beautiful, beautiful day

And here I am… with nothing to do.

I’ve straightened up the apartment — not that it really needs it, since Jakob has a housekeeper come by every couple days — and organized the bookshelves. With nothing left to do, I wander through Jakob’s home, tracing the delicate carvings on the mantel with my fingertips.

It’s only been a few weeks since I left Texas behind, the place where I built my career, but it feels like a lifetime ago. The decision to quit my job and move here to be with Jakob feels right, though. We are engaged. A family.

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