Page 56 of Betraying Korth

The lump in my throat shrank slightly. “It was true when I told you about how there are many injustices in my kingdom,” I began. “I want that to change in Ebora. There are far too many traders participating in black market dealings or committing acts of piracy. Ebora has a lot to improve in terms of legal action.”

“We can sort that out,” Korth offered, his brow knotted in concern. “We can draft new laws and?—”

“Our kingdom really is on the brink of a civil war and it will break out any day, if it hasn’t already.”

“I know. I sent the ships to help.”

I bit my lip. He was trying so hard to understand why I was upset.

“I’m not who you think I am,” I whispered. “I’m not an honorable person.”

“Don’t say that,” Korth interjected, rising from the chest and taking my hands in his. “You are the best person I know. You’ve helped me be a better man. You challenged my beliefs about myself and the world, and you are exactly what my kingdom, andyours I’m sure, needs. Our people need a leader who cares about them, and you do. Why else would you be wanting to change these laws instead of keeping things the way they are?”

He folded his arms around me and I allowed my head to rest against his chest. Could I allow myself one last moment of happiness before I destroyed my entire future?

“Korth, you are very generous with your compliments, but?—”

The door was flung open. There, her hair disheveled and a wild expression on her face, was the true Princess Odette. She pointed a finger dramatically at me. “Guards! Arrest that woman! She’s an imposter!”

Korth stepped defensively in front of me. “How dare you accuse the princess! Get out!”

The guards closed their hands over her upper arms, prepared to drag her out. She wrenched at their arms, trying to break free. Her hair, which I was accustomed to always seeing neatly styled and combed back, had come loose and fell in her face. She looked unhinged.

“She’s lying! I’m the true Princess Odette. I have a witness!”

“Who?” Korth demanded, still shielding me from Odette.

She pivoted to beckon to her accomplice, and in came…Curdy.

“You?” I couldn’t suppress my gasp.

“You!” Korth took an aggressive step toward him. “I told you never to come near my fiancée again.”

“I’m simply here to ensure that the real princess isn’t replaced by an imposter.”

Korth turned to stare at me, bewildered. “Who are these people? What are they talking about?”

I could have lied. I could have had them both thrown in prison and clung to the title I’d claimed as my own. But I was done living a life of lies. Korth deserved to know the truth, and he deserved to know who he was about to marry. “I really need tospeak with you,” I whispered, my eyes filling with tears. “Please, Korth.”

“It’s true!” Odette shrieked, stamping her feet on the ground and still attempting to break free from the guards.

Curdy leaned against the doorframe, an expression of smug satisfaction on his face. “Go on and tell him. Tell him how you caused a mutiny and marooned the loyal soldiers on the way here so you could take Odette’s place.” He redirected his attention to Korth. “She organized a coup and planned to have the reinforcements you sent aid her rebellion and oust the true king of Ebora and replace him with an imposter, just like her. Tell him, Dahlia.”

“Dahlia?” Korth took a step back from me. The pain in his eyes tore at my soul. “You’ve used that name before.”

“Korth, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it?—”

“So it’s true?” Korth looked so hurt and betrayed that I wanted to shrivel up and disappear. “All this time, you’ve just been using me?”

“She was trying to keep us from being together,” Odette cooed. She had stopped trying to break free from the guards and batted her lashes.

Korth looked from me to everyone else in the room then back again. “Tell me it isn’t true,” he whispered to me, his voice brittle. “Tell me it isn’t true and I’ll believe you, Odette.”

My chin quivered. “My name is Dahlia. What they said is true.”

Korth recoiled in horror.

The guards released Odette, who hurried to Korth’s side. He feebly pushed her hands away but she persisted, fawning over him and easing him into a chair.

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