Page 76 of Betraying Korth

“Prince Korth, would you offer me sanctuary in Haven Harbor?” I whispered, wishing desperately that I would never have to stop looking. “Will you keep me safe?”

His shoulders relaxed. “As long as there is breath in my body, yes.”

EPILOGUE

Korth secured me a sentence under house arrest while my verdict was decided. It turned out that in our few weeks’ absence, Tess had petitioned to have an inmate rehabilitation program launched. She had intended Peter Pan to be the first participant, but I was granted the honor instead.

My trial went better than I ever could have hoped. Since they deemed the royal family too close to the issue, it was a unique ruling where no sovereign representative had a say in my fate. In addition, the judges had to consider that, as a pivotal character in the founding of the People’s Republic of Ebora, it would be important to maintain positive connections with the country’s new leadership, who all credited my espionage as a deciding factor in the new republic’s birth and hailed me as a hero. Encouraged by the letters my father had the citizens all write in listing the crimes that had been dealt them by Odette and Raquel, as well as Korth’s passionate testimony pleading for my freedom, the judges all ruled to grant me sanctuary and pardon most of my crimes.

But despite all that, I was still guilty of impersonating royalty and lying to Korth, so before I would be released with a fullpardon, I was assigned five years of manual labor…tending geese.

“At least itisn’t as ramshackle as it used to be,” Korth said a few months later, inspecting the tiny cottage that I lived in. “The carpenters did a good job patching the roof.”

“It’s still smelly,” I laughed, wiping down the table. “I was just finishing a letter to my father. He just completed Odette’s and Curdy’s trials.”

“What was the verdict?”

“Life in prison. Many people lobbied for execution, but Father said he wants them to see what Ebora can become without them there to interfere.”

“How fitting. Are you ready to go?”

I nodded, smoothing my dress the best I could while Godfrey narrowed his eyes from the corner. The knowledge that Korth and I would be engaged for a full five years before our marriage was just as much a punishment for Godfrey as tending the geese was for me. He doggedly trailed after us as Korth led me away from the lake and into the town.

“Nona remembered you yesterday,” Korth told me brightly. “She asked when you were coming to see her again.”

I laughed. “Every noon meal, just like I always do. I’m glad she remembered me.”

“Remembered and spoke very fondly of you. It seems you won her over in the end. She says she is determined to live another five years so she can attend our wedding. How is your father?”

“Still adjusting. Shifting the entire structure of government from a monarchy to a republic has been difficult, and they’re still working everything out. They finished drafting their constitution and are electing representatives for each section of the country. Mother is encouraging Father to put his name up for election, and I think he’s going to do it.”

“So technically, you would be kind of like a princess if he is elected.”

“No,” I retorted, “I would be a representative’s daughter. Big difference. We don’t have royalty in Ebora anymore, remember?”

“It won’t matter once we’re married,” Korth said, “You’ll be a princess then anyway.”

“I still can’t believe that you managed to convince everyone to grant me land and a title so we can get married.”

“Contingent on your finishing your five years’ sentence,” he reminded me, turning into the same garden we’d visited on the Night of Masks festival. “There are stillsomerules I need to follow.”

“Just so long as I don’t get pecked to death before then.”

The gardens looked different in daylight than they had on the night of the masquerade. The water in the pond under the arched gazebo’s bridge sparkled, and laughter from families strolling along the paths floated up to us.

As we walked up the bridge’s path, the large stone vase where couples made vows caught my eye. “So, Mr. Rule Abider, are we allowed to make additional vows to each other?”

“I can’t see why not,” Korth said with a smile. “The rules don’t forbid it.”

“Then itmustbe allowed.” I hurried over and picked up a paper, scribbling on it while Korth did the same.

Korth finished first, his paper covered in his perfectly neat handwriting that fit his personality so well. He waited patientlyuntil I was done, then took a breath. “Dahlia, our journey together hasn’t been an easy one. I thought before that I loved you, but knowing what I know now, I will never cease to be amazed by your courage and determination, and you constantly inspire me to do more and be more than before. I vow that, no matter the trials we face, I will cherish and protect you, not as a prince bound by duty, but as a man in love. I promise to support you in all your dreams and ambitions, even if it means bending the rules a little along the way. I waited for the woman I would marry for years, and I would be willing to wait another eternity if it means I get to be with you.”

He dropped the paper into the vase, beaming like the sun in the sky.

I wiped a tear from my eye and cleared my throat. “Korth, I once walked a path of rebellion and deceit, with my heart hardened by my fears and anger. You have shown me time and again that honorable men still exist. Your integrity restored my faith in humanity, and I consider myself the luckiest woman alive to know you. From this day on, I promise that I will always be honest with you and tell the truth. Thewholetruth,” I added with a knowing smile. “I promise to be your ally and confidante, and to love you unconditionally. Know that I would topple a hundred governments if it meant we could be together.”

“Well, let’s not overthrow any more governments. One was enough,” Korth laughed as I let my slip of paper fall into the vase. He took my hand, adoration pouring from his eyes as he stared at me.

---