Page 110 of Façade

He approached until he stood beside me, bathing me in his presence. He didn’t immediately speak as he leaned against the railing and overlooked the garden. I vacillated between several different topics before the opportunity to speak with him forever slipped away…before settling for the one I had the least desire to broach.

“What time are you scheduled to depart?”

He didn’t immediately answer. “Dawn.”

My heart wrenched that mere hours remained until our separation, an event I’d once hoped for when our marriage had first begun but which I how dreaded with my entire being. “So soon.” The words were poison on my tongue.

Heavy silence settled around us, tainting the beauty of the grounds caressed in the silvery sheen of the moonlit evening, my entire focus eclipsed by his nearness and my deepening heartache. I tried to memorize every detail of his presence so that I might always remember it.

The silence quickly grew unbearable. There was so much I yearned to express, but what words did one choose when each precious remaining moment was one of the last we’d ever exchange?

He eventually stirred and angled his body towards mine. “Do you remember when we finally discovered one another’s true selves beyond the masks we wore during our marriage?”

How could I ever forget? I managed a small smile. “How strange that it was only after we discovered one another’s deceptions that our relationship became something real.”

His own smile was bittersweet with the sadness filling his gaze as his finally met mine. “After all the joy I experienced from entrusting my true self to you, I vowed never to hide myself from you again…only to do so in this moment.”

“Sometimes it’s easier to pretend when the truth is far more difficult to face.” Magic tingled my skin as I ran my hand along the railing to gather a handful of moonlight, the distraction easier than looking at him. “What do you wish to discuss?”

“The future.”

I stiffened. Though we’d declared our love, I still feared that the lingering unresolved obstacles kept the forever I longed to experience with him far out of reach. “What are your aspirations once you return home? Will you marry?” My heart both yearned for his happiness and feared he’d find it apart from me.

“I hope to.”

Anguish tightened my chest, making each shuddering breath difficult. Despite having confessed our love, it wasn’t strong enough to overcome the obstacles barring a future together. “I…see.” I hastily blinked away the tears burning my eyes, not wanting to taint our final moment together by crying, despite there being no safer person to cry in front of.

Ryland scooted his hand across the railing to drape it gently over mine, stilling my anxious movements fidgeting with my enchanted ball of moonlight. “Please look at me.”

I couldn’t, not when doing so would expose my unshed tears. He stepped closer, bridging the last of our distance to caress my cheek with his gentle touch and tilt my gaze to meet his own, filled with vulnerability mingled with hope. His fingertip traced the wet trail my escaped tear had created against my skin.

“Are these tears for me?”

Embarrassment tempted me to deny it, but too much deceit already filled our past. Only trust could give me the hope of keeping him and creating a future together. “I already miss you. I know our relationship began as a façade, but to me it became real. I don’t want you to leave.”

“I feel the same. That’s what I wanted to discuss. I wanted to speak with you long before now, but before I could there was much I had to figure out. And with everything that’s happened…part of me still fears I didn’t deserve to.”

“I’ve forgiven you, Ryland.” Speaking the words out loud confirmed the healing our love had made possible.

He took a shuddering breath. “I know, just as I know you love me as I love you.” Yet he remained uncertain, as if part of him still feared he didn’t deserve such grace. “I know I’ve been distant. It’s only my insecurities keeping me away, but in truth the only one I could ever want…is the very woman before me now.”

My breath caught even as my wounded heart struggled to lift. “Truly?”

He nodded. “I know it may be difficult to believe me after everything, but I’ve never been more sincere.” His fingers laced through mine, encircling my hand with the same aching tenderness I’d come to cherish, his goodness that would always exist, no matter what. “Youare the one I wish to marry.”

Indescribable joy filled me at his declaration, so overcome as to make words impossible. At my extended silence, his expectant look faltered.

“I know I’m the last man who could ever deserve you.”

I hooked my fingers beneath his chin to lift his lowered gaze. “I never could have imagined our façade had become real to more than just me.”

Hope lit his expression, as bright as the stars glistening above us. “Really, Evie?”

My thumb grazed his cheek. “Really.”

He leaned against my touch. “Oh, Evie.” He twisted around to press his lips against my palm before entwining our hands to hold mine close enough for me to feel each gentle pulse of his heart. “My hope you also felt that way is what sustained me as I searched for any possible path that would allow us to remain together…and I’ve finally found one.” With a steadying breath he gathered his courage and, keeping a tight hold around my hand, he knelt.

My heart throbbed in anticipation. It was a well-standing tradition amongst the surrounding kingdoms to kneel before a woman and bestow a ring, a token of the most sacred promise sealed with a kiss on her fingers once the vow had been made. My pulse quickened, beating so fast I felt my heart would beat right out of my chest.

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