Page 90 of Songs and Spun Gold
Someone that she knew could work magic.
“Whatever the reason, it doesn’t change the situation.” The prince gripped his hair with both hands, pulling as if to rip it out. “What am I supposed to do? I always attend opening night. If I miss a second one, despite having bought tickets, and in both cases the mysterious Gunther plays the lead role, how do I convince anyone that I’m not him?”
How, indeed?
~
The setting sun lit up the sky in brilliant pinks and reds behind the theater building. Katy adjusted the set of her cloak on her shoulders. The evening was barely cool enough for a light cloak, but if Axel was to make it backstage without being seen, he would need to hide his face until he could apply his disguise, so he, Katy, and Otto all wore theirs.
Tobias was with them, but he knew nothing about their trouble. He slouched next to Axel, arms folded loosely across his chest as he lazily surveyed the crowd. “Now I know why you always arrive early. It avoids the line.”
“But is it not grand to be surrounded by so many members of our fine populace?” Axel smiled and waved his free hand in an encompassing gesture. “I have always missed this part of the experience in my eagerness to arrive.”
“How does it differ from sitting in the auditorium with them?” his friend grumbled.
“It is easier to view them spread out like this,” the prince rattled off. He was always a tad ridiculous in public, but his replies were off tonight. Katy could feel the tension in his arm, even if she couldn’t see it on his face.
Tobias nodded slowly. “I see. You’re hoping Heidi will show up for opening night again.”
“Why would I wish for that? I have no need of a girl who would crush my heart when I have the world’s most beautiful flower on my arm already.” Smiling softly, Axel brought his hand toward her face, but Katy jerked her head away and took a step back, dropping his arm. A man’s wellbeing was in the balance, and they had only a vague plan to stage an undetermined emergency with plenty of witnesses. And he wasflirting?
Snorting, Tobias asked, “Trouble in paradise?”
“Naturally not,” Axel chided as he stepped toward Katyand gently wrapped his hand around hers. “My fair Katrin is simply shy, and I have embarrassed her.”
“Stop it, Axel!” she hissed, pulling her hand out of his. “This is not the time!”
“Then when is the time?” His brow furrowed slightly, but the rest of his mask remained in place. “I don’t seem to have found it yet.”
She glared at him as her tight nerves began to take over. “Why are you still looking? I’ve told you plainly that I don’t want this.”
“I know,” he frowned, “and I’ve communicated that to my father. With absolutely no effect, I might add.”
“Then why are you still pretending that I do?”
The crease in his forehead became more pronounced. “Because as you’ve said, we can’t change it, so we might as well accept it. I would prefer to marry willingly. Wouldn’t you?”
“Of course!” Her fists clenched at her side. “That’s why I’ve been trying to convince your father to let me out of this stupid deal!”
“Because you’d rather marry Fritz?” His voice had lost its perfect modulation. “What will it take, Katy? What do I have to do to make you happy?”
“If you want to make me happy, then let me go!” she bit back. Her voice had risen as well, and she was dimly aware that the chatter surrounding them had disappeared, but it didn’t break through her irritation. “I never asked for any of this. I never asked for your father to drag me here or tell me to marry you!”
“None of that is my fault!”
“No, you made your own choice to lie to me. You think you can cover that up with walks and flirting?”
“I would hope that sincerity and honesty could convince you to forgive a mistake for which I have apologized.Repeatedly.”
“Why should I believe it?”
“As if you’re one to talk!” He flung an angry hand in her direction. “Hot today, cold tomorrow, and I never know if I shouldbelievethat you might like me a little or that you hate me. Sometimes, I’m not sure why I’m even bothering!”
“Then why do you?”
One side of the prince’s lip lifted in a snarl before he jabbed his hand into his pocket and pulled out two slips of paper. Grabbing her hand, he stuffed them into her palm. “Fine. I won’t. Enjoy the show without me if you want. I’m done.”
Spinning on his heel, he shoved past Tobias and stormed off down the street. The fury-induced haze surrounding Katy dissipated quickly at the sight of his cloak bouncing from the back of his stiff shoulders. “Axel, where are you going?”
