Page 70 of Bride of the Gilded Prince

He turned away from the tapestries and walked towards the window. He looked out over the garden, his expression pensive.

“Yes, these rooms were not the ones I intended for you.”

I clasped my hands behind my back. “I’m aware, but I’m happy with them.”

Staring at him, I felt bone tired. It was exhausting to keep up the pretense. The mind games, the constant guessing. It was tiring. “I couldn’t steal the rooms of a valued and appreciated member of the Eternal Court.”

He turned around and looked at me. “And what does that make you?” he drawled.

“An impostor,” I replied without hesitation.

He was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. And then he laughed. It was a deep, rich sound that filled the room and made me straighten up.

“You are quite right. I should have realized that you would want something more... homely.”

The way he said it clarified that he still didn’t understand me. That he thought I was playing some sort of game.

I turned and took a seat at my desk, resting my chin in my hand. “Is there something you wanted to discuss?”

He walked towards me. “Yes.” He leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine. The green flecks in his eyes seemed to shimmer in the light. “In a move that shook the entire Eternal Court, you give up your chambers for more ‘homely’ quarters.”

I met his gaze. “I hope lady Kanna is happy she got her room back.”

Her name seemed to snap him out of it, and he straightened up. “Yes, she was quite pleased.”

The way he said it made me think maybe she wasn’t the only one who was happy about the situation.

I lifted my head. “Good.”

His eyes still lingered on me, as if he was trying to see into my soul. I met his gaze unflinchingly, my expression serene.

He turned away. “You’re different from the others.”

“I prefer honesty over games.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” I said. “I think it’s time we stop playing games with each other, don’t you?”

For a moment, he just looked at me and I wondered if I had overstepped my boundaries. But then he nodded. “I agree.”

“Can we stop searching for meanings in each other’s words or actions and just say what we mean?”

He took a seat in front of me. His eyes never left mine. “So, let’s start with honesty, then.”

His lips quirked up in a half-smile, as if he was amused by my boldness.

“Good.” I took a deep breath. “In that case, let me start by saying that I’m tired of this constant guessing game. I’m tired of feeling like I have to watch my every step and word. What do you want from me?”

He licked his lips. “Am I not allowed to visit my wife?”

I blinked, taken aback by the question. “I thought it was taboo to enter one’s private room without a certain level of closeness.”

A level of closeness that didn’t exist between us despite our engagement.

A flush spread over his cheekbones and I realized I had hit a nerve. “Yes, it is,” he said tightly. “But I hoped we could...” he trailed off, unsure of how to finish the sentence.

“Achieve a level of closeness?” I supplied helpfully.

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