Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Good evening,” the prince said, smiling. “First of all, it’s wonderful to see you all here.”
That was met with thundering applause. Jules thought it was a little weird, maybe because he wasn’t as enamored with the prince as everyone else was. He did like the prince, but he still couldn’t help but associate him with his Xeus’s death. Jules knew it wasn’t fair—it was highly unlikely that the prince had anything to do with it—but still.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m here after staying in Kadar for months,” Haydn continued, his expression becoming serious. Everyone quieted down. Haydn tugged at his tie slightly. “I will be frank with you. I know there have been all sorts of rumors flying around—about His Majesty disinheriting me. I wanted to personally state that it is not true.”
A murmur rolled through the crowd.
Haydn smiled. “I know what some of you are probably thinking: that I’m being forced to say this. I’m not. The truth is, with my new duties as Lord Chancellor of the planet, I have little time for anything else. I think you all deserve a king who will be able to give you his undivided attention—and his undivided loyalties.”
That made people break into whispers again.
“That said, I wouldn’t have stepped down if I didn’t consider my successor worthy,” Haydn said firmly. “But it’s the Duke of Westcliff, and I trust him as I trust myself.” He glanced at Devlin, his smile turning wistful. “You all know we grew up together, but you probably don’t know how much I looked up to him. How much I admired him for being strong and calm in the face of adversity, in situations where I would have lost my composure. I would have been a good king for you. He will be a great one.”
Someone clapped, and after a moment, people joined in, hesitantly at first, then more sure and unanimous.
Jules breathed out, feeling a rush of fondness for Prince Haydn, a man he’d never even spoken to. Although Devlin’s face betrayed very little, his eyes were warm and soft as he gazed at his half-brother.
“That was very nice of him,” Liam murmured as Haydn stepped off the podium. “This should make people accept Westcliff more easily.”
Jules opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, there was the sound of a throat being cleared.
The noise dropped until the ballroom was silent once more.
“I would like to take this opportunity to make another important announcement,” King Stefan said.
Jules held his breath, his stomach twisting into a knot. Surely… Surely they wouldn’t, right? Surely it wasn’t necessary after Prince Haydn’s speech?
“I am delighted to announce that my nephew will be marrying Mr. Blake soon. Congratulations, son.”
Jules was distantly aware of the applause. It drowned out the noise Jules made, a strangled sound that ripped out of his throat.
He had known it was coming. He had. Then why did he still feel like he had been punched in the gut? It shouldn’t have blindsided him, but it still felt like the ground had been yanked out from under him. Had he actually hoped for something different, deep down? Idiot.
Even though all he wanted was to flee the room, his eyes still sought out Devlin. He seemed… angry? It wasn’t very obvious to the casual eye, but he could read anger in the tense lines of Devlin’s jaw and shoulders.
The king smiled at Devlin, something hard and smug flickering in his eyes.
Devlin strode over to the king and took the microphone from him. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said in a way one might say Fuck you, Your Majesty. He turned to the crowd and said, “Thank you for your support, too, but His Majesty should have been more specific to avoid confusion. I know there has been a great deal of speculation about me and Liam Blake in the media, but while I greatly admire Liam, it’s not him I have been courting. Liam was simply kind enough to chaperone me and his brother.”
Jules’s world tilted. Distantly, he was aware of the murmurs of confusion, of people turning and staring at him and Liam, and of Liam going very still beside him. He couldn’t register any of it. He stared at Devlin, who looked right at him as he said, “I’d like to announce my engagement to Julian Blake.”
There was a funny ringing in his ears, and Jules had to breathe deeply in order not to faint—that would have been beyond mortifying when hundreds of people were staring at him. But breathing was difficult, his face too hot, his heart beating too fast, and—it’d be fucking great if people stopped staring at him like he’d grown a second head. He wasn’t used to people looking at him, much less staring at him.
A hand squeezed his elbow. “Smile,” Liam whispered, smiling. “Smile, Jules.”