Chapter 38
Deborah was convinced she’d been duped. She stared at the tiny bow and arrows in her hands, fighting the urge to curse someone–specifically, the very person she’d just started to feel a grudging sense of respect for: the ever–unpredictable Damian.
“Your Highness!” called a voice. It was Prince Nigel–Nigel Montage, Duke of Berkley, son of the queen.
He swung down from his horse in one smooth motion and stróde straight over to Damian. “Where’s Prince Simon?”
“Simon’s feeling under the weather,” Damian replied evenly. “His lovely new bride came in his place to cheer us on.”
He reached behind him and dragged out the little figure who had been hiding–and likely muttering curses under her breath–and pushed her gently forward.
Deborah quickly wiped the irritation from her face and offered a respectful curtsy. “Hi, Your Highness.”
Nigel gave her a cursory glance. “Pretty enough.”
Then, clearly uninterested in her, he turned his attention back to Damian. “I heard you took down over a hundred rebels outside the city not long ago. Rumor is, some of them slipped into the capital. You’d best keep your guard up, Your Highness.”
I appreciate the warning,” Damian replied coolly. “I’ll be careful.”
“Good.” Nigel gave a brief nod and, spotting the other princes arriving, moved away to greet them.
Once he was out of earshot, Deborah leaned in slightly and whispered, “So… he means the rebels might try to retaliate?”
“Worried about me?” Damian asked, arching a brow.
“I’m worried it might affect Simon,” she muttered, unable to hide her concern.
Damian gave a cold snort and turned away, clearly not in the mood to entertain her logic.
“Damian, you actually brought a family member with you?” Prince David called out with a grin. “Well now, if Damian can bring his bride along for support, where are the rest of yours? Let’s bring them in too–why not let them have a little fun?”
“The wolves in there are no joke,” said Alistair. “It’s no place for women.”
Someone else chimed in with a laugh, “Come on–we’re from Suensonland. Our women grow up on horseback. A few wolves aren’t going to scare them!”
Deborah had no idea what they were arguing about. She glanced toward Damian, who was deep in discussion with Nigel, reviewing the ambush strategy for the hunt.
She looked down at the ridiculous toy bow and arrows in her hands and sighed. She thought, ‘What am I even doing here?‘
Just then, a tall, athletic figure jogged up to her. “Deborah? You’re really Deborah?”
Deborah looked up and saw a young man with sharp features and a bright, boyish smile. He was handsome, tall, and radiated the kind of energy that made everything around him feel lighter.
Bathed in sunlight, he looked almost like he had a glow about him. Just seeing him lifted her mood.
“And you are…?”
“I’m Kenneth.”
“You’re Kenneth Montage?” she asked, surprised. She’d heard his name countless times from Simon.
He was the prince who often followed Damian into battle. Though young, he’d already seen countless skirmishes and was known as one of Damian’s fiercest warriors.
“Deborah, on the day you and Simon got married, I was out fighting rebels with Damian. I didn’t make it back in time for the wedding. Please don’t be mad at me,” he said with a cheerful grin.
Clearly, he was the type who didn’t take things too seriously–and was impossible to dislike.
He went on, “Unlike Damian, I couldn’t slip away to attend your wedding. I had to stay behind and clean up the aftermath.”
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Chapter 38
“Wait–Prince Damian came back for our wedding?” Deborah blinked in surprise.
She could’ve sworn he hadn’t been there. She wondered, ‘What is this about?‘
“He didn’t make it either?” Kenneth looked surprised. “There should’ve been enough time…”
“Maybe something came up and delayed him. But I know for sure–he really cared about it,” he added quickly, worried she might take it the wrong
way.
“To leave early, he charged into the rebel stronghold alone–just one man with a sword–and cut down dozens of them. Ruthless and fearless.”
“Damian!”
The moment Damian approached, Deborah noticed the carefree smile vanished from Kenneth’s face. He immediately straightened up, back ramrod–straight, standing at attention like a seasoned soldier.
Clearly, Damian commanded both admiration and just the right amount of fear.
Deborah turned to Damian, still puzzled. “Your Highness… were you really at our wedding that day?“Damian
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