Page 40 of Fit for a King

Was I? It was an insane plan, one I knew I should veto, but the offer was too tempting, and Gabriel was right—I wasn’t in the right headspace to do this.

“Okay. We’ll do it.”

Gabriel’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”

“I swear to God, Gabriel, if you were just kidding about⁠—”

“No, no, I’m dead serious.” He pushed off the desk and crossed back to me. “I just never thought you’d agree.”

“You have to play this so carefully.”

“I know.”

“More so than ever before. No one can know it’s not⁠—”

“You. I know. I’ve got this. The question is, do you? You’re going to have to smile at people.”

I gave him a droll look that made a wide grin appear on his mouth, and I shook my head.

Jesus, I wasn’t sure how we were going to pull this off, but somehow, by tonight, not only did we have to fill each others’ shoes, but we’d also have to swap body language and expressions too.

It had been a long time since I’d swapped places with Gabriel, but when I thought about the alternative, I realized I’d do just about anything. I could do this. One last selfish act before I dove into my new life headfirst.

What could possibly go wrong?

13

NOAH

THERE WAS AN excited energy in the halls tonight, as the downstairs prepared for one of the biggest nights of their lives.

It was ironic, really, the anticipation they all felt, considering most of them wouldn’t witness what their hours of preparation resulted in. But some of us, myself included, were about to witness history.

The King of Valoria’s first official meeting with his betrothed—the Prince of Solterra.

I should’ve been thrilled for His Majesty. This was a momentous night, a joyous occasion for both kingdoms that had been forged months ago. But as I climbed the stairs to take my position inside the grand ballroom, all I felt was a sense of dread, a knot in the pit of my stomach that I couldn’t seem to shake.

It’d been there since last night and my final disastrous words with Nicholas.

And yes, last night that was whom I’d been with: Nicholas, not the king. That was whom I’d danced and laughed with. Now here I was tonight, about to watch him do the same thing with the man he was about to spend the rest of his life with.

It made me want to tell Baxter I was unwell and go lock myself in my room all night. But I was stronger than that. I’d been hired to do a job, and having feelings for Nic—the king was not part of it.

So instead, I moved into my position by the ballroom doors, where I would announce each guest before disappearing into the walls like I wasn’t even there.

That was the way of it, always had been and always would be for someone of my station. The idea that that would ever change, just because the king looked at me like he cared, was one I could never again allow myself to entertain.

For him, a dance here or a kiss there would be nothing more than a minor scandal. For me, it would be disastrous.

“I trust you are prepared for tonight, Mr. Bennett.” Baxter’s voice was enough to jolt me out of my thoughts, and I turned to see him moving up beside me in his pristine black tails, white waistcoat, and bow tie.

“Yes, sir. All names have been memorized, as has the order in which they will be received.”

“Very good. This is your first real royal function. Eyes will be on you.”

In other words, don’t mess it up or I’ll have your head.

Not literally, of course—beheadings had stopped long ago. But I’d get a dressing-down on such a level that I’d likely wish my head were no longer attached to my body.