Page 65 of The Royal Art of Revenge

He presses his lips together. “Unfortunately, it’s tradition. But don’t worry—the reporter, Melissa Nelson, is from the national news station. She’s been fully vetted, signed all the appropriate confidentiality forms, and we’ve been over what questions she can and cannot ask. My mother trusts her more than any other journalist.”

I press my hand to my face, covering one of my eyes. “No. I can’t do this. I don’t have any media training. I’m not prepared at all.”

“We’ve pushed it as late as we can. It needs to be edited before it airs the day after the banquet, and that’s ten days away.”

“I know that, but you never said I’d have to do a live interview. Of all the things you warned me about, don’t you think this should be one you should have mentioned?”

“Don’t panic.”

“That’s easy for you to say, Mr Thirty-Years-Of-Media-Training!”

He takes my hands and pulls me against him. He wraps his arms tightly around my body, pinning mine to my sides, and rests his chin on top of my head.

In the last ten days, I’ve realised one thing: this is what he thinks will calm me down when I get a bit agitated.

Which, well.

Annoyingly, he’s completely right, although I have no intention of telling him that.

“I have the questions here. You can read them over and veto any you’re uncomfortable answering before she arrives,” he says quietly. “You already know that our engagement is going to open a can of worms and drag up all the stories from when you went missing. People are going to want answers, and we have to be prepared to give them. We might be able to head a few off before they become a point of discussion.”

“Oh, so it has nothing to do with the fact the gossips masquerading as reporters think you’re marrying Jasmine Sinclair and that the two of you are in a long-term, secret relationship.”

He pauses.

“Finn…”

“All right, so one of the questions to me is about that. I intend to firmly deny ever having any type of relationship with her.”

I sniff, turning my face away. “You better.”

He releases his hold on me slightly and leans back, grinning down at me. “I quite like your possessive streak, do you know that?”

“You’re insane.” I wriggle out of his hold and walk across the room with a sigh. “They’re going to ask about my family, aren’t they? About our relationship. And I’m going to have to lie and say it’s hunky dory, perfectly fine, not toxic in the slightest. Stuff like that.”

He hesitates. “There’s a question regarding them on the list, yes. But like I said, you have full control over what you answer. We can wipe it.”

I nod. “Please do. Given the situation it can’t be avoided entirely, but I’d rather not discuss my relationship with them right now.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. You didn’t really think I was going to let them all go down as innocent people, did you?” I raise my eyebrows. “I plan to make the people fall dreamily in love with me as their crown princess, then plant enough little hints to the internet sleuths so that they figure out what really happened in their own way. Then, when I ruin the Sinclairs, everyone will feel sorry for me, not them.”

Finn blinks at me. “I think I’ve underestimated how thoroughly you’ve planned it all.”

“Well, I’ve had a long time to dream up various means of revenge,” I say quietly, looking away from him. “Some are slightly more realistic than others.”

“Oh? What are the unrealistic ones?”

“Public flogging was one that brought me great joy for a while.”

He pauses. “When I’m the king, I can change laws, you know.”

“If it takes me that long to ruin their lives, I’ll have more things to worry about than the legality of a public flogging,” I say dryly. “Besides, your mother might change that law if I ask her to.”

“That’s true.” He sits down on the sofa and pats the spot next to him, ushering me over. “Do you know she’s been waxing lyrical about you for the last week? I have no idea how she’s undergone engagements and appearances without telling everyone how wonderful her future daughter-in-law is, although she did let it slip once to a governmental minister. I think there are some surprising rumours that Jasmine has finally managed to charm her.”

“Really? The only thing that Jasmine can charm is herself, and even then, it’s a bit touch and go.” I sit next to him, pausing only to pick up the papers on the coffee table.