Page 76 of Mermaid on Heels
“I do not know.”
Luke sighed. “Liriya, I want you to know that I’m not the one choosing the elites for each day, it’s the court. Since you heard my conversation from the shore with Ced, you know how much I despised the idea of this Bridal Selection. That was when you stepped in. The court is astonished to see me suddenly interested in the scheme because I had been all but against it and utterly disinterested in it when it was first brought to my attention. Therefore then, they offered to help me assign each elite for each day. And I didn’t bother changing it even after realizing you’re assigned for the last day, because I have other plans for us.”
Luke paused with a small smirk.
“Right. The night dates.” Liriya smiled, the fact that she was assigned for the last day surprisingly didn’t bother her.
“Precisely.”
“Do you think we will be in trouble if anyone finds out?”
“For the record, I’m the king, so no.”
They both laughed.
“So, can I assume that the court holds no opinion about whom you should marry?” Liriya arched an eyebrow at him skeptically. “Like, you know, since they don’t knowwhyyou are so interested suddenly andhaveneeded their help in assigning each elite for each day, don’t you think they would be thinking you might as well need their help in choosing their next queen?”
“And that’s where the difference is, my dear Liriya.” Luke took her hand from the railing and held it between both his. “I’m not looking for a queen for my kingdom who would provide me an heir. I am, in fact, looking for a woman after my own heart who would love me and be mywife. Andthatwoman will become the queen of my kingdom and be the mother of my sons and daughters. There’s a big difference about it that my court likes to forget occasionally, despite my continuous lecture aboutmypreference.”
He laughed softly and Liriya decided she had never met a romantic like him. She had nothing to say to that since he hinted it about her, so she came out with another question she was pondering.
“How did the court buy our little cover story, may I ask?”
Luke’s amusement dropped and her heart skidded to a stop. Something was wrong.
He took a deep breath. “It’s not exactly good news.”
“Would you tell me?” she asked softly, searching his eyes.
Luke stared at her softly, seeming to battle with his decision before he sighed in defeat. Dropping his gaze to their hands between them, he spoke. “They want to know exactly where Pearltuna is because they don’t seem to buy Cedric’s story.” He met her eyes. “Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you this. I had to tell them that you are the second princess, and that you have an older sister who is crowned queen after your parents’ death.”
Liriya stared at him with wide eyes, a reaction he took for the wrong meaning and continued, “I beg your pardon, Liriya, but I had to mix the facts with lies to protect your identity since you don’t want them to know you’re a mermaid. If I told them that your mother is alive, they’d expect you to send for her after the selection weeks, as tradition.”
“Oh, Luke,” she began slowly, her voice breathless in disbelief. “I do not know how this happened, but this is exactly what I told the elites, too.”
Luke blinked in surprise. “You did?”
“Yes.” Liriya nodded. “When we were telling each other about our families, I realized I cannot tell them I was the crown princess—it would raise a lot of questions. Therefore, I opted for an older sister who is queen, and that my parents are dead—almost close to the truth.”
She cringed inwardly when Faelina crossed her mind again, but calmed down telling herself that it was good that both their stories matched, somehow. Liriya thanked the Creator in her heart and continued, “I was going to tell you that yesterday, but I forgot too. I am glad you brought it up now.”
“And I’m relieved to know I didn’t mess things up.” Luke smiled, one of relief. “As astonished as I am that we fabricated the same story, besides the obviousness that it is close to the true story, I’ll call it our little miracle.”
“Always opting forlittlenow, are we?” Liriya shot him a teasing grin.
Luke laughed and glanced at the horizon before looking back at her. “As much as I want to keep you at my side and soak in the morning sun longer together, dear Liriya, I’m afraid we have to go back.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckle. “I’ll look forward to tonight.”
“Me too,” Liriya said, with a grin that turned sheepish as she asked, “Can we come up here every morning?”
Luke’s face split with a breathtaking dimpled smile. “Why, of course, my little mermaid. Every single moment I get to spend with you is a privilege.”
“So, early morning and late night dates it is.”
He winked. “You got me, Princess.”
* * *
“Lord Cedric, do you suppose we could have the archery range set up for today? It’d be lovely to do something outdoors rather than getting stuffy here inside.” Lady Serra asked Cedric over breakfast, and then, added to Luke who sat at the head of the table, “I hope you don’t mind, Your Majesty?”