Page 69 of A Royal Obligation

“But it’s pointless to make without you.”

“I don’t really think it’s appropriate for me to be there when you get engaged to Lady Charlotte.” Sadness seeped through her words.

His jaw dropped as he processed what she had said.

“Lady Charlotte?” He sputtered. “What made you think I was proposing to her tonight?”

“I saw you together yesterday in the women’s sitting room. I saw her lean in to kiss you and then I got your note about how excited you were for tonight. It appears your dating lessons with me have worked splendidly.” Her thick voice showed her cards. Raw emotion spread across her face, and her beautiful, full lips quivered as he walked towards her. All he wanted to do was wrap her in his arms and kiss her.

“Jules.” He took her hands in his, rubbing the back of them with his thumbs. “The new journey I meant to begin today is with you. I thought you knew. It’s always been you.”

Shock covered her face as her eyes searched his for an answer to her unspoken questions.

“What you missed was me petitioning the King’s Council to amend or abolish the marriage law.”

For the first time since she had returned to the palace, hope glistened in her eyes as she looked into his.

“They denied my motion to amend or abolish the law. But I don’t care because I love you, Jules. You caught my attention from the moment we met by that school, and you won my heart at the ball when you said I looked like a Hemsworth brother.”

That point finally got her to laugh. Her smile and laughter were like balm for his soul.

“I was sitting out here yesterday pondering what to do after I found out my results, and I was able to get some insight from my mother. Her words pushed me to follow my heart, despite the risks and the chaos it may cause. Because I can’t live another day without you in it. You are the sun shining through on a cloudy day. Whenever I am with you, I am the person I truly want to be. You have helped me to find myself again. Not Prince Barrett Phillip Louis Alden, but just Barrett.” He smiled at her with all the feelings of a man in love.

The invisible weight he had carried on his shoulders his entire life lifted with those words. This was the answer. Love was always the answer. While duty was important, he had learned that following your heart was what would bring true joy in life.

“When you saw me with Charlotte yesterday, she was congratulating me that I had found someone that I loved so dearly. I didn’t want to blindside her today. She holds no ill will about the situation and is extremely happy for both of us.” He paused to wipe the tears that were flowing down her cheeks with the pad of his thumbs.

“I can only hope you share the same feelings for me that I have for you. I want you to be my forever, Jules. It seems fitting that we would have this conversation here where my father proposed to my mother. I know if she were still here today, she would love you as much as I do.”

“Barrett, I love you too. More than anything else in the world.” Her eyes filled with more tears. “But what about the throne? I can’t ask you to give it up for me. And what about Liam? Is he ready to be king?”

“I don’t know what each day will bring or how long I have on this earth. But if there’s one thing I know for certain, it is that I don’t want to live this life without you in it. You’re not asking me to give up the throne, Jules. I’m saying I am giving it up because I love you. Liam is thrilled at the idea of being king, and I’m sure my father will understand one day. But I’m tired of doing everything by the rules. Remember when we were here and you told me to do something wild or unplanned?”

She nodded and he smiled at her.

“I think this might be the most wild thing I have ever done.” He got down on one knee and pulled out a deep red velvet box from his jacket pocket. He flipped it open so it displayed his mother’s ring. It was a beautiful, cushion-cut ruby that was surrounded by a halo of diamonds with a delicate white gold band.

“Juliette Ruth Smith, you are everything I want and didn’t even know that I needed. Would you do the honor of making me the happiest man in existence and marry me?”

The biggest, most adorable grin he had ever seen pulled at Jules’s cheeks. “Yes!” she exclaimed. “A million times yes.” A playful glint came into her eyes. “I want to run into you for the rest of our lives.” She tackled him in a hug that caused them both to fall to the ground in a fit of laughter.

More laughter erupted out of Barrett from deep within at the memory from their first meeting in the school. “Only if you promise to throw your purse at me.”

Barrett stood and helped Jules back to her feet.

He took the ring out of the box and slid it on Jules’s finger. It looked absolutely perfect on her. Like it was always meant to belong to her. “This was my mom’s. I know she would have wanted you to have it. It reminds me of the dress you wore to the ball.”

Jules admired the ring on her hand and gave him a soft smile. “It is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s the perfect fit. I am so honored to wear it.” More tears filled her eyes. “I wish I could have met her and thanked her for raising such a wonderful man.”

“You will get to know her. Because she’s in here.” He set her hand on his heart. “I also have letters from her that you can read. She told me she loved you already.”

He grabbed the lapels of his jacket that was still wrapped around her, pulling her against him in a crushing hug that filled every hole in his heart. When she pulled back a little, he cradled her face with his hands.

She bit her lower lip and ran her hands up and down his back before she settled them up around his neck. He leaned in and kissed her with all the passion and love he had been holding back. Their lips moved together perfectly, like they had done this a hundred times. He moved his hands to her hair and deepened the kiss. She let out a small gasp and responded by playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. At that moment, he felt more understood and loved than he had ever felt before.

When their lips pulled apart, they were both out of breath.

She blushed as she looked at him. “We should probably get back inside before they send the Royal Guard looking for us.”