Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(100)
Mr. Davenport had said the same thing. Legally, Katriona Bradshaw should be princess. Even if I could stay, Edward has to divorce her first before marrying me.
“And do not forget that Kat fainted in the trial. Some already perceive it as an admission of guilt. If she disappears now, people will be even more inclined to believe she stole the rightful identity of Katriona Bradshaw. Surely you don’t want Kat’s name in the mud when she’s gone?”
Edward doesn’t answer. I don’t care about what propriety dictates; I take his arm and stare at the king and queen, silently begging them to leave. The queen takes the cue and tugs on the king’s sleeve. He looks at me for a long moment, and then stands up.
“Are you absolutely certain that nothing can be done for you?”
This time I can’t hold it in any longer. I nod, and a tear slides down my cheek.
When the door closes behind them, I bury my face into Edward’s chest and hold him tight. He is uncommonly indifferent, which shows how much affected he is by the king’s orders. Normally he’d caress my hair, stroke my back, or simply carry me to bed.
“Please don’t feel guilty about what your father said,” I whisper. “I understand how difficult your position is.”
“I wish I weren’t a prince,” he says bitterly. “I wish that you were an Athelian, or I lived in your world. After everything we have been through, I can’t bear losing you, much less forcing myself to pretend Katriona Bradshaw is you.”
What I feel like doing at the moment is to break down and sob into his chest. But seeing him so broken-hearted, I resolve to be strong. I have to think of something to make us feel better.
“Look at it this way,” I say softly. “I wasn’t supposed to come back a second time. But I did, and we had eight months together. Well, maybe there were only a few months that we truly lived as a married couple, but if the goblins didn’t send me back, we’d only have my seventeen-year-old memories.”
I take his face in my hands. He stares into my eyes, drinking me in, like I am the only person who can make him feel alive.
“This second time, we’ve grown even closer.” I smile, though another tear trickles down my cheek. “Compared to the first time I was transported to Athelia, we have had more chances being together. We got to live together as husband and wife.”
He nods, but the pain remains in his eyes.
“Take me to bed.” I take his hand and kiss his fingertips. “No matter whether I die or go back to my own world, I want to remember you. I am definitely not going to get my memories erased this time.”
46
Amelie and Mabel are surprised when they find me sitting at my desk, engaged in letter-writing.
“But it’s the weekend!” Mabel says, as if I should do nothing but laze around. “You don’t have to work through the letters until tomorrow.”
I move my arm to block the paper on the desk, because I don’t want them to see what I’m actually writing. “It’s all right. Since I don’t have anything to do, I might as well get some work done. That way, I’ll have less to work on tomorrow.”
When they are gone, I let out a sigh of relief. Only Edward knows what I am actually doing. I am writing letters to my friends, to be read after I leave Athelia. Actually, I had written similar letters last year before the wedding, but they were never posted since I returned to Athelia. This time, I will be gone for good. Unless some miracle happens . . .
I try very hard not to break down and cry as I write to Poppy how much I value her friendship and how I wish that I could see my godchildren grow up. “Give them my love, and let them know that on the other side of the universe, there is someone always thinking about them.”
For Elle, I send her the best wishes for her marriage with Henry. Finally, they have reached the happy ending that is long overdue. Still, I’m sad that I won’t get to see her in a veil and wedding dress. She was absolutely stunning in that fairy-made gown in the ball.
I thank Henry for his help with my social reforms and also for bringing Edward and me together. I hope that he and Elle will be very happy. I wish him a safe trip, and also warn him that he had better not cheat on Elle with some Moryn girl, or I will get the duchess to summon him back to Somerset.
When I seal up the last letter, which is for Mr. Wellesley, I find a ribbon, bundle the letters together and lock them in a drawer. I will leave the key for Edward so that he can give those letters to my friends after I’m gone.
A fit of coughing seizes me and I try my best to keep it under control. The last thing I want is the maids insisting on bringing a doctor for me, and risk exposing the mark on my shoulder. Then I would really be guilty of witchcraft.
After managing to stop the coughing with a mug of warm water, I rise and approach the windows, taking in the winter wonderland outside. Icicles glisten on the trees, the ground looks like a giant piece of marshmallow, and the wind stirs a flurry of flakes in the air, glittering under the sunlight. If only my body wasn’t getting weaker, I would have ventured into the gardens. While Edward still holds hope that Krev was kidding, deep down inside I can feel my life ebbing out of my body bit by bit.
At least I’ve been forewarned. It would be a real tragedy if Krev didn’t show up and I ran out of oxygen in the middle of the court trial.