Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(33)

“Do you really think so?”

“I know so. If anyone can do it, you can. I have every faith in you. Besides, I think you need to do this for your own sanity. I was in love with Dean for a long time before I felt brave enough to tell him. It nearly killed me.” He grabbed the other sofa protector and handed it to me. I gave him a small smile and wiped my eyes before hugging him again.

“Hey, get your hands off my fiancé,” said Luca playfully as he bounded through the door. “It’s a good thing I know you have a boyfriend, or I’d be worried.”

I pulled back from Daniel and blinked a couple of times. I didn’t want Luca to know I’d been crying.

“I’ve been looking all over for you,” he said, turning back to me. “I’ve called my father and told him to send Cynder back straight away. Apparently, he’d managed to get back already. I guess that’s the power of magic.”

“Magi can’t teleport,” I said, remembering what Cynder had told me the year before.

“The power of trains!” said Daniel.

“Yes, well, anyway. He’s on his way back,” replied Luca. “Father said he seemed eager to come and help us out. Jenny’s calling the news stations as we speak, setting up a big announcement.”

I stared at him open-mouthed.

“I haven’t agreed to any of this. Why did you do that without asking me? I don’t want to go through the same charade as last year. I’m done.” I could feel my voice rising. How could he go behind my back? “I thought I’d put my view about the matter across this morning.”

“I know you said you didn’t want to, but I thought you were just a bit nervous. I know you hate having to wear all those dresses and give those interviews, but you’ll be fine. I’ve already asked Xavi to come up with a nice outfit for you to wear this afternoon.”

“This afternoon?” I repeated.

“Yes. When we tell the world that you are once again going to have to pick a prince. Well, in this case between a prince and a kitchen hand, but you know what I mean.”

I didn’t know what to say. There were no words. Once again, I’d become trapped in a situation I had no control over. I barged past Luca without saying another word and ran straight to my room, locking the door behind me.





The Announcement


Hours later, I found myself right back where I’d been just six months before. The news crews were positioned ready to begin filming, and Marybelle was back. She had a big grin on her face, and who could blame her. She was getting more coverage than any other interviewer in Silverwood. My terrible life was becoming great for her burgeoning career. I didn’t hate her, although I wanted to. She was just another cog in the wheel of the media. Fed by the public’s bizarre desperation for sensationalized stories, she was nothing more than a way to get the news out to the public. She had her job to do, and so did I. I’d spent the earlier part of the afternoon getting primped by Xavi and her crew. If I was going to go through with this, I might as well do it looking good. So much for my plans to wear sweatpants and quietly run the kingdom for the next few weeks.

Marybelle brushed her newly dyed blonde hair and straightened the pretty silk scarf around her neck in preparation for the interview. Her glasses had also been dispensed with. She knew as well as I did that this would be viewed by hundreds of thousands of people. Gone was the kindly old granny she had been just yesterday. Now she was a blonde bombshell. She must have spent all night at the beautician’s.

Thankfully, due to the lateness in setting the event up, there wasn’t much of a crowd, even though the public, as always had not been allowed onto the grounds. I watched as they filled up the space behind the barriers slowly.

I didn’t want to do this. Choosing Luca over Cynder had broken my heart into tiny pieces already. No good could come of putting myself through it again. I was quite frankly astounded that Cynder had agreed to come back. There was no reason for him to. At least I was doing it for a good cause.

Why, oh why, did Cynder say yes?

“Because he’s in love with you,” whispered a voice from behind me. I turned quickly to find Daniel standing there.

“I didn’t realize I said that out loud,” I replied, mortified. I looked back to see if any of the TV crew had picked up what I’d said. Apparently not. They were all still setting up. Thank goodness, I’d not been fitted with a microphone yet!

I stood and pulled Daniel to the side of the stage where no one would overhear us.

“I can’t do this, Daniel. I can’t choose again.”

“Because you don’t want to go through the public scrutiny, or because you don’t know if you’ll pick the same man?”

Daniel could read me like a book.

“I’m picking Luca!” I said with as much force as I could muster. “I have to pick Luca.” I looked down at the floor of the stage, scared to look into his eyes. He already knew more about me than I knew about myself. I couldn’t bear him knowing more truths.

“No one is going to force you to make any other choice. It’s up to you...” He put two fingers under my chin and slowly raised my head so that I had no choice but to look at him. I could feel tears pricking at the corner of my eyes. Xavi would kill me if I let them fall and ruin the perfect mascara. “If that’s what you really want.”