"No," she said firmly, setting down her plate. "I never have, though I learned early to keep such disagreements private. My parents..." She sighed, running a hand through her hair in a gesture that seemed unconscious. "They would never approve of this – of us. Their daughter, mated to the king's brother? They'd see it as the ultimate betrayal."
I reached across the blanket to take her hand, my thumb tracing circles on her skin. "I don't hold the deeds of your parents against you, Lola. I judge people by their own actions, not their lineage."
Her smile was small but genuine. "Thank you. It's just... it's complicated. I've spent my entire life being a disappointment to them in small ways. This would be..." She laughed, the sound edged with something almost like freedom. "Well, this would b
