First at Last (Updated Version)

Chapter Twenty-Four

He did not seem the least bit nervous as he stood before the people that would one day look to him and call him their king. He belonged to them. He was meant to lead them.

"My apologies for the interruption," he said, his voice carrying across the room, much like his father's voice did. "But there is something I must say and it cannot wait." He paused, as though steeling himself for what was to come next.

My eyes slid past William and landed on the king, who looked positively outraged. Though, if William noticed, he did not seem to care.

After a moment, William continued, and I watched on with reservation, unsure where this was going. "I cannot marry Lady Alice. I won't." The words sounded too calm, and the room itself seemed to draw breath as everyone gasped at once. He continued, after the information seemed to sink in, though I was still not sure I'd heard him correctly. "For as long as I can remember, I have been a prince first, before anything else. And I have never minded. I knew that it meant I would have to make difficult decisions and do things I might not want to. I have trained all my life for that day. The day I would be king. I am only eighteen, and I think I have many years before my father relinquishes his claim on the throne, but, even now, I am ready, whenever he decides that day has come. I have always known a political marriage might be part of the plan, and I never minded that either. I only hoped that I would be lucky enough to end up falling in love with whoever I married. But when I met you . . . Everything changed." His mouth turned up at the corner in an almost-imperceptible smile as he walked toward me.

I was frozen to the spot, shocked that he would say this in front of all these people. Though, my heart melted a little as my eyes met his.

"The fact that you were not one of the women I was supposed to marry drove me insane. The fact that, in the end, the choice wasn't mine, and they were going to give me your sister's hand in marriage, made it worse. Not only could I not marry the love of my life, but I was being forced to marry her sister, which would just destroy her. I have spent countless days and sleepless nights thinking about this and considering everything. I love you, Erika. You mean more to me than any crown, and any amount of gold or jewels. I want to be with you more than anything. I will give up any right to the throne I have if it means I can spend the rest of my life with you." He got down onto one knee before me, his eyes shining. My heart stuttered in my chest. "You are everything I could ever want. You are my hopes and dreams. You are my future. I do not care if we are ruling the country or living as poor farmers, as long as we are together. I love you, Erika," he said again, so softly. He pulled a ring from his pocket and took my hand in his. "Will you marry me?"

My heart beat so fast that I thought it might explode out of my chest. I hardly registered that everyone was watching us. I felt like we were the only two people in the world in that moment. "Yes," I said, the word barely more than a breath.

He placed the ring on my finger: it was beautiful, with words engraved in an unknown language, and a very small engraving of the royal crest. He had barely finished putting the ring on when I threw my arms around him and kissed him. Tears stung my eyes, but, for once, they were tears of joy.

We kissed for a long moment before William pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes. I hardly noticed that the silence had been broken by applause. Everyone was fairly accepting of the news that he would not be marrying Alice, but me instead. Except for the king, who continued to look very upset, and Mother, who also looked livid.

With the moment over, the music started up again, a light, jovial tune that seemed to fit the mood perfectly. Guests crowded around us giving us congratulations, bits of advice, pieces of praise. It was quite overwhelming, but I was so happy that it hardly fazed me at all.