Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 136

Chapter 136: A tenuous choice
Trace walked behind the princess. Her steps were hesitant at first, as if she was considering turning away and running. He tensed, bracing for that to happen, but as soon as she turned the corner and the suitors came into view, she tossed her hair haughtily and wrapped her spoiled persona around herself like a shield.

The bodyguard marveled at the switch, wondering how often the vulnerable woman within was more hurt and scared than anyone perceived.

“Who’s first?” The princess demanded of the pair of bachelors and their families, breezing past them and into her chambers. Trace followed, glancing at the group, and the guards escorting them.

“After you,” Denholm bowed graciously and gestured for the less imposing man to take his turn.

“You’re very kind,” Ben smiled tightly, clearly far more nervous than he had been the day before. Trace wondered at it, but let the suitor in and closed the door behind them.

“Your Highness,” Ben bowed to the princess, who tilted her head curiously at him.

“Please, do sit,” She perched regally on one of the chairs, and the man cautiously approached the opposite one.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” His smile was nervous, and he looked away.

There was awkward silence for a moment, and her eyes narrowed.

“You seem out of sorts today. We are now several words into this conversation and you have yet to insult me.” She baited him.

“I would never intentionally insult… that is…” Ben clutched his hands nervously before blurting out, “Why in the world am I here?”

“I beg your pardon?” Sapphira sat up straighter. “I didn’t expect you to throw yourself at my feet with an ardent and heartfelt proposal, but if you find my presence that distasteful–”

“You mistake me, Your Highness,” Ben shook his head. “I am simply confused as to why I was summoned back as an apparent finalist in the quest for your hand after you seemed to take such an intense dislike to me.”

“Do you have anyone but yourself to blame for my derision?” Sapphira tilted her chin, “the way you spoke to me was hardly fitting for a royal suitor.”

“And yet, somehow, perversely, it apparently succeeded in getting me this far. I am… gobsmacked.” He scratched his head before wincing and bringing his hands back to a more noble posture.

“I’m sorry you failed to take yourself out of the running, as you so obviously desired.” Sapphira snapped.

“I never thought I was in the running!” Ben threw his hands up, abandoning his show of decorum. “I was convinced by my parents that the king was simply doing our family a courtesy, an honor. We are lesser nobles, and it was merely a formality to make us feel valued by the monarchy. I was told I was not an actual candidate, and that I should be respectful and humble with no expectations of a real chance at being chosen.”

“That was your impression of respectful and humble?” Sapphira laughed. “Comparing a princess to a mare was respectful?”

“You baited me into that comparison,” Ben reminded, his nervousness visibly falling away as he countered her accusations. “When I saw your temperament, I couldn’t resist the impulse to humble you just a little. Since I stood no chance anyway, I felt I had little to lose, so long as I stayed within the bounds of propriety. I did get a lecture from my parents afterwards about how to speak to a princess and behave properly in front of royalty.”

“I got lectured as well,” Sapphira admitted with a small smile.

“So, after my lapse in manners, I must ask again, why am I here?” Ben sighed. “Surely my verbal jabs did not earn me any good will whatsoever with either you or His Majesty.”

“My father chose the two finalists,” the princess shrugged. “I cannot account for his choices at all.”

Trace suppressed a smile at how she was dancing around the truth.

“Denholm makes perfect sense. He is the son of one of the Counts’ Advisory,” Ben’s eyebrows drew together, “but I’m barely a step above a commoner. Why me? Did His Majesty give no reasoning?”

Sapphira hesitated, and Trace couldn’t resist clearing his throat. She shot him a sharp glance, but after how much grief she had given him about Anaisa, he figured she might deserve a small taste of her own medicine.

Ben looked at the bodyguard curiously, and then back to Sapphira.

“I disliked all the other suitors more,” The princess looked towards the window.

“You disliked me least?” Ben tried to clarify. “That wouldn’t mean you… liked me at all?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Sapphira cut her eyes over to him. “I believe the term I used was ‘least objectionable’.”

Ben laughed. Out loud. Sapphira glared.

“I suppose you find me extremely objectionable,” She questioned defensively.

“I hadn’t dared to form an opinion.” He shook his head, “it was not my place to do so, since I never considered myself a candidate.”

“And now that you are one?” Sapphira raised an eyebrow. “I noticed you did not withdraw your candidacy, but perhaps you simply wanted to avoid insulting His Majesty.”

“If I had wished to, my parents likely would not have allowed it,” Ben sighed. “However, I did not exactly wish to withdraw before seeing you again.”

“Oh? To have another opportunity to insult me so that I will reject you, and you can walk away without bearing His Majesty’s anger?” Sapphira tilted her head.

Trace watched the interaction with undue interest for a bodyguard. He wanted, badly, for them to like each other, so that Sapphira’s choice would be that much easier. She mustn’t choose Denholm, no matter what.

“While I fully expect your rejection, I don’t necessarily desire it,” Ben said thoughtfully. “And I don’t wish to insult you, either, Your Highness.”

“You certainly don’t go out of your way to compliment me,” She countered.

“Should I compliment you? You already know how beautiful you are. I’m sure you’re told that every day, and adding my own voice to the chorus would accomplish little. As to your cleverness, I believe I complimented that once before—”

“In an entirely backhanded way,” Sapphira interrupted.

“–But in general, I imagine a princess is complimented so much that she would need nothing more from me to boost her self image. Perhaps it was my lack of complimenting at our last meeting which caught your attention, so what purpose would changing my behavior now serve?”