Page 114 of That Prince is Mine
“No, she volunteered.” Emma laughed. “Marion loves me, you know.”
“Of course she does.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “My people are going to love you, too.”
“And I’ll do everything in my power to deserve their love,” she said solemnly. His heart felt as though it would burst with his love for her. “I don’t know much about being a princess, but I will do my very best to be a good one.”
“With jeongseong.” His voice came out in a husky rasp.
“Yes,” she whispered with a tender smile.
“And I will love you with jeongseong.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
“That’s the only way I know how to love.” Tears filled her eyes again, but her lips tilted up in a wobbly smile. “Maybe that was why I was so afraid to admit to myself that I loved you. I knew I couldn’t give you just a piece of myself. But now, I trust you with all of me. I love you with everything in me.”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you.” He knelt at her feet and cupped her face between his hands. “But I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you with all my heart.”
“I’d like that very much.” She pressed her forehead against his.
He blinked away tears of happiness. “Are you finally ready to admit that we are compatible despite our many differences?”
She threw her head back and laughed, light and joyous. “Yes, Michel. We are a perfect match in every way.”
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
“I wish the Crones could see me now. My goddaughter, a princess.” Auntie Soo placed her teacup back on the saucer with a dainty touch, glancing out to the gardens framed by the windows of the yellow sitting room.
Emma didn’t remind her that those meddlesome matchmakers had definitely watched the wedding ceremony. They were much too nosy not to have watched when Emma and Michel’s wedding was televised far and wide. Rouleme rarely made international headlines, but the media couldn’t resist a royal wedding, especially when the bride was an Asian American commoner. The outpouring of support they received from around the world drowned the toxic bigotry into pesky squeaks. And her family, new and old, swatted even those away so vigilantly that the sharp digs didn’t leave scars on her.
Even so, all the attention made Emma a bit weary. Michel assured her that it would soon fade and they would become old news. She hoped her husband was right. Thank goodness her father-in-law had promised to push back his “retirement” and continue his reign for a few more years. She would have time to master this princess business before she had to learn how to be a queen and become new news again.
But the king’s motives weren’t entirely altruistic. Based on his pointed hints, he didn’t want Emma and Michel stressed out when they should be concentrating on giving him grandchildren. Her dad was the king’s staunchest ally in this endeavor.
“Though I must say,” her godmother continued with a contented sigh, “they have been much more pleasant to deal with recently.”
“I thought you wouldn’t have to deal with the Crones once you retired,” Emma murmured, sipping her tea.
“That is precisely why I find them more pleasant.” Her godmother winked. “Because I don’t see them anymore.”
“It’s so good to have you here, Imo. I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon.”
“Jeremy and Steven are good boys, but their wedding’s going to be a disaster if I don’t take over the planning.” Auntie Soo reached out to pat Emma’s knee. “Besides, I’ll see you and Michel at the wedding in a few months. Right?”
“Of course.” Emma smiled. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Unlike Gabriel and Sophie’s wedding. Those assholes got married in an LA courthouse without telling anybody. Emma could’ve killed them if she wasn’t so ridiculously happy for them. At least she and Michel would be able to attend Sophie’s first exhibit when they were in town for Jeremy and Steven’s wedding.
“Auntie Soo.” Michel strode into the sitting room and bowed from the waist to her. Then he settled a warm hand at the nape of Emma’s neck and pressed a kiss on her temple. “And how has your day been, my darling wife?”
“Busy as usual,” she said, letting her eyes soak up her handsome husband. “Auntie Soo and I attended the opening of the new community center in Halle.”
“She means she spent most of her time in their kitchen,” her godmother added with an affectionate eye roll.
“I spent some time in there.” Emma pursed her lips. “It’s a fantastic kitchen, by the way.”
Michel’s eyebrows drew into a faint furrow. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “How are you feeling? Not too tired, I hope.”
“I feel absolutely fine.” Emma squeezed his hand. They had heard the baby’s heartbeat for the first time a couple of days ago at her prenatal appointment. She was only eight weeks along, so it remained their secret for now, and she hoped to keep it that way for a few more weeks. “Don’t fuss.”
