Page 122
Story: Modern Romance June 2025 5-8
Benedikt drew in a shaky breath. He felt as if he’d swallowed the sun, as if she’d given him the moon and the stars. But all he wanted was her, his precious Lena.
His voice was as serious as when he’d made his vows in the cathedral. ‘I promise to be completely honest with you, my love, including about my feelings.’
‘And I promise to be completely honest with you, my darling husband,especiallyabout my feelings.’
For a moment they stood solemn and still, eyes locked on each other. Then Benedikt drew her towards the sofa.
‘In the interests of complete honesty,’ he murmured, ‘I need to be upfront about my intentions.’
‘Intentions?’ The glimmer in her eyes made his breath hitch. ‘Tell me more.’
Benedikt sat down and pulled her onto his lap. As she settled, warm and soft in his embrace, eyes turned to his, he knew this was going to be all right. More than all right, it was going to be perfect.
‘We did this the wrong way around. We married but had no courtship. I intend to rectify that, starting now.’
‘You’re going to court me? I like the sound of that.’
He nuzzled the base of her neck, drawing in the scent of flowers and Lena. ‘Good. I need to do this thoroughly. It could take months.’
Her chuckle was liquid sunshine as she put his hand to her breast. ‘Definitely, my darling. Maybe even years.’
Her darling.
His heart had never felt so full. And this was only the first day of the rest of their lives together.
EPILOGUE
The castle of Edelforsthad never looked so good. Chandeliers glittered, mirrors shone and flowers scented the air as guests mingled in the ballroom.
From the minstrels’ gallery above, music began and the guests retreated to the sides of the room. Annalena watched a couple approach and her breath caught. Even now her husband had that effect, especially when he wore formal evening dress.
They’d been married a year today. A year that had been blissful and challenging. They were both strong-willed and didn’t always see eye to eye, but the promise of honesty had seen them through both testing and wonderful times.
In his stark clothes Benno looked incredibly sexy but serious, as befitted a king. But then, uncaring of the crowd, he lifted his hand and blew her a kiss, stealing her heart all over again. There was a ripple among the throng as women sighed in delight.
The man Annalena had met a year ago was still there, conscientious and determined. But now Benno embraced happiness with an enthusiasm that transformed him.
She smiled as he escorted her Oma, resplendent in navy and silver, onto the dance floor. Annalena turned to the man beside her. Young and handsome, Harald Ditmar said, ‘Ready, Your Majesty?’
She nodded first at Harald then at his beaming grandfather, the colonel, who sat with his ankle strapped up. ‘Absolutely.’
The crowd applauded as the musicians struck up a waltz. Annalena circled the room with Harald, while Benno and Oma danced in the opposite direction.
Incredible to think it was only a year ago that she’d attended her first royal ball. Now, confident in her abilities and in Benno’s affections, she no longer felt like a fish out of water. She actually enjoyed dressing up once in a while, though she’d remove the emerald and diamond tiara after the dancing.
When the waltz ended the couples met. Oma’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes glittered as she thanked Benno for the dance. ‘But one waltz is enough for me.’ She turned to Harald. ‘Let’s go and check on your grandfather, young man.’
‘She really is a wonderful lady,’ Benno murmured as the pair left and he gathered Annalena close.
‘She’s absolutely delighted we’re celebrating our anniversary here.’ His smile warmed her as the music began and other couples spilled onto the floor. ‘Thank you for suggesting it.’
He shrugged as they began dancing. ‘It’s good to celebrate with family. Besides, we can head up to the chalet tomorrow for a break.’
He’d bought the chalet where they’d honeymooned as a belated wedding gift. Weekends there were some of their happiest times.
As they moved down the room Annalena frowned. ‘They’re playing the same music again, that’s unusual.’
‘I asked them to. Do you like it?’
His voice was as serious as when he’d made his vows in the cathedral. ‘I promise to be completely honest with you, my love, including about my feelings.’
‘And I promise to be completely honest with you, my darling husband,especiallyabout my feelings.’
For a moment they stood solemn and still, eyes locked on each other. Then Benedikt drew her towards the sofa.
‘In the interests of complete honesty,’ he murmured, ‘I need to be upfront about my intentions.’
‘Intentions?’ The glimmer in her eyes made his breath hitch. ‘Tell me more.’
Benedikt sat down and pulled her onto his lap. As she settled, warm and soft in his embrace, eyes turned to his, he knew this was going to be all right. More than all right, it was going to be perfect.
‘We did this the wrong way around. We married but had no courtship. I intend to rectify that, starting now.’
‘You’re going to court me? I like the sound of that.’
He nuzzled the base of her neck, drawing in the scent of flowers and Lena. ‘Good. I need to do this thoroughly. It could take months.’
Her chuckle was liquid sunshine as she put his hand to her breast. ‘Definitely, my darling. Maybe even years.’
Her darling.
His heart had never felt so full. And this was only the first day of the rest of their lives together.
EPILOGUE
The castle of Edelforsthad never looked so good. Chandeliers glittered, mirrors shone and flowers scented the air as guests mingled in the ballroom.
From the minstrels’ gallery above, music began and the guests retreated to the sides of the room. Annalena watched a couple approach and her breath caught. Even now her husband had that effect, especially when he wore formal evening dress.
They’d been married a year today. A year that had been blissful and challenging. They were both strong-willed and didn’t always see eye to eye, but the promise of honesty had seen them through both testing and wonderful times.
In his stark clothes Benno looked incredibly sexy but serious, as befitted a king. But then, uncaring of the crowd, he lifted his hand and blew her a kiss, stealing her heart all over again. There was a ripple among the throng as women sighed in delight.
The man Annalena had met a year ago was still there, conscientious and determined. But now Benno embraced happiness with an enthusiasm that transformed him.
She smiled as he escorted her Oma, resplendent in navy and silver, onto the dance floor. Annalena turned to the man beside her. Young and handsome, Harald Ditmar said, ‘Ready, Your Majesty?’
She nodded first at Harald then at his beaming grandfather, the colonel, who sat with his ankle strapped up. ‘Absolutely.’
The crowd applauded as the musicians struck up a waltz. Annalena circled the room with Harald, while Benno and Oma danced in the opposite direction.
Incredible to think it was only a year ago that she’d attended her first royal ball. Now, confident in her abilities and in Benno’s affections, she no longer felt like a fish out of water. She actually enjoyed dressing up once in a while, though she’d remove the emerald and diamond tiara after the dancing.
When the waltz ended the couples met. Oma’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes glittered as she thanked Benno for the dance. ‘But one waltz is enough for me.’ She turned to Harald. ‘Let’s go and check on your grandfather, young man.’
‘She really is a wonderful lady,’ Benno murmured as the pair left and he gathered Annalena close.
‘She’s absolutely delighted we’re celebrating our anniversary here.’ His smile warmed her as the music began and other couples spilled onto the floor. ‘Thank you for suggesting it.’
He shrugged as they began dancing. ‘It’s good to celebrate with family. Besides, we can head up to the chalet tomorrow for a break.’
He’d bought the chalet where they’d honeymooned as a belated wedding gift. Weekends there were some of their happiest times.
As they moved down the room Annalena frowned. ‘They’re playing the same music again, that’s unusual.’
‘I asked them to. Do you like it?’
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197
- Page 198
- Page 199
- Page 200
- Page 201
- Page 202
- Page 203
- Page 204
- Page 205
- Page 206
- Page 207
- Page 208
- Page 209
- Page 210
- Page 211
- Page 212
- Page 213
- Page 214