Page 62 of Awestruck (Starstruck Love Stories #4)

Her second proposal went toward fixing centuries of imbalance: introducing a Prime Minister, elected solely from the House of Commons, to oversee both Houses and work directly with the crown.

Along with this reform, she proposed that the two Houses have equal voting weight.

Any stalemates would be broken by the Prime Minister’s vote, while ultimate authority rested with the reigning monarch, who retained two votes.

I’m still not sure how she convinced the House of Lords to pass that one, but as of two weeks ago, Markham Grimstad is the new Prime Minister and bound to thrive in his new role, and Freya has a better chance of passing any reforms she thinks will benefit the people on both sides. Candora is changing.

Changing for the better.

I can’t wait to see what Freya does next.

“Will you tell me why you were hiding?” Freya asks, pulling her fingers free of mine so she can tickle her fingertips across my palm.

A shiver runs through me, a rush of desire that I try to ignore. “Can I say it’s because your mom has been giving me tips for being royalty all morning?”

“You can say it, but it doesn’t make it true.”

I hum and lock my fingers between hers again before she distracts me too much.

She’s right; I love how much Ingrid is trying to help me figure out this new role after she all but convinced Freya to choose me.

“Maybe I’m tired of Lady Falkheim poking me in the eye with that horrific feather in her hat. ”

Freya snorts out a laugh. “The vulture feather? It is atrocious! But no, I do not accept that excuse.”

“I want to keep you all to myself.” That one’s true, but it won’t hold up as an excuse. I just want to say it.

She leans back, standing straight again as she narrows her eyes at me. “Elliot Reid Alverra, tell me why you are nervous, or I will go back out there and let Rensvik know that you are eager to work with him directly on all projects going forward.”

“Vitte, Rapunzel, you don’t play.” I wrinkle my nose, knowing if I don’t come clean, she’ll follow through with her threat.

I don’t plan on getting too deep into the politics too soon, but Rensvik would hold me to Freya’s promise, no matter how long I wait to jump in.

It’s not worth the risk. “Fine. I’m terrified. ”

Freya tilts her head. “Of what?”

“Of messing up.” I brush my thumb across her jaw, marveling at her natural beauty. “Of doing something to hurt Candora. Of not being the man you need me to be.”

“Elliot.” Smiling softly, she presses her hand to my cheek.

This isn’t a new conversation, so I know what she’ll say. She’ll tell me that everyone is allowed to make mistakes as long as they own up to them and rectify them the best they can. She’ll tell me that she loves me no matter how many imperfections. She’ll tell me that I have time to learn.

She doesn’t tell me any of those things. “You think too highly of yourself.”

I blink. “What?”

With a shrug, she steps out of my hold and starts wandering the bathroom like it’s an art gallery, even though there’s not much to see.

It’s a bathroom. Sure, it’s a bathroom inside the biggest cathedral in Invem, but that doesn’t make it a marvel.

“Exactly as I told you,” she says with an air of casualness. “You think too highly of yourself.”

“I think you’re missing the point here, Rapunzel. I’m having the opposite problem.”

“No.” She turns to me, head held high, shoulders back, eyes focused and intense. “You think you are so powerful and influential that anything you do can affect an entire country.”

“I…” I stop. Frown. “No, that’s not…”

She lifts her eyebrows. “Tell me I am wrong.”

“I don’t…” I exhale all at once. It’s not quite a laugh, but it’s not a scoff either. I don’t know what I’m feeling, but confusion is a big part of it. More than anything, she’s right. “Wow.”

Grinning now, Freya comes close and wraps her arms around my shoulders.

“My husband, you are an incredible man with a brilliant mind and a good heart. But no one, not even me, is capable of failure of such magnitude that it cannot be fixed. As long as you are doing your best, you have so many allies to hold you up when you inevitably fail.”

“This is one of the many reasons I love you,” I mutter, pressing my forehead to hers as her words settle over me. She’s right, like she always is. “You don’t regret marrying a kid from Montana?”

She shakes her head. “Never.”

“And you don’t think the people will stage a coup now that there’s a weak link on the throne?”

“We are not a chain, Elliot. We are our own selves, united and bound by love and loyalty. Besides, I’m the true royal here. You mostly exist as decoration.” She rises up on her toes, her lips brushing mine.

I snicker and lean back. “I love you, but I am not kissing you in the men’s toilet, Rapunzel. Especially after you just called me a decoration.”

“Suit yourself.” She turns to leave.

“Wait!” Grabbing her by the waist, I tug her against my body and capture her mouth, smiling when I taste champagne on her tongue. She only drinks when she’s nervous, and I’m glad to see it’s not just me.

She’s all talk, this one.

But I love how she accepts her shortcomings and is always willing to face her fears and stand for what she thinks is right.

She’s going to do great things, and I am so lucky that I get to be at her side when she does.

Neither of us knows what the next few decades will bring and where our lives might take us, but I know one thing for sure.

Wherever she goes, I go. To the end.