Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Joy sweeter than anything he’d ever known rushed through him. Unshed tears burned in his eyes, and his lips trembled as they pushed into a smile. Everand wanted him. Possibly loved him. He wanted Hugo at his side despite his poor background and their awkward meetings. It was like the very best fairy tale.
Yet, reality crashed through his brain a breath later, slamming him down to reality once again.
“But…but your parents?” Hugo stammered when he found his tongue.
Everand shrugged. “They will accept my choice or not. There’s always the cottage in the woods with the garden and rabbits. Personally, I think we need at least three rabbits to start. The ones with the long, floppy ears.”
“Maybe a dog to help keep an eye on the rabbits,” Hugo suggested, his voice wobbling.
“Done.” Everand leaned in and stole a chaste, sweet kiss prior to stepping away. He walked over to a spot near the doorway and pulled on a long velvet rope that hung from the ceiling. There was the sound of a bell tinkling somewhere far away in the castle. Barely two seconds passed before a person in servants’ livery popped into existence right next to the velvet rope, causing Hugo to jump and let out a little yelp. He’d never witnessed that kind of magic.
The servant smiled and bowed to the prince. “How can I serve you, Your Highness?”
“My treasure and I are famished,” Everand announced. “I would like a full lunch served in my private dining room. Also, have a table set up here with an assortment of finger foods and treats for us to snack on while we are having our fitting.”
The servant bowed. “At once, Your Highness.”
As soon as Everand nodded that he was finished, the servant tugged on the rope and disappeared.
“How?” Hugo whispered.
Everand smirked. “Magic.”
“No kidding.”
The prince shrugged and walked to one of the wardrobes. “We have servants in the palace who charm the bell pulls to allow workers to move through the palace in a flash, but only a handful of servants can use those bell pulls. Otherwise, that would become a nightmare for the royal guard who protect the castle.”
That was very easy to imagine. Hugo had witnessed the typical bits of magic that were common all throughout the kingdom—cooking, cleaning, letter delivery, and even the tailor’s magic—but he had to wonder what other interesting bits of magic were common to the palace yet not to the rest of the realm.
Hugo bit his lip as soon as he noticed Everand grabbed one of the robes from his collection and wrapped Hugo in it personally while Mr. Booth turned his attention to the hefty stacks of fabrics that had been brought into the dressing room. Everand ushered Hugo to the settee, where they cuddled together. Mr. Booth had his assistants parade around bolt after bolt of beautiful material, but Hugo was content to allow Everand and Mr. Booth to hash out which would look best on Hugo. He hated to admit it, but he wasn’t as fashion conscious as Dorian, who always seemed to understand what was best and fashionable despite their ever-shrinking budget.
Everand and Mr. Booth were still bickering about waistcoats and buttons when a group of servants trooped in with a table, which they set up in the far corner of the room. Many others followed, carrying plates, bowls, and trays of food. The most divine smells wafted through the room, and Hugo’s stomach decided that it was the perfect time to let out the most god-awful roar, stopping everyone.
Everand smiled and put his conversation with Mr. Booth on hold while he ushered Hugo over to fill a small plate with cheese, fruits, tiny tarts filled with savory meats, and other delicious things.
“You know, you don’t have to do this. I don’t need an entire wardrobe. I have ample clothes,” Hugo murmured as Everand accompanied him to the sofa with his own plate.
“Yes, I know, but you don’t have a wardrobe filled with original designs by Mr. Booth.”
Mr. Booth didn’t even pretend not to be listening to their conversation. He nodded fiercely. “Exactly, Mr. Baker.”
“Plus, I’ve had plenty of friends who begged to borrow Mr. Booth or begged for me to gift them some clothes or other trinkets. You want nothing.”
“Of course, I don’t want anything from you. Just your company. My interest in you has nothing to do with your being a rich prince. I fell for the irreverent man who made me laugh while we were being held prisoner by bandits in the woods. The man who teased me about being clumsy.” Hugo leaned close and whispered in Everand’s ear. “The man who kisses me like he wishes to devour me.”
“I am all those things. Always for you. But I want to spoil you because you’re my treasure. You’re the most precious person to me in all the world, and I want you to have everything you could desire and more. Every person in Branem needs to envy you.”