Chapter l340

Chapter 0340

I relaxed as best I could, letting the k*ss happen for the cameras. Julian’s l*ps were soft on my own, gentle and non-demanding. It was a kind sort of k*ss, and for that I was grateful.

Though I would still have to remember to tell Nicholas not to watch the broadcast tonight. He’d made clear that while he was dealing with the thought of me and Julian’s pretend relationship, having to see it would be too much.

I could relate. The thought of Nicholas k*ssing someone else made my stomach twist, even though I knew it was an inevitability.

Julian broke the k*ss first. He pulled back, a small smile in the corners of his mouth. He looked ..happy. Satisfied, maybe. And not just in his usual smug, self-satisfied kind of way.

“Are the cameras gone?” I asked.

Julian’s smile sl*pped away. “What?”

“The cameras?” I glanced around. “You saw them, right? That’s why you k*ssed me?”

He swallows hard. That’s odd.

“Yes,” he says. The words sound almost… hollow. “Yes, they’re gone now.” He cleared his throat. “Actually, we should continue on now, with our charade. I’m sure there’s more cameras up ahead, in the spot we arranged.”

“Oh, okay.” I laced my hand through his again, and we continued forward.

Julian sneaked a few sideways glances at me. I pretended not to notice, not sure what he wanted. Perhaps the cameras were still upon us, and he was pretending to check me out. In that case, I couldn’t call him out and embarrass him and myself.

A lady would pretend not to notice the attentions of her wanted suitor.

I tried to play the part as best I could. I couldn’t see the cameras, but they had to be there. Or maybe the King was around. I’d better not give anything away.

What did girls do when they were with the boys they liked? Oh, I knew.

I threw my head back and started to laugh.

Julian fully turned to look at me now. “Are you ill? What happened?”

I stifled my laughter. “Oh… uh… I just thought…”

Julian blinked once,

twice.

“Don’t people in love laugh a lot?” I asked. Although now that I thought about it, Nicholas

+15 BONUS

love. We were simply fond of each other.

My chest hurt at the thought. Now I’d done it and made myself sad again.

“I suppose they do,” Julian said. He shrugged. “I haven’t really been in love in a good long while ”

Ah, yes. Julian had loved the mysterious Bridget, who had been stolen by Nicholas. A story that still perplexed me. And another thing I shouldn’t have thought about right now, when I was trying to pretend to be in love with Julian.

“Maybe we should keep walking,” I said.

“Good idea,” Julian said, and we did just that.

A few more feet, took us past the entrance to the gardens. They were beautiful through the paned glass windows. I missed walking among them. It had been so long since I’d been outside of the palace walls.

It could have been worse, of course. The palace was huge. There were lots of places to sit and visit. But nothing could replace the feeling of being outdoors, surrounded by fresh air and the scent of blooming flowers.

I’d stopped walking without realizing it. Julian looked at me curiously. I motioned toward the outdoors.

“I just miss it, I guess.”

He followed my gaze out to the gardens. When he looked at me again, he had mischief in his eyes. “Want to sneak out?”

Treacherous hope fluttered in my heart. “You mean…?”

“I’m a prince. These are our gardens. No one can tell me where to go, and you are with me. So … would you like to?”