“I appreciate your finding the time to meet with me, Your Majesty.”

The king looked up from the touchscreen imbedded in his thin silver desk hovering off the ground without a need for legs. “Matthias, it’s not a problem. I can spare a few moments for my future son-in-law. What is it that you need to talk about?”

Well, the king certainly knew how to get to the point. He supposed a king needed to always be direct to avoid wasting any time. Matthias hadn’t prepared anything to say to the king, and he regretted it. Speaking in front of his entire family was one thing, but speaking in front of the king was a whole different issue. He had experience with the wrath of his family. But the wrath of the king, that was something he did fear.

“Matthias?”

“Sorry, I was thinking. Anyway, I wanted to ask you about funds for a charity.” Matthias thought it best to return the favor and be direct with the king.

The king ran his fingers over his beard, while contemplating. “Pandora did tell me that you wanted to help her start a charity. I thought that was a good idea. Although only because Pandora seemed happy when she mentioned it.”

“Yes, that is what I wanted to talk about.”

“You mentioned the word funds. Do I need to be concerned?”

Matthias hung his head in shame. “I’ve placed myself in quite a predicament. I promised your daughter I would provide her with funds to start her charity. I planned to allocate a sum of ten million for her. However, I planned this without the approval of my family. I assumed it was a small amount and that they wouldn’t mind. However, during our last meeting they decided to bar my access to that money.”

“I see.” The king held sympathy in his eyes, something he never saw within the eyes of his family. “I assume this is because of how slow the engagement is moving. You should tell your family that they need not doubt that this marriage will take place.”

“I have never doubted. My family is displeased with the situation. I have tried to reason with them, but they no longer care about what I have to say. This is why I requested your presence, Your Grace.”

The king opened his mouth to respond, but he was stopped by a call. He held up a finger to Matthias before taking the call. Out of respect for the king’s privacy, Matthias stepped back and waited near the door of the king’s office. The king whispered to a small hologram of one of his advisors. His advisor’s brows were furrowed in frustration. The king’s face had was overcome with concern. Worriedly, the man pleaded with the king over something. Matthias attempted to eavesdrop but heard nothing. The king said goodbye and hung up.

“Sorry about that,” the king apologized.

Matthias returned to his original position of standing in front of the king’s desk. “Not a problem. Do I need to leave?”

“No, everything is… fine. But perhaps we should move this conversation along faster.”

“Of course. I was hoping you might be willing to loan me ten million credits so that I can fulfill this promise I made to Pandora. I would prefer working with you than the banks.”

The king looked down at the screen on his desk. He scrolled through a file full of various documents. “I will have to deny this request. I am afraid I have no extra funds to loan out to anyone. All of our excess resources are currently involved with an important reconstruction project.”

“Oh. No worries.”

This wasn’t good. Not at all. The king was his only option. In order to borrow money from the banks, he would need his family’s permission. They would never say yes. It would seem telling Pandora the truth was necessary.

“However,” the king spoke up. “I will allow you to be the one who tells Pandora that she has my permission to open the castle as long as she takes every precaution suggested by my security team. We need to hurry this engagement along.”

Everything that had been weighing so heavily on his heart was suddenly lifted off by the higher power belonging to a king. After the tragedy that was his last family meeting had occurred, he desperately needed someone to side with him. The king was the most powerful ally he could have had on Elani. And the king seemed to always take his side. The king was his protection that he had always longed for against his family. Could he trust the king though?

“I can’t thank you enough,” Matthias said.

“You must still break the news about your failed attempts at a charity to Pandora. But telling her that I have said yes to opening the castle will hopefully soften the blow.”

“I think that she will be more pleased than disappointed.”

“I believe so too.” The king returned his focus to the touchscreen computer. “If that is all, I must return to work.”

“Yes. Goodbye,” Matthias said, swiftly leaving the king’s office.

* * * *

Pandora began the long walk to her father’s office. Because it was still morning, she hoped her father hadn’t yet begun his royal duties, whatever those were. She wanted to inquire about his decision. He had long enough to think about his answer. And he should have a few minutes to spare for his own daughter.

The hallway leading to his office was lengthy but exquisite. The floors were embellished with silver lines of poetry that had been written by her mother, according to her father. Pandora had them all memorized since she could read in hopes that she might know more about her mother. But these words, that were perfectly painted beneath the floor crystal, could never scratch the surface of who her mother truly was. Though the silver poems were sometimes a source of grief for her, she smiled as she read them today because they gave her the hope she needed.

She reminded herself that her father could be a gentle and gracious man when he wanted to be. If she were polite and smiled enough when in his presence, he might give her the answer she had been waiting for.

She paced down the hallway, stalling for time, and praying with each step. With more time, she prepared for the reality that her father’s answer would be no. He needed to understand that this wasn’t about her or him but about their people. The average citizens of Elani should have been as important to him as the nobility. Possibly more important because his laws affected them more. Regardless of who was in leadership, the nobility would continue to thrive. Pandora hoped this small effort she was making might change her father’s opinion on reaching out to the poor and those who were suffering.

Taking her eyes off the floor, Pandora looked ahead of her for a moment. She heard another’s footsteps in the hallway and didn’t want to run into them accidentally.

From the deep burgundy hair, she knew it was Matthias. He must have been leaving from a meeting with her father. She waved to him. He didn’t wave back. Instead, the moment he saw her and realized who she was, he started jogging to her.

“Good morning, Pandora,” he greeted with a charming smile. The gentle way he spoke her name reminded her of someone else. “You look so beautiful.” He leaned in closer, and his eyes sparkled from the lights. For a moment they almost appeared blue. Only for a moment though.

She looked down at her white gown to hide her disappointment upon recognizing his identity. Why was she seeing Hale in him suddenly? They weren’t similar in any shape or form.

“Are you okay?”

Realizing she had forgotten to respond to his compliment, she looked back at him. “I got lost in thought. But thank you for your kind words.”

He furrowed his brows at her response. “That was oddly formal.”

She took a step back and leaned against the wall. “I have so much on my mind right now. Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He backed away, almost as if he knew she needed space. “So, I’m assuming you’re off to visit your father?” He could quickly change the subject without any awkwardness.

“Yes, not for long though. I have luncheon to attend later with a few noble families.”

He nodded. “I’ll be there too.”

Pandora welcomed having a friend there. She could call him a friend now, right? His kindness had earned him a spot among her tiny group of people closest to her. And she found him a place there unbelievably fast. “Well, maybe it won’t be as boring then.”

“Yeah, I’ll try to make a few jokes now and then.”

She wished to stay with him just a little longer and talk. Around him, she didn’t have to think about exactly what to say before words left her mouth or put on false pretenses. He acted as though he appreciated her being her real self. “You wouldn’t.”

He laughed. “You’re right. But I can tell you some after.”

She forced her face to appear serious. It took everything in her not to burst out in laughter. “I expect you to keep your word.”

All the light and joy in his eyes dimmed as his smile disappeared. He clasped his hands together. She wondered what was going through his head. Should she ask him or wait for him to say something.

“Pandora,” he swallowed slowly. “Actually, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes, for the most part. But I have some bad news and great news. Do you have time to talk?”

She lifted her arm and placed a gloved hand on his shoulder. “For you, of course.”

He grasped her hand and brought it in front of him. “I should tell you that my family has forbidden me to help you finance the charity I mentioned last time. I know that I said that I would donate money. But I have been locked out from my family’s funds.”

“It’s a collective pool?”

He leaned forward and checked around them. “Everything is a family decision. But even saying that is more than I should tell you. All I wanted to say is that I am truly sorry for not keeping my word. I promise I can make it up to you though.”

Now, everything clicked. Pandora understood why her earlier comment about keeping his word bothered him. She squeezed his hand. “It’s not your fault. I understand better than anyone what it’s like to be held back by those closest to you.”

“I tried to ask your father about it. That’s why I went to see him today, but apparently, he has no funds to spare.”

Pandora shrugged. “He has never been one to hand out money. Don’t worry about the charity. I’ll find a way myself to get it going. You’ve done plenty for me.”

He bowed and kissed her hand. “Thank you for understanding.”

“No problem,” she answered. “I should be going though. I still have things I need to do before the luncheon.”

He held onto her hand. “Wait. I still have one more thing to tell you. I wanted to be honest with you first about my mistake to avoid downplaying my error because of the very good news I have.”

That was rather considerate of him. He could have taken the easy route, but he didn’t. He faced the possibility of conflict head on. And she understood how much he not only wanted but needed her to like him. He needed this marriage to happen. Yet those burdens he lived under didn’t prevent him from being honest. “Well?”

“Your father said yes to opening up the castle. When I—”

Pandora completely interrupted him by nearly jumping on him with a hug. His slender torso was easy for her to wrap her arms around. She felt him tense up but then quickly relax as he fell into her hug. He kissed the top of her head lightly.

“I take it that you’re happy?” Matthias said with a laugh. With her head on his chest, she listened to the echoes of his voice rumbling against her skin.

“This makes me very happy.” She released Matthias but held his hands.

He turned his head to the side. “That’s… all I could really ask for,” he murmured shyly.

Not knowing how to respond, she shifted the direction of the conversation slightly. “I really don’t think my father would have said yes, if you hadn’t been there for me. I wish there was some way I could repay you.”

Matthias lifted his hand to stroke her chin with his thumb. “Don’t worry about that now. Focus on what you can do for your people.”

Pandora embraced him one last time to wish him goodbye. Matthias seemed perfect. He had yet to disappoint her even once. Though he didn’t keep his word, how could he have known that his family would be unreasonable about the charity. Why would he believe that was his fault?

“I will see you at the luncheon. I’m going to speak with my father now. I suppose I’ll be asking him about the preparations for opening the castle.”

Matthias began walking in the opposite direction of Pandora, although backwards to face her. “What color will you be wearing?”

Pandora admired his pretty face and even more alluring eyes. “Light green.” She decided right there. “Why?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “You’ll see.”