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The sun was high in the sky when Juliet stepped out of her carriage, though the light fabric of the casual dress she was wearing helped keep her cool as her feet hit the pavement.
There was no one with her to aid with her skirt as she moved about, no guards or security tending to the horses in an attempt to act casual while they continued to observe her.
It was just her and the driver, out in town, but soon enough, there’d be someone else meeting them, too.
Soon enough she’d see Kayden again.
They’d parked on the outskirts of a market, and as she made her way through the stalls no one spared her a glance – there wasn’t a single flicker of recognition in any passing townsperson’s gaze for the Queen of Cordonia.
That made the long journey she’d endured worth it all on its own.
Wandering deeper into the market, she allowed herself to be swallowed up by the crowd, reveling in the simple freedom of walking around unattended, something she was never permitted to do at home.
Life had become almost unbearably structured, as of late. She hardly had a moment to herself to breathe, let alone an entire afternoon to disappear. So she planned on taking advantage of every last second she’d have masquerading as a commoner, and that started with exploring the wares around her while she waited for Kayden.
“Miss?” Her pulse stuttered as a vendor called out to her, certain she’d been caught. Juliet turned slowly and relaxed as she saw it was only a young man at a flower stall, surrounded by dozens of brilliant blooms. He waved her over, and she went to him with a smile, happy to give him a sale.
But when she stopped in front of the stall, he didn’t try to sell her on any of the bouquets he had available. Instead, he presented her with one wrapped set of roses and daisies and the deepest grin she’d seen in a long time. “A gentleman was here earlier,” the vendor explained, as she carefully took the flowers from his hands, “He said to give these to the most beautiful woman at the market, and that I’d know when she arrived.”
Juliet scoffed, staring down at the bouquet she was holding in disbelief. She could feel her face grow hot as she looked up to glance around the market.
Kayden was already here, then. Somewhere.
“Thank you,” she said, trying not to sound too flustered as she dipped her head to breathe in the sweet scent of the flowers. “They’re gorgeous, but are you sure they’re for me?”
“Quite sure.” Juliet stilled, realizing the boy at the stall’s mouth hadn’t moved. No, the deep voice who’d said the words was one she’d recognize anytime, anywhere.
She turned slowly and met Kayden’s eyes, feeling her rapidly beating heart jerk to an abrupt stop.
Kayden smiled softly at her as their eyes locked. “I knew he wouldn’t fail me,” he said, stepping closer. “It’s hardly a competition.”
The bustle of the market around them faded into the background as she moved forward, too, to meet Kayden, shifting the flowers she was holding into one arm so her free hand could reach for his. “It’s good to see you,” Juliet said quietly, biting back a sigh as Kayden’s fingers twined with hers, the simple and innocent brush of skin on skin immensely comforting. “Thank you for the gift.”
Kayden lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the ridge of her fingers before gently leading her away from the flower stall. “It was nothing,” he said, “I’m glad it worked out.”
There was a pause as they paced back towards the outskirts of the town square. She knew they were both thinking the same thing – how impossible it’d be for Kayden to do anything as lovely for her, back home. How relegated he’d been to a private life, how they were barely even able to look at each other, anymore.
Juliet shook her head, determined to cast the dark thoughts from her mind. This was not the time nor the place for such a discussion. Their outings were few and far between; there should be nothing to taint them.
They reached a stone fountain out of view from most of the market. She glanced up and saw that the driver who’d accompanied her for security was nearby but doing his best to give her privacy, and relaxed as they both sat on the ledge. Kayden moved to take the flowers from her and set them aside, then grasped her other hand, too.
“It is a gift, to see you,” he murmured, seeming to realize he’d failed to say as much, earlier. “I’ve missed you terribly since we were last together.”
It had been quite some time. Fabian had left the kingdom for foreign relations with a neighboring province and she’d been able to spend the night at hunter’s without drawing raised eyebrows. Fortunately, hunter had remained a good and loyal friend in addition to his standing as her policy advisor, allowing she and Kayden to meet in secret and revel in the luxury of privacy.
But that was nearly an entire month ago. Her heart ached as she studied the weary lines of Kayden’s face, his expression set with longing. How unfair, that a soul as vibrant as his should be forced to wait around for the half-romance she could afford him.
It seemed even being queen could not solve all injustices in the world.
“I’ve missed you far more than you know,” she agreed, her voice tight with emotion. Juliet blinked, leaving her eyes shut momentarily to try to dispel some of the thick sadness shrouding her voice. The last thing they needed now was for Kayden to be stuck comforting her on their one afternoon alone.
But when she fluttered her lashes back open she saw him still smiling patiently, fondness in his eyes, and that just made her heart ache worse.
“Tell me you’ve been well,” he prompted, drawing a chuckle from her despite herself. Only Kayden could worry about whether she was eating or sleeping enough in the palace.
“As well as expected, without you.” His hands squeezed hers tightly, the rough pad of his calloused thumb dragging across the backs of her knuckles. Part of him seemed almost pleased to hear she was unwell without him, though she knew she could hardly blame him for that. In her more selfish moments, she felt the same way. “And yourself?”
“The same,” Kayden said quietly. Though his lips were only slightly turned up at the corners, she could read the smile in his eyes perfectly, and marveled at how intuitive his once-stoic face now felt to her. After so long spent studying Kayden, it seemed she could read him now with just a glance. So there was no missing the slight nervousness on his expression when he said, “I have some news.”
“Oh?” Juliet tried to keep her voice light even as her mind raced with possibilities. She couldn’t help but to assume the worst – that Kayden was leaving Cordonia, that he was no longer interested in a secret relationship, that he was sick…
Seemingly sensing her hesitation, Kayden squeezed her hand comfortingly. “Hunter is reinstating me as his Head of Security.”
She blinked. “He is?”
Kayden’s lips spread into a real smile, then. He nodded. “He feels the decision will be well supported after some of the recent attention.”
Hunter was probably right. Over the last year, Kayden had been working tirelessly with the local orphanage, relocating many of the children and providing resources for the rest. He’d spent hours doing work her administration barely took an interest in, despite her pushing. He’d very nearly singlehandedly led the effort to fix the problems from the inside out.
Juliet was quiet momentarily as her head spun with the news. Kayden’s return to his former role meant he’d be around more, certainly, and in an approved context. It would no longer seem suspicious to be seen with him; there would be a reason for him to be at the palace.
But it also meant he’d return, more prominently, to the public eye. The people would have a chance to get used to him again, to come around after they’d once turned their backs.
And that opened up a variety of possibilities.
She had to actively work not to get carried away by the news. She knew she couldn’t allow herself to be too excited just yet; possibilities always came with challenges and this new development was sure to bring problems along for the ride, too.
But the spark of hope she felt was thrilling regardless. Her own face split with a grin, and Juliet moved to clasp both of Kayden’s hands together in hers. “He’s absolutely right. That’s wonderful news. For both of us, of course, but… for you especially. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
Her nagging guilt flared up again. For so long, she’d stewed over the fact that she was in the palace while Kayden faced derision, when all he’d ever done was protect her in an effort to help Cordonia. The public that despised him had no idea how much he’d sacrificed for their benefit, so that she could lead them to a brighter future.
Thoughts of what more she could do to help him kept her up at night. She’d spent many hours planning ways to both steal time with Kayden and work to help him without drawing attention, and finally felt a small step towards justice had been taken.
“It will be nice to get back to what I am familiar with,” Kayden said humbly, but the bashful look on his face said he was pleased by her recognition. “And of course there’s the added benefit of getting to spend more time with you.”
One of his hands lifted to gently brush a lock of hair off her forehead. He leaned in closer, his eyes intense. “Just being able to see you will put my heart at ease, Juliet. Finally I’ll have a break from wondering about you with my every thought.”
Without pausing to spare a glance around the square, she leaned in and kissed him, pressing in close. The overwhelming affection within her swelled and burst as the familiar scrape of Kayden’s stubble scratched her skin, the passion in his kiss so comforting she let herself drown in it greedily.
His hands tangled in her hair, pulling the careful curls out of shape. Carelessly, Juliet wound her arms around him, too, drawing closer and closer until there was nowhere else to go. She only realized she’d groaned into his mouth when Kayden’s teeth caught her bottom lip in answer, clutching her body tighter to his.
She was suddenly desperate to be somewhere more private, and as Kayden made it his mission to steal every last breath from her lungs she wondered if it would be inappropriate to drag him back to the carriage she’d taken into town so they could be alone. But her decision was made for her as Kayden pulled back, eyes as bright as the smile that was still fixed on his face.
“I came here to hear your voice,” he said, laughing shortly, “I shouldn’t waste all our time together this way.”
“Oh, but it’s very welcome,” Juliet assured him with a grin, catching his mouth in one last soft kiss before drawing back with a content sigh. “Hardly a waste at all. I know what you mean, though.” Many of her dreams at the palace simply revolved around just spending time with Kayden as they used to. Who knew how long it would be before they would have some time alone together again?
She knew it would be slow going – that it would take time for the public to get used to Kayden again, that it might never be possible for her to establish what she had always wanted, from the very moment she made her first bid at Queen…
…but it was hard to care when the here and now was so alluring, the man seated before her appearing so effortlessly as everything she’d ever wanted.
Her teeth bit at her sore bottom lip as she observed Kayden from beneath her lashes. He was looking back at her fondly, in a way that made her pulse gallop. “Well, we do have the whole day,” she mused, humming as he took her hands gently in his again.
The sunny smile he was sporting boosted her own mood significantly. “Let’s make the most of it, then,” Kayden suggested, standing to pull her up, too.
Juliet’s gaze swept the town square and the market beyond it, alive with food and strangers and opportunity, a rare luxury for two people who lived with secrets such as they did.
There was much to take advantage of, and the sun was high in the sky. She couldn’t think of a more advantageous situation to be in.
“Let’s,” she agreed, gathering herself and her flowers to follow Kayden back to life beyond their hiding place, her hope renewed.