For the time being, Fennel felt terrible. It felt as if his world was just one big lie. He felt trapped and forced to wed a lovely princess. He believed she deserved someone who would love and cherish her, not a man who was in a secret romance with another man.
Lily straddled his lap, her legs around his waist. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned her face against his neck.
"Please at least kiss me," she asked.
Fennel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't want to hurt the princess, but he didn't feel comfortable being intimate with her.
"I-I can't," he muttered.
"Why not?" the princess whined.
"We should wait," the king replied.
"Why? We're going to get married," the princess argued.
"It's just not right," the king said.
She pulled away her face from his neck to look at him. The expression on her face was a look of devastation. Fennel felt like she was going to cry.
