Wait, there was one piece that still didn’t align with the puzzle of this plan.
“If Aurelia Lockly is dead, then who shall I be after the law is reformed?” I looked between the three faces and saw the queen bore a giddy smile. I turned to Elias, who now looked a touch redder than he had before.
“Well, you see...” Elias began, his voice shaky. Was he nervous? “It was my hope that I could assist you with that part.” He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes darting back to the royals, who silently turned their attention to the trees. He let out a deep breath. “You see, once the smoke clears from the trials, I will presumably be made the new head of the Oberon family. It will take some time to clean up the name’s reputation, but I was hoping I would have a little help.” He picked up my other hand, holding me tenderly in front of him. His soft hazel eyes bore a love so sweet that my heart began to jump in preparation of his question. “Lady Aurelia Lockly, would you do me the greatest honor of taking my name and becoming my wife?”
Tears misted in my eyes, and for a moment, I forgot how to speak. Only minutes ago, I had been on my way to commit my life to a man I loathed. The warmth that filled me now was a blazing fire compared to the frozen pain I had felt this morning. I pulled my hands from his and wrapped my arms around his neck. My lips positioned themselves above his ear, and I whispered, “Well, I already died once to be with you, didn’t I?”
Then I kissed him.
His sweet embrace pulled me out of the forest we stood in and out of the worries that had gripped me since the day of my betrothal. As I stood wrapped in my future husband’s arms, feeling safer than I ever had, my world pulled back together. All the hurt and pain that had lingered over me for the last weeks melted away within Elias’s touch. I would have kissed him again if the leaders of our kingdom weren’t gawking so obviously. My head shot over in the direction of the queen, who instantly turned her eyes back to the trees.
“I saw that,” I stated accusingly, and the queen turned to face me, her pale cheeks a light pink.
“I’m sorry. I’m just so happy for you!” Her enthusiasm spread through me contagiously as she rushed forward to grab my hands in celebration. “I promise, after all the chaos dies down, I will throw you the most glorious wedding! You deserve it after what you’ve both put up with. I still can’t believe that your parents tried to force you into a marriage like that! There are far better options thanTheodore Dugal.” Her face soured. Apparently, she was familiar with the bratty lord.
My smile faded as the past weeks’ transgressions came to mind. “That reminds me...” I turned to face the king as well. “I have another crime to report. It would seem that I was never born a Lockly at all, and that my true father was unjustly killed in a lumber accident approximately sixteen years ago.”
Elias in particular looked perplexed by this sudden development. “Wait a moment... If Lord Lockly was never your father, then shouldn’t you have been free of his dictation toward the marriage?”
I shrugged. “In normal cases, of course, but the Dugals threatened me if I ever tried to tell anyone. They’ve also been blackmailing fathe—I mean, Lord Lockly into keeping quiet. Those blasted lords think they can do whatever they please. If I had been slapped one more time, I do believe I would have entered the family business of murder.” I crossed my arms in a huff, and Elias’s perplexed look shook into shock.
“They struck you!? Who? When?” He angrily reached for his bow, as if he could skewer one of them right now.
I placed a calming hand on his shoulder. “Lord Lockly, and Theo both did.” I spoke calmly, but the rage in his eyes only grew fiercer. “Don’t worry, I got even with Theo by holding a knife to his throat. And I’m hoping that this report against my father will serve as a decent revenge upon him as well.” I smirked. “You would have loved to watch. Theo nearly cried. I’ve never heard a man shriek so high in my life.”
A chuckle sounded from King Peter, and he elbowed his wife. “I always liked her.” A roar of laughter resounded between the four of us, a sweet joy permeating the grassy clearing. We spent a little more time filling each other in on all the details across the last weeks, and then decided it was time to go our separate ways.
“Goodbye, Your Majesties, and thank you!” I waved from atop my new mount. The royals sat atop their own with broad smiles across their faces.
“Good luck, Aurelia!” The queen waved in return. “I’ll write to you as soon as the law has been mended. News of your death shall be made known by this evening, so in the meantime, I recommend picking a new name.” With her final farewell received, she and the king dashed off into the forest.
I looked over at Elias, whom had somehow managed to seat Bear onto the mount with him. I laughed at the ridiculous display of the oversized dog nestled in front of Elias. I trotted my mare in line with them then reached over to give the dog a pat.
“What do you think, then?” I looked over at Elias through my lashes.
He titled his head toward me, one strong arm holding Bear securely. “About what?” He stared at me affectionately through Bear’s thick fur.
“My name.” I smiled, brushing a loose golden curl from my eyes. “What should I go by until the law is passed and I’m free to use my own name?” I blinked at him, curious what name he would label his love with.
He furrowed his brows, and placed a hand on his chin, vividly pondering a proper name for his now-betrothed. A bright smile flashed across his face, and he snapped his fingers.
“Goldie!” he stated joyfully.
“Goldie?” I laughed with an odd look in my eye. “I sound like a Labrador. No offense, Bear.” The dog and his owner both smiled without offense.
“No, it’s perfect!” he persuaded, still grinning like a child. “You can claim it’s a nickname, and nobody will bother to ask your real name. Plus, it suits you.” His smile softened, and his eyes poured adoration into mine. “It’s a beautiful name for the most beautiful golden girl.”
My heart warmed at the name in an instant. “Very well then...” I pulled the loose curl back into my face. “Goldie it is.”
With my name chosen and our fates sealed, the two of us rode off together into the spring greenery. The fresh air blew through my golden locks and breezed across the tattered remains of my dress. As we rode out of the woods far from the capital, I felt the shackles of my old life tumble off me. I was no longer Aurelia Lockly, the daughter of a lord, the heiress to her family’s fortune, the true daughter of a woodcutter, the betrothed of an imbecile, and the intruder to a criminal. I was just me. Whether that be Aurelia, Goldie, or whoever else I wanted to be, I was allowed to choose, and that’s exactly what I was going to do.
epilogue
“Ey, Goldie! Can I get another round over ‘ere?”
I turned and smiled at the rowdy guest. “Coming right up.” I winked at the guest as I collected the empty mugs from the inn’s bar.
The rambunctious life of an inn bar maid had kept me constantly whirling for the last year. I rapidly filled three more mugs, then stacked them on a tray to deliver to the calling guest. Placing the drinks down gently, I tucked the tray under my arm and surveyed the satisfied looks on the guests’ faces. The first gentleman chugged down half his drink, then let out a pleasant sigh.