Page 110 - RotalTutor

will renounce my title.” The king looked at her in shock. “You would renounce your title in order to marry Alexander?” “Father, I have learned a lot of things while I have been up here. I have learned how much I love you and Mother. I have learned how much I love these people. And I have learned how much I love Alexander. But there is one other very important thing I have learned. I have learned from Alexander that what is in a person’s heart defines the essence of who he truly is. True character shows in the way a person lives his life, not in how he is born. It is not in the nobility of his birth, but in how nobly he lives his life that makes him great or common. In that way, I know of no one I respect more than you, Mother, Lady Margaret, Duke Reginald, and Alexander. If you feel it inappropriate for me to be queen, you can let my cousin, Tobias, be king, and I will be happy being Lady Louise of Bernodia.” The king looked away and spoke almost as if to himself. “I would die before I would allow that power- hungry brat to rule over my people.” He then turned back to Louise. “Does Alexander share your feelings?” Louise nodded. “I know he does, even though he has tried to hide his feelings because he knows you don’t approve of him.” The king let out a deep sigh. “I must admit that the changes I have seen in you make me marvel. We could never have talked with each other like this six months ago. 108