Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“On second thought, Wolfgang, could you let them know I’m coming?” Before I was rejected in front of the whole palace.
“Yes, miss,” he replied, lifting his phone.
And all I understood from that conversation was that we were ten minutes away. Ten minutes! And I hadn’t even focused on my outfit, wearing any simple loose dress they had brought for me.
“Wolfgang, where is that duffel bag?” I checked around the back, finding it behind my seat and reaching back to grab it. “Never mind.”
Searching through it, I grabbed a compact mirror, and quickly, I pulled out makeup, trying to put effort into my face, at least, before grabbing the perfume and rubbing it on my wrist and behind my ears. When I glanced up, I saw Wolfgang grinning and looking at me at the review mirror.
“Don’t laugh!”
“I’m not, miss.”
“You are. I know it’s silly, but still. Ugh, never mind.” I ignored him, not wanting to waste any more time. I even had a mint as we pulled through the private gates of the palace.
Calm down! I mentally yelled with my hand on my frantic heart. But it became impossible as I saw him standing outside, waiting. He stood tall, hands behind his back, shoulders squared, and I could have sworn his hair glistened like the sunrise on morning grass.
I thought I was panicked before, but I was on a whole new level of freaking out now. Inside were mini-mes around screaming. My hands shook. I was not ready! But the car stopped away.
I took three deep breaths before ripping off the bandage and stepping out of the car. When I did, he stared at me with those beautiful blue-green eyes of his. And the words I had been waiting for almost forty minutes to form shattered into a million, billion little pieces. All I could do was stare back. When I saw him move to say something, I panicked and stepped up first, wrapping my arms around his neck, holding on tightly.
Hug me back, please, I mentally begged, and like he’d heard me, he did, his arms wrapping around me and hugging me tightly.
“Welcome home, bevilën.”
I bit my lips to keep from crying. “It’s good to be back.”
I didn’t know how long we hugged, but it didn’t feel long enough when we separated. Then when he smiled down at me, I got over it.
“Have breakfast or lunch or dinner or whatever meal with me?” he asked.
I nodded. “I’d like that.”
He kissed my hand before walking me back inside the palace. However, before we could go any farther in, Balduin ran inside like all hell had broken loose. “Sir!”
“Not now, Balduin, please. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow—”
“You sent a letter!” he interrupted.
Gale froze, then his eyes widened, and his mouth slightly parted as he whispered, “Shit.”
“What?” I asked, worried, and he turned to me, his face a full range of embarrassment. Now I was very worried. “Gale, what?”
“I may have gotten drunk and written a letter to you last night.”
“What? I didn’t get any letter from you.” I glanced over my shoulder at Wolfgang, who shook his head that he also did not get one.
“I was worried you’d tear it up in anger. But I wanted you to read it, so I...” His voice trailed off.
“So you?”
“He sent it off to the press as the official palace statement!” Balduin screamed out, nearly going mad.
Gale flinched at the sound of it.
“What did you say in that letter?”
He shrugged. “Nothing too damaging, that I loved you, I was sorry and sad about what happened and...”
“Confessed to eloping with you!” Again, Balduin screamed, and Gale flinched. “Now all the press is posting it all over the internet. Reporters are asking about the details of this wedding. It’s chaos, so no, sir, it cannot wait until tomorrow! What are we to say?”
“Balduin, calm down, or you’ll rip out what’s left of your hair,” Gale said with the slightest smile on his face.
“Gale!” I pushed him.
And he just laughed, turned to face me, and placed his hands on my face. “I can fix this, but I need you to answer two questions first.”
“What?”
“Do you love and trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Are you here to stay with me forever?”
“Yes.”
He kissed my lips so passionately that my body felt like it was rising to his. Then all too quickly, he pulled back.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, stepping back from me grinning. “Balduin, let’s hurry. I’m already worried I’m dreaming, and she might disappear.”
I giggled. “I’ll be here. Always.”
“Good.” He nodded, still walking backward.
“Gale, go!” I laughed outright.
It took him a second before he walked off with Balduin still lecturing on one side and Iskandar silently walking on the other.
“Where exactly is he going?” I asked Wolfgang.
“Most likely to speak to the press directly.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“Only way to beat a story is to give them a new one. The only thing that tops a letter from the prince is the actual prince.”