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)
“You’ve made your point,” I grumbled. “If you keep making it, I will also be immature and put you in a headlock again, you spoiled little gingerbread.”
She laughed, linking arms with me. “Spare me. I have something good to tell you.”
“Not even you can top what I already know.”
“Mom and Odette started planning your wedding today.”
Once again, I stopped, caught off guard. “What?”
“Yep, she agreed with Mom to have your wedding and coronation at the same time—this winter. The date is not settled yet, but they were talking about dresses.”
“Really?” This day, honestly, could not get better. I had thought to at least get through a few more weeks, allowing Odette to become more comfortable before bringing up the wedding to either of them. And I was sure my mother was going to push back on any discussion of it at this point.
“Look at your smile. You are so in love. Aww, look at my big brother.”
I pushed her off me, only for her to latch on more. “You are growing more and more annoying.”
“But you love me anyway. Quick question, who do you love more, Odette or me?”
“Odette, of course,” I said without hesitation.
“Ugh!” She pushed me away. “I can’t deal with these rainbows and hearts everywhere. You two sicken—”
“Is that why you went all the way to her hotel and begged her to stay with me?” I shot back, grinning.
She made a face. “I do not know what you are talking about,” she lied, going back up the stairs with me.
“Sure, you don’t. Either way, thank you, and I love you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, waving me off.
I went back to the study, hoping to get work done so that, at the very least, Odette and I could have time together after dinner. Time felt as if it was going slowly. But I would survive it. Everything that came, I felt like I could survive.
“Miss. Miss.”
“Huh?” I turned over and was blinded by sunlight again, sending an eerie feeling of déjà vu behind me. I sat up from the bed, eyes wide, nearly terrifying her.
“Miss?”
“What day is?” I asked quickly, looking for my phone.
“Saturday.”
“Saturday? Oh, thank God.” I exhaled, hunching over with my hand on my chest. “I thought it was a dream for a second.”
“What was a dream?”
“My speech, which was going well, and looking at wedding dresses with the queen. I thought it was all a dream.”
Gelula giggled. “No, that all happened.”
I paused, trying to think. “What happened after that?”
“Nothing. You’ve been asleep since yesterday.”
“No.” I gasped, rushing out of bed, this time to open the blinds, and sure enough, the sun was really out. It really was morning. I really had slept throughout the whole afternoon and evening. “I missed dinner.”
“You did.”
“Ugh.” I groaned, putting my hands over my face. “I just got some praise. How could I sleep through dinner? The queen and the whole palace will think I am slacking off because of one good day. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Prince Galahad told me not to.”
Gale! I hung my head. “Did you see the queen last night? How was she?”
“As always. But Princess Eliza did not come down as well. She said she had a stomachache, and Prince Galahad was stuck with work, so he did not come, either. So, it was not just you.”
I wasn’t sure if that made me feel worse or better. All I saw in my head was the queen sitting alone with Sophia, probably knowing Gale had made sure he and Eliza were also absent.
“I need to get ready quickly. I cannot be late for breakfast.”
“I’ve already got everything out for you, miss. And woke you a bit early.”
“Bless you,” I said to her, rushing to the restroom. “What is the gossip about me today, by the way?”
“Actually, very positive,” she said, coming into the restroom with me. “You received a lot of praise. Everyone loved your speech, and they were all talking about how good your Ersovian is so far. It was only those jerks at the Morning Eagle who decided to make up a story instead of reporting the news.”
“Make up a story?” I asked as I brushed my teeth.
“Yes.” Her face bunched up in anger. “Some stupid story about you and Prince Galahad eloping in Seattle.”
I coughed, nearly choking on toothpaste.
“Miss?”
I spat, rinsing my mouth before looking at her. “Eloped?”
She frowned while nodding. “Yes, they said that you both are already married and did so against the palace orders. Can you believe them? First, they say His Highness doesn’t love you. Then they say he is in love with some other woman and that they are having an affair. Now they are saying you both were so in love that you eloped and planned to run off together. I do not know if there is a single person with journalist integrity at that whole paper. They just write whatever comes to their mind, regardless of the truth.”