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His mother was known for her charity work. She was considered the people’s queen and was revered by many. His father has an untarnished reputation and is known as a fair leader for his small principality. His older brother has been put on such a high pedestal by the press that I often wonder what he’s like in real life because no one could be that perfect. His younger sister recently stole the world’s heart with her marriage to Prince Logan of the neighboring nation, Montelandia. They are an interesting family for sure, but aside from the basic facts that the whole world knew about them, I didn’t know much about them.

I head to my room when we get back and bury myself in my books. No, it’s not exciting, but it’s the reason that I’m here.

August

“You still under house arrest?” Anna asks.

I groan, knowing if she’s calling, then she must want something. “What do you want?”

She giggles, and I can’t be mad at her. “I was hoping that you could do me a favor?”

Her sugary voice tells me that I’m going to regret agreeing to whatever she is about to ask that she knows I’ll agree to because I always cave to my little sister’s demands, no matter how crazy.

“Sooooo…Logan’s third cousin or fourth cousin or something doesn’t have a date to the ball this weekend. Could you…you know, hang out with her?”

I curse. “Uh, I have already been promised to another lady suitor.”

Anna laughs. “Seriously?”

“Would I joke about something like that?”

“Who?”

“The president’s daughter.”

Anna starts laughing. “Kate! OMG! She’s sweet but you are gonna need a distraction because she is way too sweet for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snarl, annoyed with Anna.

“Jeez, chillax. I’m just saying that Kate has a reputation as a sweet do-gooder, and you have a reputation for…well…you know. I just mean—”

“That I’m a partier, playboy prince who doesn’t know his limits?” I ask, quoting a tabloid story from three weeks ago.

“Augs, I didn’t mean it like that. I just know you like to have fun. I’m assuming Gwendolyn will be fun. I mean, I think so.”

“Wait, Gwendolyn Pennington?”

“Y-yes? Why?”

FML. I knew Gwen in both the proverbial and biblical sense. She would likely want to carve my heart out with a spoon if given the chance. I may have had a one-night stand with her in St. Tropez three years ago and then never returned any of her texts, but to my backing, the woman was out to bag a royal family member. She would have slept with anyone who had an H.R.H. before their given name.

“Uh, we are acquainted.”

“Fuck. I’m guessing when you say ‘acquainted’ you mean ‘acquainted,’” she states, emphasizing the last word.

I sigh. “Yes. Not one of my finer moments, but yes.”

“Well, shit. I’ll have to find someone else, then, I guess.” Knowing my sister, she’ll be scanning the internet in five minutes, looking for a suitable alternative for Gwen while biting her lip and eating an Oreo.

“Oh, Prince Patrick?” she asks but she clearly has her mouth full of cookies because it sounds like “Frans Fatrik.”

I scan my memory. Nope, total loss. “I think you’ll need to ask Chris because I don’t exactly know who’s coming.”

The silence that follows only means one thing, a very long eye roll.

“Fine. You know I love you, right?”

Great. I don’t want to know what’s coming next, but it can’t be good if it’s following that line. “Out with it.”