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Luc

“A re they looking at me?” Ava leaned over the table at the inn’s dining area, her eyes wide. She spoke in a hushed whisper.

“Of course, they are. And why wouldn’t they? You’re the princess.”

The Armstrong was legendary in Lausanne for its delicious coffee and pastries, so the first floor was packed. And as word spread around the neighborhood that none other than the princess herself was there, more and more people streamed into the place, all of them trying to steal surreptitious glances at the woman who could one day be their queen.

“I feel like an idiot,” she said, barely touching her bear claw and latte. “This is the first time some of them are seeing me and I’m dressed like it’s laundry day.”

I laughed, spooning a bit of my oatmeal. “Sounds like you already forgot the lesson of last night.”

At first, she was confused. Then, when she realized what I was talking about, her eyes flashed.

“Oh yeah! Wait, what am I doing here just sitting around? No offense to my present company, of course.”

I raised my hand a bit. “None taken.”

“OK, let me do a little getting-to-know-the-people. Keep my seat warm for me, alright?”

“My pleasure, Princess.”

Ava sprang out of her seat, hurrying over to a group of what had to be a few dozen people, all of them packed into the interior of the Armstrong. Faces lit up left and right as the citizens of Lausanne realized that their princess was coming to greet them in person.

I watched, sipping my coffee near the fire, as she worked her magic on the crowd. She chatted and joked, laughter breaking out here and there. I noticed Ava paid extra special attention to the little girls before her and understood that she’d learned the lesson well of being a good role model.

After half an hour or so, and many hugs later, she broke from the group and came back to me. The owner of the Armstrong dispersed the crowd, reminding them that even princesses deserved a quiet breakfast now and then.

“Wow,” she said, her eyes wide as she sat back down, letting out a whoosh of breath. “That was… is that what it’s always like? I mean, that was so much fun getting to know people. But it was intense.”

I smiled, pleased to see how much she’d enjoyed being among the people.

“It’s like that at times but only when you want it to be. If you wish, you could be like your father and stay at the palace. If you’re anything like your mother—and I know that you are—you’ll be taking every chance you get to see Edoria and her people.”

She pursed her lips, a thoughtful expression forming on her face as she considered something.

We finished our meals, taking more coffee up to the room as we prepared to discuss the possibilities of whatever was next.

“I don’t know if I want to leave this place,” she said, turning away from her bag as she packed. “I’ve only been in Edoria for a short time, but with every day that passes I feel like this could be my home.”

“That’s because it is your home.”

She dropped onto the edge of the bed. “But Seattle is my home, too. Hailey, the truck, my life over there… I just don’t know what to do. Not to mention the little fact that I kind of burned the bridge with my father last night.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. See, I burned the bridge last night. Alaric—he’s a hard man to know sometimes. But he’s still your father, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he loves you deeply.”

“OK, say he forgives me. What then? Do I leave my old life behind? Do I leave you behind? I can’t.”

I made my way over to the bed, sitting down next to her and putting my arm around her shoulder.

“You know that you’re the princess, that’s the first step. When it comes to everything else, you just have to give it time. It’ll all fall into place.”

“What about you?” she asked, her eyes glistening with tears. “I can’t be without you! Not to mention our baby!”

I chuckled. “Ava, I’m not being shot out of a cannon, though Alaric might be fantasizing about that. If my career at the palace is over, then so be it. I’ll find something else to do, something where I can be close to both of you.”

She sniffled, one of the tears breaking loose and trickling down her cheek. I placed my hand on her face, wiping the tear away. More tears followed, and Ava pressed her face against my shoulder as she let the stress out in sobs. I held her, wanting her to take all the time she needed.

After several minutes, she lifted her head. I rose, retrieving a box of tissues from the bathroom and bringing them over to her. Ava wiped her eyes and shook her head.

“God, I’m going to need to toughen up if I’m going to stay here and rule one day.”

I laughed. “You have plenty of time. But you know what I think you need right now?”

She looked up at me, her eyes still brimming with tears.

“What’s that?”

“A vacation.”

Thirty minutes later, we were on our way to the airport, destination—Paris. Ava had never been, and I’d decided that a week or two in the city of lights would be just the thing to turn her mood around. I had plenty of money saved up as I’d done little with my salary over the years.

As we made our way into the terminal, however, I spotted a small group of men in suits and sunglasses gathered near security, a group I recognized right away as the king’s private security team.

“What’s going on, Luc?” Worry was heavy in Ava’s voice.

Before I had a chance to answer, the group spotted the two of us, wasting no time making their way over.

“Yes?” I asked.

“King Alaric requests your immediate presence.”