Ch 2: Welcome to Veloria

By the time I stepped off the plane. I looked like a very stylish zombie. I was Jet lagged, sleep deprived  and slightly traumatized  from accidentally groping a stranger the night before.

Veloria's air was crisp. Cleaner than New Jersey. A blend of pine and morning fog. The airport was modern but quiet, almost empty as I moved through customs.

Outside a sleek, obsidian black car purred at the curb. Definitely not an Uber. A tall man in a navy suit  stood beside it holding a placard that simply read:

MISS MOON.

I raised a hand, "that's me."

He gave me a respectful nod and opened the door with practiced grace. "Welcome to Veloria, miss Moon. His highness Prince Coleman is expecting you."

Prince Coleman.

I smiled to myself.

Cole.

It had been two years since I'd last seen him. We were at Coachella dancing barefoot as our soles heated up. We swore on fake tequila that we'd always be in touch. And somehow we did. Through memes. 3A.m texts and the occasional video calls when time zones allowed.

The drive was surreal.

Veloria unfolded like a secret tucked between the Alps and the sea. Rolling hills, vineyards, and winding roads passed by in cinematic frames. Old stone cottages with flower box windows. Sheep on hillsides. And way, way too many butterflies.

I pressed my face against the cool glass, trying to soak in every second.

"This is beautiful," I whispered.

The driver smiled through the mirror. "Wait until you see the castle and the whole of Veloria."

We drove for over an hour. The cities faded into countryside, and the country side faded into thick forest. Finally, just as I was about to ask if we'd accidentally crossed into a fairytale, the trees parted. And there it was.

Perched atop a hill, with towers stretching into the sky and ivy curling around stone like it belonged in a period drama: The castle Estenwald.

It was majestic. Isolated. A little bit intimidating.

The gates swung open as we approached. The gravel crunched between the tires as we climbed the long driveway.

And then—there he was.

Cole.

Tall, golden–haired, grinning like a Labrador in designer boots. He stood at the front steps, hands stuffed in the pockets of his tailored coat.

I barely had one foot out of the car before he was pulling me for a hug.

"Moonshine," he laughed, using the nickname he gave me back in senior year. "It's been so long."

"Two years," I said into his shoulders. "You promised to visit after Coachella. You liar."

"But here we are," he said pulling back.

He looked good, healthier, sharper. More grown up in a way I couldn't quite place. Maybe it was the way he carried himself. Or maybe it was the castle behind him.

"This place is insane," I breathed, taking in the grand arches and stone lions flanking the doors.

Cole shrugged like he had just picked it up on sale. "It was my uncle's he just gifted it to me this month."

"Wait—the uncle?" I asked. "Mysterious diplomat uncle who only shows up in your stories."

He grinned.

Cole then looped his arm through mine. "Come on, the others are inside. We've got food and drinks courtesy of Veloria."

I let him guide me up the steps, still marvelling at the sheer size of the place.

"Okay, but I have to ask," I said as we entered through the massive doors. "What's the occasion? Why the invitation instead of a call or a message?"

Cole paused midstep and looked at me with a smile.

" I wanted my friends to see my home country," he said. "To party one last time before everything changes."

"Changes?"

He reached for the oak door ahead of us, paused and with a half smile said, "I'm getting married."

I stood there blinking like a deer caught in headlights. My mind scrambling to make sense of what he said.

"Married? Wait....what—" I started but the words didn't come out. I could only stare at him.

And then cole burst out laughing —loud, bright  and completely unrepentant.

My eyes narrowed. Liar.

He grinned like he'd just won a game he'd been playing all along. "You should have seen your face!" He laughed, shaking his head. "Classic. The royal surprise, huh?"

I let out a breath, hands on my hips.

"You're ridiculous."

"Am I? You're the one who doesn't even remember my birthday month," he teased, poking me lightly on the side. "I'm hurt, moonshine."

My mouth dropped open. I had to think back—oh god. His birthday. How had I forgotten.

"I..I didn't," I lied.

"You stammer when you're nervous, or when you lie," he pointed out.

Before I could respond, the heavy wooden doors opened revealing two women.

"Well, someone's happy," the first woman said with a raised eyebrow. She had long curly dark hair and an easy smile.

"Don't act like you weren't too excited, too," the second woman, blonde and sharp features, teased nudging her friend.

"Actually," Cole said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "You guys remember Lisa, right?"

The blonde woman's face lit up as she turned towards me, "Lisa! Ofcourse, I remember you. It's me, Sarah. Just dyed my brunette hair blonde. Am also a great fan."

I blinked at her trying to remember a brunette Sarah that I know, "Sarah Johnson, senior year?"

She nodded with a squeal.

"We've been trying to convince him to have a proper reunion for months. And I am Megan, call me meg," the dark haired girl said.

Before I could respond, the guy who'd been trailing behind the women stepped forward. He was tall, with messy brown hair and a familiar, almost cocky smile. My stomach did a little flip.

"Look who it is," he said, his voice smooth like he hadn't aged a day since high school. "Lisa Moon. I thought you were some kind of myth."

I froze.

Jonah. My ex. The one who broke my heart right before senior year ended.

"Well, well," he said, his lips quirking into that too casual grin. "You look amazing, stunning even."

"Jonah," I muttered, forcing a smile. "Has it been six or five years?"

"Something like that," he said, his eyes scanning me with an intensity I couldn't read.

Before I could dwell on the awkwardness, Sarah hooked her arm around mine  and led me towards the sitting room. "You look exhausted, girl. Let me guess, you've been running on caffeine and whatever you are at the airport."

"Exactly," I said plopping down on one of the sofas. "I don't think I've ever been this tired and hungry before."

"Then let's fill you up."