"Skye!" Madi ran towards me and gave me a hug. I hugged her tightly back. "I was trying to get to your house but there were tons of cops and some mean-looking guards, and I couldn't!" She cried in my neck as I rubbed her back."I know, I'm sorry," I apologized.By the time Madi saw the news, we were basically on lockdown. There also were so many people trying to message and call me that I had to uninstall every app on my phone except for HarmonyMatch in case the prince sends a message. I also had to block calls from coming in, according to the royal guards.But today is my last day here in unassuming Blackwood, and I had to meet Madison because it may be the last time I see her in years. The royal guards were reluctant, but I told them they can all come with me and leave the cops to patrol my neighborhood, and so they did, and they have been shadowing my every move."I'm really sorry, Madi. I can't even use my phone to call you yesterday," I said again as we faced each other."Apologie
I've been trying to stop the tears, but they kept flowing down my cheeks, and I tried to discreetly wipe them away, but I know Kida and Sebastian–two of the royal guards the prince has sent over–know I haven't stopped crying in the back seat of this luxurious BMW.Thankfully, they did not say anything and just left me sniffling away.I wanted to stop crying because I already feel my eyes puffing, and I'm on my way to the airport and finally to the palace.My family, Madi, and several other close friends I have over the years went over to say goodbye. Even my whole neighborhood gathered together and even gave me beautiful flowers from their own backyards.Millie and Dad were a mess and it took every strength and will to not join them in their tears. I wanted them to remember me smiling.Mom and Ren, who barely cried, even had tears in their eyes. Still, I tried to hold everything in even if the lump in my throat feels like I have swallowed a giant candy whole.Madi also tried to hold it
"Oh shit," I mumbled out of surprise. His perfume smelled familiar, and it took me a while to realize it was the same perfume the man in the planetarium had. Could they be the same person, then? I shook my head. It's nothing but a coincidence. What would a prince do in the middle of practically nowhere to watch a planetarium show when he can, I assume, just barge into the National Space Institute and check out real stars and planets?For sure, they just had the same perfume, right? And I could be smelling it wrong.While a million thoughts ran in my head, the prince slowly turned around."Ah, miss Vivienne! I didn't hear you coming," he looked at me and smiled, a dimple showing on his right cheeks, his voice bright and warm, a stark contrast to the chilly air.I had to mentally tell myself to keep it together and not gape at him.The entire palace ground is exquisite, but the prince is by far the most beautiful creature I have seen.I bowed deep, just like how Harod and the other staf
"You look stunning, my lady!" Genevieve said in a sing-song voice as she stepped back from doing my hair and looking at me through the giant vanity mirror.I looked at myself, and while I have never been one to be vain, I admit that I do look beautiful tonight, all thanks to my ladies-in-waiting, and I tell them that."Oh, such nonsense, my lady. You're already beautiful as you are. The guards and the staff have been talking about it, you know, how the Prince–" she was saying in a sort of conspiratorial tone."Shush, Genevieve. We do not speak to my lady about rumors," Agatha interjected, giving her a very stern look. "Talk about what?" I chuckled. Genevieve is very talented with doing hair and makeup, but she does tend to have that airiness to her."Nothing, my lady. Just palace gossip," Agatha said, eyeing Genevieve carefully, who was trying not to laugh and blushing so hard. She looked at Maia, who ducked her head, trying hard not to laugh.I will definitely have to ask them about
The dinner was heavenly.We had a five-course meal, which I thought was a little excessive, but as soon as the food was laid in front of me, I realized I was hungry.There was lobster bisque and French onion soup, and mushroom risotto, among other things. I tried to pay attention to the names as respect to the chef, but most of what I had, I have only seen on TV, so their names were lost in the night.But I made sure to thank the chef every time. If he worked outside the palace, he would definitely have great and utter success.I'm not one to shy away from eating, even with new people around me. But when the second course came, I saw Caelum looking at me, a faint smile on his face, and I grew extremely anxious."Do I have food on my face? Or am I using these utensils wrong?" I asked him.He seemed to be in a reverie, and I broke it when I spoke to him."Oh, nothing. Sorry, I was staring," he picked at his food and ate slowly. It was my turn to look at him, and he caved under my gaze an
The Mansion, as expected, is a massive maze of different rooms. It has 12 bedrooms, 20 toilets, and 10 baths. It has a movie room, a game room, a library, three living areas and sitting rooms, and even a gym, among other random rooms.It has everything you need in a place, and when I asked if the palace is the same, I was greeted with a, "You're silly, my lady. The palace is perhaps 3 times as big as this place."My mouth hung open. The hows and whys unanswered in my head.By the time we stopped the tour, I felt like the breakfast of tiny sandwiches I had was gone, and I felt my stomach churn a bit.I went back to my room, took a shower, and had the ladies prep me for the rest of the day, which I had for myself. But when I asked Maia if I could wear my track pants and a t-shirt, she looked offended."My lady! I know you came from the same background as we had, but you're marrying into the royal family soon enough!" She scolded me as I sat in the dressing room with a bathrobe, waiting
"Are you okay?" Caelum asked me as soon as we were far away from the outhouse."Yes, I'm fine. Mostly," I exhaled. We sat under a massive oak tree that sat in another courtyard the palace had. "The King is kind of intimidating." He smiled without humor. "Intimidating is a good word to describe him. Don't worry, I don't think he hates you."It's my turn to laugh. "No, he doesn't. Just…indifferent.""Is that bad?" He asked."I'm not sure. But I guess it's better in some way. I get to be a shadow he ignores," I shrugged. "But your mother is…warm. If you know what I mean.""I do know what you mean. She's a mother before she is a Queen. I think my brothers and I all agree that she's our favorite parent," he said, smiling. "Don't tell my father that."I smiled. "You're like your mother." I told him.He looked at me, pleasantly surprised. "Really? Most people will say I take after my father. I mean, out of all three of us, I look more like his side of the family." He said, noting his father
I didn't think the lessons with Madam Roserta would be exhausting, but they were. But as the engagement drew near, even her tiring lessons and the soft mattress can't keep me from waking up in the middle of the night.Four days before the engagement day, I woke up from a nightmare I can't even remember. I was sweating even with the AC blasting, and my heart was hammering in my chest. I stood up to take a glass of water from the fridge–because of course, every room in the palace has to have a fridge.I check my phone. It's just a little over one in the morning and I groaned. Genevieve will have her work cut out for her trying to cover the dark circles forming under my eyes.I wash my face to refresh and just change my night clothes entirely as they are wet from the sweat. But everything made it hard to go back to sleep, so I took my phone, wrapped myself in the silk robe in the dressing room, and went out.The palace is eerie at night. It's such a big, empty place without the servants