KING'S HIDDEN PRINCESS

Romaine tried hard not to groan like a child, but having someone watch her constantly grew tiresome, and dealing with a new person meant reminding said person again and again that personal space was a must.“Why can’t you just let me have Theodore? Or Brent? They’ve been here long enough. They knew me,” she muttered. “I know Ralph retired, but why do you need to bring in another one?”“Because my daughter needs a personal bodyguard at all times. You know this very well. I have one and so does your father. We are the Royal family and that’s the way it is, Romaine. I don’t know why you don’t see that.” She wanted to say that a bodyguard hadn’t protected her older brother from the terrible boating accident that took his life when Romaine was only six. Instead, she nodded in apology.“Very well, Mother, as you wish. I will meet the new security guard.” Though she didn’t see why she still needed protection… No one had tried to hurt a member of the Royal family

The afternoon went by in a flurry of maps and plans Kingston had to learn for his new job, but maps and plans were second-nature for him. In the military, he hadn’t dealt much with protection details. He simply treated this as any other mission, and everything fell into place. When he had first arrived, Raoul went over most of what his job would entail, but little information was given to him concerning Princess Romaine. All he was told to do was to protect Her Royal Highness with his own life. No more, no less. Kingston tried not to judge a person until he met him or her, but when he’d fought overseas, he’d seen firsthand how certain royals acted around those of the lower classes, and he’d waited for the haughty attitude. Add that to the rumors spreading around Cántera, the capital city of Deltora about Princess Romaine being a shut-in, too damaged by her brother’s death to step out into the city and possibly not all there in the head, a forced

Romaine punched her pillow again, trying to find a comfortable position, when her alarm sounded near her head. With a groan, she reached out to turn it off and burrowed deeper into the blankets. ‘Too early… Way too early, as always…’ Especially after a night when all she could do was toss and turn, those icy-grey eyes watching her every move. The door to her main rooms swung open, and Marisol called out a good morning to her, bright and chipper.“Why are you still in bed, Princess? You have much to do today,” Marisol scolded, bustling into the bedroom. She grabbed the curtains and threw them back, letting in the bright morning sun shining off the water.“A good day to do great things…”“If you say so…” Romaine grumbled.“Come on! You’ll have a chance to take a walk through the courtyard.” Romaine smiled slightly as she got out of bed, stretched, and disappeared into the bathroom for a shower. Usually, she took a hot shower and filled

Romaine barely made it through dinner with King Hernando e Queen Dorothea, her parents, struggling to remain happy while Kingston, the man who was torturing her senses, was standing so close behind her chair. She tried to eat, but every single bite was going down pushed by little sips of water. After dinner, she wished them both goodnight and started walking slowly towards her rooms. While Kingston escorted her, his hand brushed casually against hers. Their eyes met, and his flared with a hunger so fierce she’d stumbled over her feet. He caught her in those strong hands… hands Romaine desperately wanted to feel on her body again. Even more than before… At her door, Romaine stood awkwardly, tugging at her earlobe and trying to find something to say to him. She wanted to apologize for pushing, but at the same time, he was still hiding everything from her. And she wanted to know him better. She wanted to know all about him, good or bad.“King, I…” sh

            The next morning, Romaine had barely drunk half a cup of coffee and went through half her day’s appointments list when the doors to her rooms were thrown open. She caught a glimpse of Kingston through them, but he vanished as her mother swept inside. “Good morning, Romy, sweetie,” she said brightly and kissed her cheek. “Mother, you’re awfully cheerful this morning,” Romaine pointed out. “Coffee?” “No, darling, and you shouldn’t be drinking so much caffeine. Is not good for you,” she mused and took a seat opposite her daughter at the table.           Romaine picked up her coffee and sipped it, smirking as her mother clicked her tongue. “My God, you’re incorrigible, child…” she said shaking her head. “What do you need, Mother?” “Your father and I want to know how the new bodyguard is working out. Do you like him or do we need to find a replace