Suddenly Royal

by Chase, Nichole

  After the dress store, we stopped at a few more boutiques, grabbing a few business suits, jackets, and the normal necessities. It was dark by the time we headed home, but I had one last stop to make.

  The car pulled up to the curb at the largest bookstore in town. I ran inside, knowing exactly what I was looking for. An idiot’s guide to Lilaria and a language program to listen to on the plane. I sent Jess to the cash register with my card and waited in the music section with Becca. A few people seemed to recognize me, but thankfully no one said anything. We were back in the car and on the way to my dad’s in no time.

  Sarah had left to go over things with Rose, so it was just me and Jess with Dad. And the contingent of bodyguards waiting outside or in the living room. Dad made dinner and we talked about things to do when he came to Lilaria. Patricia was there, refusing to let me help clean up.

  I sorted Dad’s medicine for the next week and went over things with Patricia. Dad had been happy and cracking jokes, but I caught him closing his eyes a few times. My heart clenched and tears sprang to my eyes. There was a picture of him and Mom in Hawaii above his chair and I wanted to cry at seeing them so happy. No matter how much he pretended, I could see the toll that cancer was taking on him. When it was time to leave, I could barely bring myself to get out of my chair.

  “Hey, is there anything you want to take from here with you? A picture, maybe?” Jess asked. We’d known each long enough that she understood how hard this was for me.

  “There’s a picture in my room, on the nightstand. Would you grab it for me?”

  “Sure.” Jess left the room, leaving me and Dad alone.

  “Stop it.” Dad’s voice drew my attention back to him.

  “Stop what?”

  “Worrying. You’ve got those little lines between your eyebrows.” He used his thumb to try to smooth them away. “I’m going to be fine. And I’m going to come see you soon.”

  “I know. I just feel like I shouldn’t be leaving you right now.” I frowned and looked down at the table.

  “You’re giving me something to look forward to.” Dad grabbed my hands. “Do you understand that, Sam? I’m looking forward to going to Lilaria and seeing the land you and your mother came from. I got a travel book today and highlighted some of the stuff I want to do.”

  He stood up slowly and shuffled over to the kitchen counter before coming back with a dog-eared book. He handed it to me and I flipped through some of the pages.

  “Wow. There’s a waterfall?”

  “Yes! And it’s huge. I want to have my picture taken in front of it.” Dad laughed. “And there is a huge lake in the Rousseau holdings. The book says there’s good fishing.”

  “I saw that one on the map.” I frowned. I really needed to spend some time on the Internet tonight.

  “Yes! And there’s a very popular local dish I want to try. Some kind of fish and potatoes. It looks delicious.”

  “Hm.” I closed the book and looked at him. “Promise you’ll be okay.”

  He squeezed my hand and smiled. “Promise.”

  “Have you talked to Patricia about coming with you?” I needed a subject change.

  “Patricia? You think she should come with me?” Dad looked surprised. “I hadn’t thought about it.”

  “Why not? She’s not working anymore and I’d pay for everything.” The money was certainly a perk and while I was terrified to spend it, having my family—even my adopted family—with me would be worth it.

  “I’ll think about it.” Dad’s eyes turned thoughtful. He and Patricia got along well, and while I knew there was nothing romantic between them, they seemed to complement each other.

  “Think about it. She’s retired and her son never calls her. Why not bring her with you? It’s the least I can do for her after all she’s helped us.”

  Jess came back into the kitchen carrying the photo frame that held the picture of my family. “Got it! Was there anything else?”

  “That’s it for now. I don’t know how much I’m allowed to bring. I’ll just come back for the rest when I can.”

  “Ready to go then?”

  “Yeah. I still need to pack and do a little research.” I leaned over and wrapped my arms around my dad. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Yes, you will! Make sure there are fish for me to catch.” He kissed my cheek and I caught the shimmer in his eyes.

  “I’ll order more if there aren’t.” I kissed his bald head and grabbed my coat. If I stayed much longer I was going to turn into a blubbery mess.

  Later that night I sat on my bed with my laptop and stared at my empty room. There were four suitcases crammed with all my stuff, several giant garment bags, and a box with some books I refused to leave behind. I’d had to borrow a suitcase from Bert because I hadn’t been able to fit everything in mine. The furniture would stay since I wouldn’t need it, and Jess promised to take the rest of my stuff to my dad’s next week.

  I looked back at the search bar on my computer. I typed in Lilarian Royalty and waited for the results. It didn’t take long before sites popped up. There were articles about the line of succession, scandals, history. I clicked on the one that detailed the line of succession, then clicked on the tab for the queen and smiled at the picture that came up. Alex favored her a great deal. I read the facts quickly. She was a little older than my dad, was an avid outdoorsman, and had three children. That made me pause. In all this time, I hadn’t asked Alex much about himself.

  His Royal Highness Alexander Patrick Fitzwilliam, the Duke of D’Lynsal and heir to the crown of Lilaria, was the oldest child at twenty-seven with a younger brother, Maxwell Jameson Trevor, and a sister named Catherine Marie Rose. I clicked on the tab for Alex and read about his schooling, charities, and hobbies. I chuckled at the thought of him fishing and building things. Then again, I remembered his strong hands and decided it made perfect sense. There were several pictures of him alone, professional shots, and some candid pictures of him with his family or working with children.

  I went back to the main menu and scrolled through some of the other royals. I stopped on Rousseau in surprise. Surely they wouldn’t have me listed yet.

  But they did. Thank goodness there was no picture, but my full name, date of birth, schooling, and honors were listed. There was a short explanation about my upcoming reinstatement, but not a date. I was the twenty-fourth person in line for the crown. I almost shit my pants when I saw that little detail. I sat up straight and barked a laugh. I was in line for the crown. May every soul ahead of me live a long and prosperous life because that was not something I would ever want.

  Below my information was a beautiful black-and-white picture of my mother with her birth and death dates. I ran my fingers over the screen and wondered where they had found the image. She was smiling at the camera, her head angled as if amused by something. Her biography and a list of her publications were listed below the picture. It was a small thing, but I was glad they had included her on the list.

  I left that page and looked back through the other names. I looked through a list of charities the family was involved in and at pictures of state events. Jess deserved something nice for saving me from looking like an idiot in my jeans and boots. Thankfully, from what I could tell, my new clothes would fit in perfectly. The site didn’t really offer too much else for me, so I closed that page and went back through the other search results.

  After a while I gave in to my impulses and typed Alex’s name into the search bar. I instantly regretted it. Headlines about a sex scandal popped up, links to stories about women he could be tied to, and speculation about what royal he would eventually marry. There were stories with the words player, model, stud, betrayal, and heartbreak in the titles. Like watching a train wreck, my eyes were drawn to the images icon. Maybe it was a sick impulse to torture myself or the need to make him feel even more unattainable, but I clicked on the link.

  There are some things you can never un-see, and images of Alex in bed with another woman were
on the top of that list. His bare back with sheets barely covering his hips and the look on the woman’s face would forever be etched into my psyche. There were pictures of the woman taking off her clothes while he watched from the bed. Pictures of her sitting on top of him that had to be from another day because she was wearing a different bra. It made me insanely jealous—angry enough to push my computer away and get up and pace around the room. I counted to ten. And then to twenty. I closed my eyes and scrubbed at my lids with the palms of my hands. I needed to calm down and think about this rationally. I knew he was a flirt and of course he had been with other women. It wasn’t like I hadn’t slept with guys before. Alex and I hadn’t shared anything but a couple of kisses. And yet… and yet, it still bothered me. After a few minutes I grabbed the computer off the bed and started to close all the windows, but a headline grabbed my attention.

  “BETRAYED BY LOVER” was in huge letters over one of the pictures that thankfully had the more indecent parts fuzzed out. I needed to know, needed to see if this was something important. Maybe I just hoped it was important.

  Prince Alex D’Lynsal of Lilaria is currently in a legal battle over pictures that were sold by an on-again, off-again ex-lover. In an official press release, the prince claimed the photographs had been taken without his permission and then used as blackmail. The royal family of Lilaria has taken a firm stance on the matter and refuses to answer any questions by the press.

  It’s been speculated that the woman in the photos, Melissa Piaf, was trying to force the prince into marriage, but we’ve found no information to confirm those rumors. One thing is clear—the former model has made a name for herself. She announced on a national television show that several publishing and production companies had offered her money for her story. It remains to be seen if any of those deals come to fruition.

  I sat back away from the computer and chewed on my thumbnail. If the press release from Alex was true, this Melissa woman was a real bitch. I couldn’t imagine waking up to find pictures of me with Chad or Thomas in the paper one morning. It must’ve been a terrible day—to have your personal bits flashed all over for the world to see. I checked the date on the article and sighed. Six months ago. I went back through the listings to see if there was any recent information. There wasn’t much else I could find. In fact, there were no recent images or stories about Alex until he came to the States. A few stories with pictures of us on campus or at the restaurant. It made my stomach turn. They talked about him like he wasn’t a real person, as if he shouldn’t care what they said about him. Now instead of feeling jealous, I just felt sick for Alex.

  The thought of searching for my own name crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. Just the idea made me shudder. I closed the laptop and stuck it in my carry-on bag. Staring at the ceiling, I tried to turn my brain off, to stop thinking about the pictures and how terrible it was to imagine someone selling images of your intimate moments. Rolling onto my side, I punched my pillow, trying to get more comfortable.

  He had told me he shouldn’t chase me. Was this what he had been talking about, not my questionable heritage? Did it matter?

  I was asking myself that question a lot when it came to Alex. I still wasn’t sure of the answers.

  No Pumpkins Here.

  Cinderella Leaves for the Palace in a Shiny Gulfstream.

  —Minnesota Daily

  The three hours of sleep I had managed to get did not go well with my hatred for mornings. All my stuff was piled into the cars waiting outside and I was looking around my room for any last-minute items. My outfit was dressy yet casual—jeans, riding boots, and a comfortable shirt with a big chunky scarf—since I knew the press would be taking pictures. Jess was standing by the door holding my new black pea coat and looking a little misty-eyed. Tears this early in the morning were scary.

  “I’ve got your coat.” Jess sniffed and I looked up at her with wide eyes.

  “Oh no.”

  “You’re going to need it. I checked the weather and it’s snowing there.” She sniffed again. “Don’t want to get sick right when you get there.”

  “Jess, don’t do this.” I shook my head, frozen in place.

  “I know that good-byes aren’t your thing, so I’m just going to give you this and then go to my room.” Sniff. Hiccup.

  “C’mon, you’re killing me.” I felt the skin around my eyes tighten and I blinked quickly.

  “I’m going to miss you.” She thrust the coat out in front of her.

  “You’re going to come see me this summer, right?” I didn’t take the jacket. “This isn’t good-bye forever.”

  “But I’m going to miss your grumpy morning face and the way you double-check all the dishes I’ve cleaned.” She pouted.

  “Bert’s grumpy in the morning, you’ll be fine.”

  “Am not.” He grunted.

  “Right. Not grumpy at all.” I shook my head. Jess gave up waiting on me to take the jacket and threw her arms around me anyway. I hugged her back, knowing it would be a while before I got to see her again. No one else would understand me the way Jess did. I squeezed her a little tighter and then let go.

  “I’ll send you a souvenir. Maybe one of those little figures that’s pooping in a lawn.” I hugged Bert too and turned quickly to walk out the door. The news vans that hadn’t left in the last few days were still there, the reporters standing on the curb with cameras and microphones.

  “Sam! Sam! Are you excited about going to Lilaria for the first time?”

  “Are you going to stay in Lilaria?”

  “Are you and Prince Alex an item?”

  “Samantha! How do you feel about being America’s Duchess?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at the last comment and looked over at the reporter. “America’s Duchess?”

  “Our very own royalty! What do you think?” He seemed elated I had found his comment funny.

  “I’m a grad student.” I shook my head and ducked through the open door of the car. It was weird that I had gotten used to having a driver already. Even though my truck was a pain in the butt, I did miss the old thing. Bert and Jess were going to use the truck to move the rest of my stuff to my dad’s house and then leave it there.

  The trip to the airport was surreal. We passed some of the landmarks that had been part of my life for the last ten years, buildings I had known forever, it seemed. Vans full of reporters and cameras followed us at a respectable distance—thank goodness. I’d hate for them to photograph the tears that were running down my cheeks.

  Duvall had come to escort me and I was starting to wonder why I was being protected by the head of the detail. Thankfully, he hadn’t said anything about my crying, just handed me a tissue and turned back to the front of the car. As we neared the airport, I checked my bags again to make sure I had everything I would need. It was pointless because I had already checked twenty times while at the house. The anal retentive in me was satisfied, so I sat back and wiped at my face to make sure there was no moisture left to betray my emotions.

  When we pulled up to the drop-off point, there was a huge area blocked off by a police escort. Alex was standing at the curb, smiling and chatting with a few people wearing press badges. I wondered how he could look so chipper talking to the people who would just as happily post embarrassing pictures of him. When Duvall exited the front seat, Alex excused himself with a wave and came over to my car. I put on a small smile and let him help me out.

  “Ready?” His eyes studied my face and I wondered what he saw there. I was a giant ball of emotions and wasn’t even sure myself what the most prominent was at this moment. Sadness, definitely, but there was also a thread of excitement, and to be honest, I was happy to see Alex.

  “Think so.” I took a deep breath and shouldered my bag.

  He smiled at me, but I could see a little guilt in his eyes. “Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you think it will be. Lilaria is just a place. It’s what you make of it that counts.”

  His voice was quie
t, so I knew no one else could hear us except for Duvall, who hadn’t left my side. Becca was standing close as well, but she had given Alex a little space when he obviously wanted to say something privately. I nodded to let him know I had heard him. He was right—I could make this as good or as bad as I wanted.

  “My lady, may I take your bag? I’ll see to it that it’s on the plane before you leave,” Becca said quietly.

  I handed it over, feeling naked without anything to do with my hands. Alex was wearing a suit and I suddenly felt underdressed in my skinny jeans and boots. At least I would be comfortable on the flight. I frowned and hoped I wasn’t breaking some kind of protocol by not wearing a dress. Okay, so I wasn’t going to wear a dress just to please them, but I could have at least worn nice slacks.

  “Smile at least a little, okay?” Alex smiled widely to illustrate just how little I was supposed to smile and I laughed. I could see all his teeth.

  “Got it.”

  “That’s my girl.” My breath hitched at his words and he seemed to catch my response because his smile widened even more.

  “Samantha! Samantha!”

  “Sam! Over here!”

  “Are you excited?”

  The last question made me stop and I turned to smile at the cameras. It was early and I’d only had one cup of coffee before leaving, but it was time I at least said something to the press. Especially if I was leaving. I might not like being a news story, but I loved my home and saying good-bye seemed appropriate.

  “I hate leaving Minnesota, but I’m looking forward to seeing my homeland.” I smiled widely and let them take a few pictures. Not exactly a good-bye, but I hoped it would work. “Hopefully it won’t be as cold there.”

  My last statement produced a few chuckles and I gave a quick wave before going through the sliding doors to the airport. Alex walked next to me, not touching, but close enough I didn’t feel alone.