Free hours were far and few between, but we made it work. I was happy to go out of my way to grab lunch with Alison back at her hotel—despite Patrick’s protests that such things were beneath me. When we passed each other by in the hallways at work, she only dared to let the side of her hand graze mine. The fleeting contact was enough to make me hold my breath, to leave me high off a rush of adrenaline.
It was hard to describe exactly how Alison affected me. Every time I laid eyes on her I was left breathless. I longed to hear her voice, always disappointed once she was done with her turn presenting. When I started to crave her warmth, it suddenly dawned on me that we couldn’t have this forever. At the end of the week, she would return home. At the end of the week, there was no telling when I’d be allowed to see her again. Alison lived an entire country away, had a life south of my Kingdom’s borders where she existed without me. Our time together was far too short, seven days giving us just enough time to learn about each other, but not enough for full truths.
On the evening of the fifth day of the conference, I had Alison arrive not at my third home, but at a small, exclusive restaurant hidden away in a back alley. Patrick had gone ahead and reserved the entire floor, ensuring that we would not be disturbed by neighboring tables and nosy customers. The staff had all been paid off and sworn to secrecy. I was sat at the center table, anxiously double checking my wristwatch as I counted down the seconds until I could see her again. I’d already had a glass of wine, hoping that the beverage would soothe my nerves. But then Ali entered in through the restaurant doors, and I knew I was a goner.
She wore a floor-length dress made of red silk, a gorgeous golden pattern embroidered into the fabric, accented with tiny pearls. She wore her hair up in a high bun, a few longer strands having been braided and pinned in place. Her makeup was far less severe when she wasn’t at work. Instead of a bright red, her lips were a glossy pink. The liner around her eyes was a lot less dramatic, softening the color of her irises to resemble a gentle stream rather than raging seas. Alison was so undeniably beautiful that I almost didn’t realize she’d walked in on Klaus’ arm.
I stood when she drew closer to the table, heart slamming in my chest. I took her hand in mine and pulled her in, kissing her slowly to savor how she felt pressed against me.
“Enjoy your evening,” said Klaus, clearing his throat. He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll be over there with Patrick. You know, should you need us.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Since when did you start calling him Patrick?”
Klaus swallowed, glancing away all too quickly. “Have a good dinner,” he mumbled before rushing away.
Alison laughed. “Don’t tease him like that.”
“But it’s so easy.”
I pulled her chair out and let her take a seat before returning to mine. The waiter was already by our side, pouring us individual glasses of red wine. Dinner had been prepared in advance, so it was only a matter of minutes before piping hot food was delivered to the table. As savory as our meals were, I wasn’t concerned with the needs of my growling stomach. What I was more interested in was the lovely woman sitting across from me.
“You look stunning,” I said.
“Thank you. You’re rather dashing yourself.”
“Please take your time and enjoy the meal. No one’s going to rush us here. I reserved the whole place.”
“You really know how to treat a girl,” she giggled. “Do you do this for all your secret dates?”
“No, just you.”
Alison grinned. “Be careful. I might get used to you spoiling me.”
“That’s all I want to do.”
“May I ask you a question? It may seem a little sensitive.”
“For you, anything.”
“Have you done this before? The sneaking around thing.” She played nervously with the bracelets that decorated her wrist. “I’ve… I’ve read things. Not that I believe the stories to be true. I just wanted to know your side of things. It’s kind of hard for me to believe that out of everybody, you chose me.”
I reached across the table and took her hand. “Why is that so hard to believe? You’re amazing.”
“I have to admit I don’t have much experience when it comes to… Well, relationships. I was always too focused on my career.”
“And then there’s me,” I huffed, “the philandering Prince of Wyvernbank, if you believe the tabloids.”
“Are the stories not true?”
I shook my head. “Parts of them are, but the details are grossly over-exaggerated. The papers sell more that way.”
“Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Of course, it does. But I grew up with the world watching my every move. It’s my version of normal.” I tilted my head to the side and clicked my tongue. “You can ask me anything you want, Alison. Nothing’s off-limits for you.”
She eyed me curiously. “There was a story that ran a few months ago. About an investment to do with lobster, pearls, and cologne. What was that all about?”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Honestly? I have no idea. That one was news to me too.”
“And what about that village you purchased last year?”
“That one was true,” I admitted. “I bought the land so it could be added to the neighboring national park. That way, the area and all the animals that lived in it would be protected against poaching.”
“You didn’t buy it to house your car collection?”
“I don’t have a car collection,”—I chuckled—“so I don’t see how that’s possible.”
“Wow, I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I’m not going to lie, before I met you, I had you pegged as a pretty bad guy.”
I shrugged it off. “Maybe I am a bad guy. Everyone’s got something to hide, and I’m no different.”
“I’m sure that’s not true. I like to think you’re pretty perfect.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.”
Alison laughed, resting her hand gingerly on top of mine. Everything about this moment felt utterly flawless. I wanted to get used to it all, but the lingering approach of Alison’s return to Sunyata lingered above my head like an axe. I took a deep breath and swallowed, gathering the courage I needed to speak.
“I was wondering,” I began slowly, “would you…” I trailed off, unable to find the right words.
“Yes, Sebastian?”
“These last few days have been wonderful.”
“They really have.”
“But the thought of you returning home…” I took a sharp breath. “Well, I know you have to return eventually, but...” I cleared my throat, too nervous to string my thoughts together.
Ali squeezed my hand. “Go on,” she encouraged.
“Would it be at all possible for you to stay for a while longer?” I asked. “I just… I really like you, Alison.”
She smiled wide, eyes beaming. “I really like you too.”
“I could have Patrick extend your visa. Maybe you could ask your superiors for a vacation. I think after what you’ve accomplished here this week, you’ve more than earned it, and I–” I cut myself off, noticing how badly I started to ramble on and on. “A week with you just isn’t enough time.”
“I feel the exact same way, Sebastian.”
“Does this mean you’ll stay?”
Before Alison had a chance to answer, a loud commotion erupted at the front of the restaurant. I turned to see Patrick and Klaus out of their seats standing with their backs to us by the doors, arms raised to prevent someone’s entry.
“The restaurant is closed this evening, Ambassador Clavets,” snapped Patrick.
Clavets. What was he doing here? Of all the places to run into the man, it had to be here. Alison’s eyes widened in horror as she let her shoulders slump, curling in on herself like she wanted to avoid being seen. I had to fight against the urge to freeze. If the Dulanian representative let it get out that I was having a private dinner with a foreign diplomat, things
could get ugly very quickly. I could already imagine the headlines accusing me of favoritism, of plots and treason. None of them were true, of course, but my people didn’t know that.
“You’re going to have to leave,” said Klaus firmly.
“I wish to speak with His Royal Highness,” growled Ambassador Clavets.
“He is otherwise occupied,” replied Patrick. “I can deliver a message to him, if you’d like.”
“Out of the way,” the old man hissed. “Don’t lay a hand on me. Do you know who I am? I could have you arrested.”
He shoved his way past and froze where he stood when he spotted me and Alison. Ambassador Clavets’ cheeks grew red with rage, eyes dark with anger. He clenched his jaw, tendons tightening on the side of his face, obviously peeved and unsure what to make of everything. When he spoke, he chose his words carefully, keeping his voice as flat as possible.
“Your Royal Highness,” he muttered, bowing his head. He turned to Alison and flared his nostrils. “Diplomat Smith. What a pleasant surprise.”
Alison cleared her throat. “We were just–”
“It’s quite alright,” interrupted Clavets. “I’m clearly interrupting something intimate.”
“Ambassador Clavets,” I rushed, “let me explain.”
He raised his hands, chuckling harshly. “No, no, Your Royal Highness. You owe me no explanation. I can tell this is a bad time. Perhaps I can invite you to a private dinner of my own before the week is up.”
I mentally kicked myself. The rate at which our evening was crumbling from out beneath us was alarming. There was no telling what he’d do, no telling how he’d interpret what he saw. For all he knew, Alison and I were simply talking business. But the dim lighting of the restaurant, the singular candle on the tabletop for mood lighting, the way Alison was dressed, and the fact that we were eating together in private could really only mean one thing. How Ambassador Clavets chose to use that information was ultimately up to him.
“I’ll take my leave,” he said, before turning altogether to exit the way he came.
Patrick rushed after him, no doubt for damage control, while Klaus immediately came to Alison’s side.
“We should go,” he said to her.
Alison rose, all the color having drained from her face. She looked too stunned, too out of her element, like a deer caught in the headlights. My heart twisted in my chest to see her like this, and I knew I only had myself to blame. After all, Alison had tried to turn me down twice. But I’d selfishly insisted, wanted her near me no matter the consequences.
“Alison,” I called to her, voice uncharacteristically weak, “it’s going to be okay.”
“I need to go back to the hotel,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. She shouldn’t apologize to me. I should have been the one apologizing to her. I’d faced my fair share of public humiliations. It came with the territory of being the Crown Prince. From a young age, everybody wanted a piece of me. If something bad happened to me, nobody could take away my title. Things were different for Alison, though. She could lose her job. She could be targeted by jealous diplomats, by people who still harbored resentment for the war between our countries. She was the one risking everything, while I risked nothing except a slap on the wrist.
Klaus guided Alison out, and I was absolutely speechless.
11
Alison
Klaus and I had locked ourselves in my hotel room, too rattled to do anything else. I’d changed out of my dress and taken a long shower, hoping that the hot stream of water rushing over me would somehow calm my nerves. After changing into a loose t-shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants, my hair tied up in a messy bun, I crawled under the covers. Hugging my knees close to my chest, I rested on my side and allowed the clicking of Klaus’ laptop to drown out my thoughts. He sat on the end of the bed, furiously scrolling through news feeds.
“Nothing’s popped up on local websites yet,” he murmured.
“Give it a few hours.”
“Do you really think Ambassador Clavets will make a move?”
“There’s no way of knowing.”
I ran my hands over my face. My magical week with Sebastian had come to a screeching and abrupt halt as reality dug its claws into me. Why did I think this would work? Why did I let my emotions get the better of me? I knew I was better than that. All that mattered was the job and being the best at it. So why did I let Sebastian into my life even though I understood all of the risks? Things would have ended between us one of two ways: we would have realized we were just too different to be together and break things off, or Sebastian would have gotten bored of me eventually and left. I was just some career-driven woman from a foreign country. Sebastian was a Prince. He could have anybody he wanted, every wish fulfilled and every need satisfied at the snap of his fingers. What we had wasn’t sustainable.
So why did I feel so heartbroken without him?
He was the only thing on my mind, even with the threat of our relationship becoming public knowledge at any given moment. We’d only been separated for a few hours, but I already missed the warmth of his arms around me. I detested the awful vacancy he’d left by not being here. I wanted to hold his hand and kiss his lips, knowing that I was just as much the center of his attention as he was mine. For a brief moment, I wondered if I was being selfish. How could I let Sebastian risk his reputation for a nobody like me? That just didn’t seem fair at all.
Three sharp knocks came from the front door. I bolted upright, startled out of my mind. I wasn’t expecting anybody, and Klaus always made sure to schedule my appointments to end before suppertime. Klaus slammed his laptop shut and stood, raising his index finger to signal for me to wait where I was. He frowned, just as confused, as he slowly approached the door.
“Who is it?” I whispered.
“Diplomat Smith,” came Clavets’ booming voice from the other side of the door. “I know you’re in there. May I have a moment?”
“Should I send him away?” Klaus asked.
I bit my lower lip in thought. After a moment of deliberation, I threw the covers off and slipped out of bed, straightening my shirt. “Open the door,” I ordered.
With a curt nod, Klaus did as instructed and allowed Ambassador Clavets into the room. He wore an extremely pompous smirk as he looked around, tutting at what he saw. I crossed my arms over my chest, already irritated despite him not having said a word.
“What do you want?” I demanded.
“Now, now”—he chuckled—“let’s not get snippy. Can’t two people just have a nice little chat.”
“Get to the point,” snapped Klaus, “or I will have you removed.”
Clavets snorted, looking Klaus up and down with a judgmental squint of the eye. “Someone’s a little touchy. Did you have a bad day?”
“Ambassador,” I interrupted, “get on with it. How did you even now I was staying here.”
He leaned against the hallway wall casually, looking far too proud. “You’re young,” he hummed, “so you probably don’t remember much about the war.”
“What does that have to do with everything?”
“Dulan allied with the Kingdom of Wyvernbank against your nation,” he explained. “Do you know what we specialized in?”
“No,” I grumbled. “Tell me.”
“Espionage. Dulan was and is known for their spy technology and intelligence gathering. I like to believe my country’s efforts were the only reason why Wyvernbank was able to last so long against Sunyata.”
“Until they didn’t,” snapped Klaus.
Clavets raised a hand sharply. “I wasn’t talking to you.” He returned his attention to me. “To answer your question about how I found you, the answer is quite simple. You’d be surprised how easily information can be bought and sold if you ask the right people and offer the right price.”
“You paid the hotel staff,” I realized.
“Smart girl.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a
few pieces of paper, which had been rolled up for easy handling. “I was curious about you from the moment you cut me off on our first day. I like to know all there is to know about my enemies, you see, so I had my assistants investigate your past.”
“You what?” I seethed.
“I figured a pretty young thing like yourself had to have a past. We all do. I thought if I dug up a little dirt, I could use it to my advantage in case you ever decided to pull a stunt like that again.” He tossed the documents onto the bed, which I immediately snatched up to inspect. “I thought I’d find something small, a little piece of treasure to tuck away for a rainy day. But it looks like you’ve buried an entire hoard.”
“What the hell are you playing at?” snapped Klaus. “This is ridiculous. Get out before I–”
“Before you what?” Clavets snorted. “What are you going to do? Throw me out now, and I’ll just reveal to the world all about Diplomat Smith’s dirty past.”
“This is–” I gasped, mind spinning so hard I thought I was about to be sick.
“Your arrest report,” he confirmed. “Looks like you had a little drug problem when you were younger. That’s really quite a shame. I have to say I sympathize. I know Sunyata’s been dealing with their street drug problem for quite some time.”
“I was just a kid!” I shouted, clutching the documents so hard that the paper crinkled beneath my grasp. “These records were supposed to have been sealed away because I was a minor. I wasn’t even charged with anything. I was just walking around with a little bit of weed. How the hell did you–” I was shaking so hard that I had to sit down. This couldn’t be happening. Maybe I slipped in the shower and now I was having a nightmare. That was the only way any of this could make sense.
“It would be a real shame if word got out that the Crown Prince was involved with someone like you. A former delinquent with a record cozying up to the Prince seems rather… Well, scandalous.”
Royally Loved Page 40
