Royally Not Ready(66)

“If anything, we want you to just know your roots,” Lara says. “Even if you leave, at least you’ll be aware of the rich history of your ancestors and maybe pass down some of the traditions you’ve learned here to your future children.”

Keller is silent as my phone beeps with a text. I usually keep my phone up in my room, because I’m not using it much, but today is Timmy’s birthday, so I’ve been chatting with him. I also spent a good portion of time sending him deliveries through a meal delivery service so he knows that even though I’m not there, I’m still very much thinking of him.

I reach for my phone and unlock it to read the message from Timmy.

Timmy: Uh, girl . . . you’re famous.

Brows drawn together, I whisper, “What?” just as another text message comes in. It’s a screenshot of an article. It says: “Miami Bikini Wagon Owner, a Real-Life Princess.”

“Oh God,” I say as I set my feet down on the ground and lean forward.

“What is it?” Keller asks, his protective instincts kicking in at once.

I flash him the screen. “Timmy just sent me this article.”

Keller’s eyes zero in on the title of the article. “Fuck.” He stands from the couch and shouts, “Brimar, get out here.”

Dishes clatter in the sink and then Brimar rushes in, a towel draped over his shoulder. “What’s going on?”

“News broke out in the States.” He flashes Brimar the screen. “Her name and everything.”

“Shit.” He presses his hand to his forehead. “That means all of her information is floating around not only Torskethorpe, but the world.”

From his pocket, Keller digs his phone out and shoots off a text. As if he’s robotic, he moves around the room and opens his laptop.

“Is this bad?” I ask, worry etching up my throat.

“Yes,” Keller says, worrying me more. “Your privacy has just vanished.” His phone dings and he checks the screen. He then goes back to the computer, types away on it, and in seconds, a screen pops up and it’s King Theo.

I sit taller on the couch.

“Sorry to bother you,” Keller says.

“No, it’s quite all right,” King Theo says as he clears his throat. “Is Lilija with you?”

“Yes.” Keller brings the computer over to the couch and takes a seat next to me.

When I’m in view, I offer him a wave. “Hi.”

“Lilija,” he says, his voice growing soft. “I’m so sorry about this.”

“I don’t understand. What’s happening?”

Calmly, but in a clipped voice, Keller says, “We’ve kept you here, at Harrogate, to offer you privacy as we helped you navigate through training so you could understand what to expect if you decide to stay here and take on this role. But now that your actual identity has been revealed, we won’t be able to give you the privacy of your decision. It’s going to be very public.”

“Especially here in Torskethorpe,” King Theo adds. “Your name was released a week ago, but there were only rumors, and we were able to squash them. But now that you’ve been exposed in your hometown, the public will be expecting to see you. To meet you.”

“This was what I was fucking worried about,” Keller says. “That’s not fair to her.”

I place my hand on a fuming Keller and say, “Thank you for protecting me, but I don’t believe there’s any way around this, correct? If they’re already publishing articles in Miami about this, it’s going to be all over. There’s no hiding, therefore, you should just introduce me.”

King Theo’s eyes light up. “Are you saying you’re going to fall in line for the crown?”

“No,” I say, causing everyone’s shoulders to deflate. “I’m not committing to anything. I think there’s a whole other side to this that I need to see before I can make that decision. And that means I have to leave Harrogate to do so.”

King Theo smiles. “You’re very smart, my girl. I believe you’re right, there’s a whole other part of this world you’ve yet to see.” He covers his mouth with his arm and coughs a few times. “Excuse me.”

“We need to control the narrative on this, though,” Keller says. “We can’t let the press control us. We control the situation.”

“I agree,” King Theo says.

“I say we spend a little more time here, in Harrogate,” Keller says. “Let me finish prepping her, and in the meantime, we can have Henrik prepare statements and a welcoming to the palace that is well-thought-out, rather than rushed. If we’re going to bring her to Strombly, we need to do it the right way.”

“Yes, that’s very wise,” King Theo says. “I shall have Henrik reach out to you immediately.”

“Don’t you think it’d be better to get her to Strombly right away?” Brimar asks. “If we stay here, we’re sitting ducks.”

“No one suspects we’re here, and if we continue to lie low, then we’ll be fine. We need to do this the right way,” Keller snaps back at Brimar, the tension in the room going from zero to one hundred in seconds.

“I agree with Keller,” King Theo says. “Let’s get our ducks in a row and then we’ll have a welcoming. Lilija, are you okay with that?”