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“We’re building the first farm on the ranch,” he says, slipping an arm around me and kissing the top of my head. “So, that’s where you’ll be most of the time. And I’ll be back and forth. I assume that’s okay?”
Oh. My. God.
I just fell a little in love with him. “So okay,” I say, trying not to let too much enthusiasm seep into my tone.
But on the ranch, I can go barefoot. I don’t have to worry about using five forks at dinner—that many forks for one meal is ridiculous.
I might not even have to see the king that much.
This is awesome.
But first it has to be not-as-awesome. We’re going to the palace tonight.
An hour later, our car is making its way up the winding drive toward the palace that, from the ground, is much bigger than I’d thought from the air.
The palace. Where I’m going to meet the king and queen.
I press my hand to my stomach.
How is this real?
“Are you okay?” Torin asks, lifting my hand to his lips and kissing my knuckles.
“I’m just not looking forward to this part. The whole being judged thing.” I give him a wobbly smile.
He turns in his seat. “I know.” He squeezes my hand. “Remember, you’re already the princess. The people already know our story and love it.”
Linnea has filled the podcasters in on the story of how we met, fell in love, and our elopement. And that we’re returning to Cara. They’ve already started talking about it. The whole country knows.
Including King Diarmuid.
“We’ll break ground on the farm tomorrow,” Torin reminds me. “It will only be good judgments.”
He’s genuinely happy about this. I swallow. I blow out a breath.
This is the right decision.
It has to be.
Cara, and Torin, need these farms. So making them happen has to be the right thing to do.
Of course, this might be a case where a monarchy is also a bad thing for us because one guy can just shut it down if he doesn’t like the idea.
I don’t know the king. I don’t know the rules. So I just did what I thought was right…
I frown.
“What?” Torin notices the way I tense and leans in. “What are you thinking about?”
“I just…realized something.” I swallow. And then I even laugh lightly.
“What?” He strokes his thumb over the back of my hand.
“Just that, I think I’ve been a bit of a…um…” I look at him with a smile. “A princess for awhile already.”
He stares at me for a few seconds, then slowly smiles. “Is that right?”
I nod as the thought fully forms. “People have tiptoed around me and treated me like I’m different for a long time.”
