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“Alexander,” the Queen says as she greets me with a kiss to both cheeks. “I thought you’d be in the Gallery.”
“I’m just on my way there now,” I assure them. I turn back to Maddie, who seems considerably less nervous than when I entered the room. I take her hand in mine and brush a soft kiss against her skin, her floral scent filling my nose. “Good luck,” I murmur. “I’ll sit in your line of sight. That way you can focus on me rather than anything else.”
She bites down on her lip and it’s unclear to me whether it’s nerves or something else. “Okay.”
“Knock ’em dead, Texas,” I whisper, and she grins, her face flushed pink.
Finally allowing a thoroughly agitated Mr. Bassett Hound to show me to the Distinguished Visitor’s Gallery, I take my seat just before the trumpet fanfare announces the arrival of the King and Queen. I rise to my feet along with everyone else as the national anthem of Malveaux is played.
As the Prime Minister addresses the audience, I glance around the Chamber. Circular in design, it features tiered leather seating for Parliament Members, which encircles a central speaking area, all sitting under a domed ceiling overhead.
Finally, Maddie arrives, cutting a nervous figure amidst the sea of dark suits. As she approaches the podium, her smile is as shaky as a leaf in a storm, and I know she must be extremely nervous.
“Look at me,” I whisper to myself, willing her to do just that. When she scans the Chamber, her eyes land on mine, and I offer her an encouraging smile, mouthing “You’ve got this.”
She flashes me a nervous look before the Speaker of the House introduces her. “Presenting Her Royal Highness, Princess Madeline!”
I say a little prayer this all goes smoothly.
She fumbles with her papers, sending a few fluttering to the ground, and I have to hold myself back from rushing to her aid, frustrated I’m up here in the Gallery and not near her on the floor.
“Good day esteemed... um... Parliamentarians,” she begins in faltering Malveauxian, her voice quivering like a violin string. “I am honored to be officially welcomed as a princess of Malveaux.”
I glance around the audience and notice that everyone is hanging on her every word. Are they judging her for her heavily accented speech? For the fact that she’s not Malveauxian born and bred? I feel offended on her behalf. But then when she comes to the end of her short speech, telling the assembled guests how excited she is to be a part of their country, everyone bursts into uproarious applause, giving her a standing ovation—not something I’ve seen often at Parliament, if ever.
I, too, spring to my feet, whistling like a farmer as I applaud. She grins out at everyone and I can see her relief written right across her face. Her eyes find mine once more, and as I give her a salute, my heart fills with pride—and a healthy dollop of relief, I’ll admit.
It’s in this moment it hits me like a punch to the solar plexus.
I know beyond doubt that this thing between us, however new, is more than me doing Father’s bidding. It’s real. It makes my heart sing. And I don’t think I could stop now for all the tea in Malveaux.
Chapter 18
Maddie
“You were amazing! They loved you,” Alex says as we make our way through Parliament House with our respective security guards toward the waiting cars out front.
“I’m just glad it’s over.”
He chuckles. “You’re being too modest. You totally won those old cronies over.”
“I did, didn’t I?” I reply with a self-effacing laugh.
“You so did. Is it weird that I feel proud of you?” he asks. “Not in a fatherly way, of course.”
“You can feel proud of me. I’m proud of me, too.”
“I feel like we need to celebrate. Have you had the chance to see much of the city yet?”
“Not really. I did get to see the sea from the car on the way to the palace on my first day here.”
He shakes his head. “You’re a princess of a country you’ve barely seen. How about we remedy that?”
“How?” I ask, but instead of answering me with words, he takes my hand in his and leads me down a passageway and out to the back of the building. We’re trailed by Vlad, and I can feel his tension rising with each step I take.
“Where are you taking me?”
He opens a door and I step outside into a courtyard.
