The stylists had spent a lot of time on us, so it was almost eleven o’clock before we left our room. Eddie took us on a tour of the rest of the palace, though we didn’t even visit half the rooms. It was a lot of work, walking around the whole building. I pushed Ava so she didn’t get tired, but I figured by the end we must’ve roamed at least a few miles, judging by the amount of steps I took. There were elevators for us to use, and like Ava said, braille plaques lined the walls before every door and entrance, along with beside windows.
Ava typically had to describe everything to me, but she didn’t have to this time, because the palace was accessible all on its own. It was nearly miraculous.
When we returned to our suite around one o’ clock, Eddie said, “Sire, it’s time for lunch.”
I was still full from breakfast, though that’d been hours ago. “Thanks, Eddie, but I’m not hungry.”
“You misunderstand,” Eddie said. “This is a meeting. Your presence has been requested.”
Eddie had said we had a full schedule for the day, though I wasn’t sure what that entailed. Hell, I didn’t even know who I was meeting with. But this was the life of a prince, and if Iwanted to change the world, it was going to have to start by making alliances— both inside the palace and out.
“All right, let’s go,” I said as I reached for Ava’s chair.
“The princess will not be attending lunch with us,” Eddie said. “She will be having lunch with Kallie, to discuss her court selection. She is permitted to choose a selection of ladies to assist her in daily tasks.”
Oberi shifted into a unicorn from the other room.Count me in as a lady-in-waiting!
Ava squeezed my hand. “You’ve got this, Charlie. You’re the prince now.”
And a fine prince at that,she added through the bond. I could practically feel her eyes roaming my form, and that made me relax.
“I’ll see you later, pidge,” I told her, before leaning down to place a kiss on her lips.
Eddie and I left the room, and he guided me down the hallway and through a twist of stairs. This palace seemed bigger than the Institute. It was going to take me a long time to learn the layout.
The delicious scent of steak and roasted potatoes filled my nose. I wasn’t hungry, but that smell alone made my mouth water. I didn’t know who I was meeting with, but when I heard the sound of voices making conversation, I stopped in my tracks.
It was a man and a woman. I didn’t recognize her voice, but the man’s was almost too much like my own.
My father.
Eddie paused in the hall. “Do you need a moment?”
Instinctually, I wanted to hightail it in the other direction. I wasn’t interested in having lunch with the father who had abandoned me…
But I was a prince now. I had to learn how to be diplomatic, even with my adversaries. Maybe my dad and I could smooth things out. It didn’t have to be bad between us.
I cleared my throat and straightened my suit jacket. “No, Eddie, I’m good.”
Eddie opened a door, and I stepped inside what appeared to be a private dining room. My magic swirled around the room as I took in what I could. The room wasn’t very big, but there was a large table set in the center. My father and the woman clinked their glasses together. I could hear Cameron’s alicorn Familiar munching on hay nearby.
“Charlie,” Cameron— I mean,my father— said. I still wasn’t sure what to call him. “You’re early. I was expecting your grandfather to arrive first. You look nice.”
“The stylists did a great job,” I replied, because I didn’t know what elsetosay.
“Charlie,” the woman gushed.
She got out of her chair and wrapped me in a hug. I stiffened. The woman smelled of flowers and seemed very friendly, but it was a bit off-putting considering I had no idea who she was.
Or… had we met before? I wasn’t good with voices, except for my closest friends.
“It’s so great to finally introduce myself,” she said in excitement. “Cameron has told me so many good things about you.”
“Hmph,” was all I could manage. My father didn’t know anything about me. What could he possibly have to say?
Eddie pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down. He quickly got to work on setting my napkin in my lap, but I took it from him. “I’ve got it. Thanks.”
He stepped back, and my father cleared his throat. “Charlie, I’d like you to meet Drea.”
