The queen’s expression softened, genuine warmth replacing the careful politeness. “Thank you for understanding. Please, get settled in. Gabrielle will come by in an hour to escort you to lunch.”
“I look forward to getting to know everyone better.”
Queen Lysia nodded and moved toward the door but paused at the threshold. “Tess? My son is a good man. He simply carries the weight of many expectations.”
Then she was gone, leaving Tess alone with her thoughts and accommodations that screamed luxury she’d never experienced.
She opened her first suitcase and pulled out her practical clothes—jeans, sweaters, professional blouses that had seemed appropriate for a two-week consulting job. Now, surrounded byhand-woven tapestries and furniture that belonged in a palace, everything looked painfully ordinary.
The walk-in closet was literally the size of her apartment bedroom, complete with built-in drawers and enough hanging space for a small boutique’s worth of clothing. She hung up her few dresses and folded her sweaters and jeans into drawers that smelled faintly of cedar and lavender.
Two weeks. Then back to real life and hopefully a senior research position.
But as she unpacked, her mind kept drifting back to Korran. The way his presence had filled the space, his dark eyes intense and intelligent. The way his scent—something woodsy and clean with an underlying wildness—had made her pulse race.
Focus. You’re here to solve a medical mystery, not get distracted by the handsome prince.
She flexed her hand again, trying to dispel the lingering sensation from their handshake. Whatever biochemical reaction she’d experienced was irrelevant. She had work to do, a king to save, and a career to secure.
Besides, he’s clearly too intense and complicated anyway.
The man who’d fled his own office rather than spend another minute in her presence wasn’t exactly relationship material. Not that she was looking for a relationship—she’d learned that lesson the hard way in graduate school with Professor Jacobs. Never mix business with pleasure because it will cost something.
Just save the king. Get the promotion. Simple.
An hour later, the gentle rap of knuckles against her suite door pulled Tess from her contemplation. She’d been standing there looking out the tall windows, still processing the overwhelming luxury of her accommodations and the strange intensity of her earlier encounter with Prince Korran.
“Come in,” she called, smoothing down her practical blue blouse.
The door opened to reveal Gabrielle, the personal attendant who had briefly appeared when Tess first arrived at the estate and guided her and Gerri to that meeting with Prince Korran. The woman moved with quiet grace, her dark hair pulled back in an elegant bun that emphasized her gentle features and observant brown eyes.
“Dr. Holt, I hope you’ve had time to settle in comfortably.” Gabrielle’s voice carried warmth despite its formal tone. “Are you ready for lunch?”
“Yes, absolutely.” Tess grabbed her black cardigan from the back of a chair. “This suite is amazing, by the way. I’ve never stayed anywhere so beautiful.”
A genuine smile curved Gabrielle’s lips as they stepped into the corridor. “I’m pleased you find it suitable.” She paused, her expression becoming slightly hesitant. “Prince Korran has requested to know your clothing and shoe sizes. He wants to make certain you have everything necessary to be comfortable here.”
He what?
Tess felt heat creep up her neck. “That’s really not necessary at all. I can just wash what I brought with me.”
Gabrielle’s soft laughter echoed in the marble hallway. “Oh no, you wouldn’t be doing any laundry or chores while you’re our guest. It’s truly no trouble to provide you with a more suitable wardrobe for your time here.”
More suitable? What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?
But as they walked through the opulent corridors, Tess began to understand. Her practical Earth wardrobe—designed for laboratory work and efficiency—felt woefully inadequate in a place where even the servants wore elegant attire that looked hand-tailored.
“Size eight for clothes, seven for shoes,” she said finally, her cheeks still warm. “It’s very kind of the prince to think of my comfort.”
Though why he’s concerned about my comfort is another question entirely.
They soon descended the grand staircase, Gabrielle moving with the fluid confidence of someone who’d navigated this estate for years, while Tess found herself constantly distracted by architectural details and artwork.
“Will you be joining us for lunch?” Tess asked as they approached a set of ornate double doors that presumably led to the dining room.
Gabrielle’s smile turned apologetic. “Staff doesn’t dine with the royal family. But I’ll be around if you need me later. Enjoy your meal, Dr. Holt.”
“Thank you for everything, Gabrielle.”
