“So am I.”
It was a strange, honest thing to say, and he wasn’t certain how he felt about it once it exited his mouth.
“But you were born into this.”
“I was. But I did think that I would have a bit more time before I had to assume the throne.”
“Oh. Well. Of course.” She almost looked…sympathetic. Maybe she didn’t hate him quite so much as she wanted him to believe.
Or maybe she did. It didn’t really matter. It didn’t.
Within the hour, they were on his private jet, with her looking round-eyed and uncertain as the plane took off.
“What?”
“I’ve never been on a plane.”
“How is that possible?”
“Poverty?”
“Your father was a businessman. Before he died. You didn’t do any traveling?”
She shook her head. “No. He often traveled for business. But he didn’t have any time to take me anywhere. I usually stayed with a nanny. And then, he got married and I would stay with my stepmother. Or a nanny who would take care of my stepsisters and me.”
“And then?”
“Well, then he died. I’m not certain if you were able to pick it up from context clues or not, but my stepmother doesn’t see me as part of the family. Also, before he died he lost…he lost very nearly everything. All we really have is that house. It’s been hand-to-mouth as far as keeping everyone fed and clothed.”
“Your stepmother and stepsisters look both well clothed and well fed.”
“They were receiving my salary from the palace.”
“What?”
“I was seventeen when I started working there. My stepsister’s the one who arranged the bank account, and got everything established for me. I had the money deposited into her account because she was the one managing the household anyway. And as she pointed out, they were the ones who needed it. Then, my stepsisters did start earning money as influencers online. Though it isn’t steady. But sometimes there’s quite a bit of money. A bonus, or really good brand deal. They’ve been sent on holidays as long as they would film it.”
“But of course you were never taken on those holidays.”
“No. Much like you,” she said, leveling her gaze at him, “when they look at me they see a commoner. There really is no way around that. It’s what consumes them. I don’t deserve any of this.”
He gritted his teeth. “I’m not a snob.”
“You are. But it’s all right. You can hardly help it. You’re a king, after all. I would think that being a snob is in your DNA. And truly, royalty is in your DNA, so I suppose if given an ideal world, you were always going to try and give your child fine blood coming from both parents.”
“No,” he said. “That’s not it. I married for diplomatic reasons. It had nothing to do with my wife’s bloodline. It was everything to do with the connection.”
“Which is blood by extension.”
“If you like,” he said.
“It’s not about what I like or don’t like. It’s true.”
“They were cruel to you,” he said.
“No more or less than you.”
“Am I being cruel?” He gestured around the private plane.
