Page 97 of The Royal in Room 3

EPILOGUE

SOREN

“Father,” I groaned, as childish giggles floated from somewhere behind the long velvet curtains. “Don’t tell me you took the children out of lessons early again.”

The giggles stopped at once, which, naturally, confirmed everything.

I stood just inside the council room and folded my arms as I stared at my father’s desk, which was usually filled with policy papers and state folders, but not today. Crayons, half-finished drawings, and a crown made from folded paper littered the surface of his desk. Father looked way too innocent with his reading glasses perched on his nose.

He was spoiling the children.

“I have no idea what you mean,” he said.

A small gasp came from behind the curtain, followed by a whisper. “Grandpapa, you mustn’t lie. Papa says lying is undignified.”

Father closed his eyes, busted by the very children he was trying to hide.

I pointed toward the curtain. “Liora Aurelia Romano Leontes, step out at once.”

My eldest daughter emerged on command, her chin high and her curly hair perfectly pinned back, but she’d lost the blue ribbon Jude had put in this morning before he dropped her off for her lessons. She had Jude’s stubborn mouth and my father’s regal stare, which meant Belvaria was doomed in the best possible way. One day, she would inherit the kingdom, but not because there were no boys to take her place. In fact, we had two boys and another little girl. Recently, we finally had the law overturned, which previously skipped females as heirs. Following the new ruling, gender wasn’t a deterrent to the throne.

The crown would pass to my firstborn, who currently had a purple ink stain on her cheek.

Behind her came the triplets, our impossible miracle from three years ago. We had hoped for one more child after Liora, and then possibly try for a third a few years later, if we were emotionally able to handle it. And apparently we were, because we’d never been happier having triplets.

Roan toddled out with a toy sword clutched in one hand, which Father had bought him. Jason followed with his thumb in his mouth, and lastly came Amara, our tiny storm, who tried hiding the cookie in her fist even though crumbs were all over the front of her dress.

I stared at them with exasperation.

Amara beamed. “Daddy!”

My intention of being stern with them collapsed as she ran toward me. The boys followed suit, all three colliding with my legs. Liora came much more slowly, walking with more dignity. She slipped her hand into mine when she reached me and smiled.

I crouched down and gathered them to me, kissing cheeks, smoothing curls, and accepting one sticky cookie against my jaw.

“Shouldn’t you be in lessons?” I asked.

“We were bored,” Jason announced. “Grandpapa rescued us.”

“Rescued, huh?” I shook my head at Father. “Aren’t you supposed to be having a council meeting with the ministers now?”

“Grandpapa said we are more important than ministers,” Liora replied.

Father removed his glasses very slowly. “I may have said something similar.”

“You are impossible,” I told him. “This makes the third time this month you’ve picked them up early.”

“I am their grandfather.”

“That is not a defense to excuse your actions.”

“It is the only defense I require. It was only an hour early.”

I rose with Amara on my hip and Jason clinging to my trouser leg. “Maybe it’s a good thing the kids will be in California for a week. You’ll be able to get some work done.”

“I can do both,” Father said with a sigh. “Are you sure you don’t want to leave them so you and Jude can have some alone time?”

Jude and I tried to return to California when we could, but we didn’t get to go as often as we would have liked. When we did make it there, we couldn’t spend more than two weeks, given my duties. Over the years, Father had handed me more responsibilities, and although he hadn’t announced it yet, this was his final year as king of Belvaria before he stepped down. Jude and I wanted to visit California one more time before that happened, as my duty as a king would afford me far less freedom to travel.