Page 56 of His Royal Request

I quickly applied my makeup the way Isla had been doing and blew out my hair into bouncy waves. I slid on the red heels and smoothed my skirt before sliding my phone into the hidden pocket and walked out of my room.

A guard was waiting across the hallway. It was the first time one had ever been waiting for me.

“Hello,” I said.

He nodded. “Morning, Ma’am.”

“Is everything okay?”

He nodded once more. “Yes, Ma’am.”

I looked around the hall but we were alone. “Are you here for me?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

I was thoroughly confused. “Why?”

“It’s my orders, Ma’am.”

So, he didn’t know any more than I did. “Okay. Do you know where Aiden is? Or Isla?”

At first, he didn’t move then he tilted his chin to his shoulder. “Location of Aspen and Dahlia?” He smiled sheepishly. “Code names, Ma’am.”

Huh. Not the code names I would have picked for them, but I guess that was the point.

“Follow me.” He led me the opposite direction of the staircase I’d been using and turned a corner revealing another long hall. From what Aiden had told me this was more of the guest rooms.

He stopped at a door and opened it, revealing a small staircase. I never would have known it was there. It looked identical to every other door. How did they remember where everything was?

We went down what felt like more than one floor to another unassuming door. He opened it and the hall looked nearly identical to the one we’d been on but the marble floors were covered by a navy-blue carpet rather than the emerald green.

He continued forward without speaking and stopped in front of a set of double doors. The second I approached they swung open from the inside. A magnificent library came into view. It was full from floor to ceiling with books. The mahogany shelves and sliding ladder called to me.

Aiden and Isla smiled as I walked in, but they weren’t alone. Ronan and Cian were sitting at the far side of the room while the King and Queen sat on a velvet sofa in the center.

I stepped in and the doors closed behind me. I looked to my side and realized the guards must have signaled to each other I was coming, but I hadn’t heard the guard leading me say anything. I shook my head and smiled.

“Good morning,” I greeted everyone.

“Is it?” I heard Cian mumble but ignored him.

Aiden walked to me and took my hand. “I’m so sorry this happened, Charlie. I promise we will find who shared those pictures and they will be punished.”

I didn’t want to think of what the punishment would be but this had more to do with violating the King and Queen’s rules and privacy than it did with me.

“Were you able to get in touch with your parents?”

I nodded. “I woke my dad. I forgot about the time difference—”

“Oh dear.” The Queen laughed. “I’m sure he thought the worst.”

I smiled. “It took a while to convince him I was safe and not in trouble, but once I explained he understood. He said he wouldn’t answer the phone and if needed they would go to a hotel for a few days until this blows over.”

She smiled back at me and the King sat up straight. He met my eyes looking remorse. “I regret this is your first impression of our country and people, but I can assure you this isn’t how it always is.”

I felt the need to reassure him but Aiden spoke first. “Well, it kind of is for us, but it shouldn’t be happening to you.”

“I think we sort of asked for it,” I said, “making a scene like that.”