AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Your mother arranged for us to stay here,” the prince beside me said.
“Of course, she did,” she muttered, really ready for this dream to be over. “You are a prince. I’m sure you have enough funds to stay at a hotel or—”
“There is a chance that I could be noticed or exposed there,” he answered. “I am not in the United States in an official capacity, so it is best not to leave a trace of where I am.”
My brain was done for the night.
“Goodnight,” I said to him, grabbing my crown and walking toward the doors.
“Wait.”
“What?” I turned back to find him holding my glass slippers. With that dumb grin still on his face, he walked around the couch over to me. “Don’t you dare!”
He ignored me and knelt, setting the heels at my feet. I looked away from him as he put my feet into the shoes. I stumbled a bit, so grabbing his shoulders, I steadied myself hurriedly before letting go of him and patting the side of my dress.
“Forgive me. I just had to.” He smiled up at me, and I glared at him, not exactly sure what I was to say or do with him. “Weren’t you running away from me?”
“I wasn’t running.”
“Of course, you were just going to take a stroll without your shoes.”
“You aren’t very charming right now.”
“I do not intend to charm you now as Prince Charming but as Gale.”
“Gale? I thought your name was Galahad.”
“To the public, yes, but my family calls me Gale.”
“I’m not family.”
“Yet.”
“You are—forget it. Goodnight!” I threw up my hands, then spun on my heels and left.
Everyone was being ridiculous. I’d never fallen for anyone before, and I wouldn’t fall now. No matter how nice his smile was.
OCTOBER 31
I may have met my future wife today. And quite honestly, I’m very disturbed. I had planned on begrudgingly and complainingly accepting this whole ordeal. I had told myself that I would do it out of duty and duty alone. I would not show any joy or satisfaction with being forced to marry.
Then I met her, and she has stolen almost all the rebellion out of me. I currently do not know how I am to face my father or, worse, my brother. The smug satisfaction they will most definitely have on their faces will drive me mad. However, I will have no choice but to accept it because I enjoyed my brief time with her. She’s witty, stubborn, with a quick temper, yet deeply caring and understanding. It does not hurt that if Aphrodite needed a body to steal and become mortal, she’d chose Odette’s. I do not think I would be able to find another woman I did not mind and the palace approved of. Maybe Eliza is right. It is fate.
The only problem seems to be her complete and absolute lack of interest in me or being royal. From what her mother has told me and what I have noticed tonight, she seems to have no desire for romance, whatsoever.
Whatever is a romantic to do?
––––––––
“Wolfgang has almost finished arranging your things, sir,” Iskandar said from behind me. “You are to stay in the last room at the end of the hall.”
“Thank you,” I replied, finishing my thoughts on the page.
“Once he is done, he can take you if you wish to go to the event this evening. You would need to wear a mask, but you could go,” he stated.
“No, it’s not necessary,” I whispered, closing my journal before reaching up to undo the top of my jacket. “Besides, I doubt she would want me to go.”
“I do not understand.”
