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Chapter 4
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“The evening commenced when His Royal Highness Prince Galahad entered the state dinner with his mother, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elspeth, on his right, and the Austrian prime minister, Christoph Leon, and his wife, Amelie, beside him. This, of course, was following the royal protocol of entrance. Everything about state dinners is always highly orchestrated; not a single fork is to be out of place,” the female news anchor explained.
I understood most of the words, but I still needed the subtitles. The camera panned over the ornate, white peonies spread across the U-shaped tables. I remembered when Gale gave me those flowers and told me they meant prosperity and good fortune. Everything seemed to sparkle and glisten, from the red drapes behind them to the crystal glasses to the chandeliers hung from the ceiling. But nothing looked as regal as he did standing in the center, speaking.
“Prince Galahad gave the keynote speech in which he mentioned the long history between Austria and Ersovia. This was on the heels of the Goldberger Treaties' renewal, something the late Prince Arthur had highlighted in previous speeches. Many have been worried about whether Prince Galahad would rise and fill his brother’s role as Adelaar. This, along with rumors of the king’s illness circling and the king’s notable absence since his son’s funeral, Prince Galahad was a welcome sight of stability tonight. Sources close to the palace have remarked that the days of the party prince are long gone—”
Flipping the channel, I searched for a movie to watch. I was trying not to focus on him. I tried to relax and just get back to where I was this morning before Eliza, Wolfgang, and Iskandar came and messed up everything. Now look at me. I was sitting in bed, watching him on television with wine. Iskandar had told me to call, but I couldn’t. It was too soon and—
“No, it is fine. Do not worry about her.” A voice came from the living room.
Rising from the bed, I slid open the double doors but didn’t see anyone. However, I still heard another voice.
“Sir, this is—”
Turning the corner, I saw him. “Gale?”
There he was at my front door, dressed in the same suit, minus the sash, gloves, and medals on his chest. His hair was still the same color brown with the same curls, his eyes still the same blue-green, his jawline now clean-shaven, and he stood tall and proud as ever. He looked even more handsome than he had on the television and also more tired. But still, it was him. He was standing right in front of my now partially opened door. Still outside of it was Iskandar, and one other man I did not know who was dressed similarly to Iskandar, so I assumed he was a guard, too. He gave me a strange look but didn’t say a word.
“That is all for now,” Gale said to them, but his eyes never left mine.
Iskandar and the other man bowed before closing the door. Gale turned fully to me, his eyes looking from my naked feet before getting back to my eyes. I had so many things I wanted to say. But I couldn’t comprehend how he was in front of me right now.
“Is there wine?” he asked, stepping in farther.
And that was when the words came back to me. “We haven’t seen each other in months, and the first thing you ask me about is wine?” I couldn’t believe it.
“You’re right. That was rude,” he said gently, walking up to me.
“Being rude isn’t the point, Gale. How could you—”
“My first question should have been, how are you, Odette?” he whispered, placing his hand on my cheek, and it was like he had shocked me. Electricity flowed throughout my veins, and the hair on my arms stood up, so I had to step back away from his touch.
“What do you think you are doing?” I snapped.
He dropped his hands, his gaze softening. “Can we save our argument for the morning? It has been a very long day, and I really need some sleep.”
“What?”
He didn’t answer me; instead, he took off his jacket and walked to the bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I rushed to stand in front of him. “If you want to sleep, go back to your palace!”
