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“Only way to beat a story is to give them a new one. The only thing that tops a letter from the prince is the actual prince.”
It reminded me of what the queen said to me after my speech. The palace did not have time to stop and applaud.
I was back.
And I was staying.
Epilogue
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How many things could you fit into one day?
To the palace, it was only one coronation and wedding. To me, it would be one coronation, one wedding, a wedding anniversary, and a birthday. I did not even have a good enough word for this. Stress didn’t do it justice, and chaos wasn’t even the tip of the iceberg. It was sheer and utter insanity, mixed with deafening cheers, tears to fill an ocean, sparkles, lace, butterflies escaping stomachs, sprinkled with mushy love goo everywhere. Those words didn’t really make sense, but it was the only way to describe how I felt on this day—my wedding, birthday, anniversary, and coronation day.
“Hurry, ladies, we need to hurry.” Balduin waved people like an air traffic controller as we went down the palace steps. “Lift the train. Lift with your arms, my dear. It cannot touch the ground yet.”
“Balduin.”
“Take your time, miss,” he said, rushing to stand beside me. “Slow and steady. Slow and steady.”
That was the problem.
I was anxious enough as it was. I just wanted to run into the carriage and rush to the abbey and be done with all of this already.
“Stay calm. Remember, it is still your day,” Balduin added, making sure to walk with me. Over the last few months, it became clear that he was truly fit for his new position as the new Head Secretary of Palace Affairs. He did not run the palace with an iron fist, but a steadying understanding and always stopped to make sure I felt comfortable. Gale said he was becoming more of my right hand than his now.
“We’re almost there,” he said as we reached the front of the palace. “Now, remember when we step out, there will be quite a lot of people out there.”
I nodded, no longer able to speak as I braced myself. However, when I stepped out into the light, it once again hit me that there was no bracing for this.
“Odette!”
“Odette!”
“God bless you, Odette!”
