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Chapter 43
Ava
The ticking of the clock in the room suddenly seemed so loud. My father stood still as a statue. I had no idea what he was going to say or do next. It was just the two of us, Luc likely in his room quickly packing his things before preparing to leave.
The king took a deep, slow breath before turning toward me.
“Here’s what you’re going to do.”
“But—”
His eyes flashed with anger. “There is nobut, young lady. I am your father and your king, and unless you want to be kicked out on your royal behind, I don’t want to hear another word. Understand?”
My first instinct was to tell my father, king or not, to get fucked. However, there was still the matter of Luc. Not a chance in hell I was going to let my father boot him out of the palace like that. I had to do something and screaming in the king’s face didn’t seem like the best idea.
“Here’s what you’re going to do,” he repeated. “You are going to go back downstairs to the party. You are going to spend thirty minutes making the rounds with a big, happy smile on your face. When that is done, you are going to come to my office and we are going to talk.”
“I…”
His eyes flashed again. “If I hear so much as a single word out of your mouth that isn’t, ‘yes, Father,’ so help me God I will devote my life to making sure that you never see that man again. Understand me?”
Once more, I bristled at his tone. I knew that there was a time and a place for arguing, and I could sense that wasn’t it.
“Yes, Father.”
“Very good. Now go. And run a brush through your hair before you do.”
Without another word, he strode from the room. I wanted to cry, to lie face down on the bed and sob like I never had before. It wasn’t the right moment for that, either. I didn’t even have time to call Hailey and get her take on everything that had just happened. I needed to act fast if I wanted to catch Luc before he was sent packing.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. I hurried over to the window to see that a storm was in the process of rolling in, lightning flashing through the night sky. After a quick stop in the bathroom to smooth my hair, I composed myself and left the room.
The thirty minutes I was instructed to spend at the ball was so damn hard. Despite everything going on, I kept a happy disposition, meeting and greeting and trying not to let my mind linger on what had just happened with Luc and my father.
Speaking of the king, he was there at the ball, as well. He made the rounds himself, shaking hands with the various guests and, like me, doing his best to conceal his feelings. I had to hand it to the guy—he was good at keeping himself composed.
I watched the clock constantly, waiting for the thirty minutes to end. When it finally did, I said my goodbyes to the guests I was with at that moment, once more leaving the ballroom. Relief washed over me at being alone, but I knew it wouldn’t last. The conversation with my father was no doubt going to be a rough one.
I made my way to the throne room, the space low lit, the big windows behind the throne looking out over the storm clouds rolling in. Lightning flashed again. I turned my attention to the office door at the side of the room, preparing myself for what was shaping up to be the most difficult conversation of my life.
When I was ready, I stepped over to the door and knocked.
“Come in.”
I opened the door and entered. The room itself was beautiful, a study much smaller and cozier than the cavernous library. A fire crackled in the fireplace, my father standing before it with a glass of wine in his hands.
I shut the door, not taking a step forward.
Finally, he looked over at me and shook his head.
“That dress… what a damned embarrassment.”
I cleared my throat, ready to defend myself.
“Seemed like a hit, actually.”
“Because taste seems to be in short supply these days. Anyone with a working brain in his or her head would take one look at a princess in a dress like that and know she is a woman of ill morals.”
“Ill morals?”
