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Much like I predicted, the second the plane touched down earlier this morning, we were greeted by a massive amount of reporters and photographers.Anderson didn’t seem all that bothered by it.Either did Nora.Instead, she held her head high and ignored all the rude questions and comments flung her way.
It helped that Anderson didn’t let go of her hand from the second they stepped off the plane until the instant I dropped them off at his estate.And when I saw the affection in his gaze as he looked at her, I considered that maybe I worried for nothing.
Maybe it won’t be so bad.
Maybe it’s not as big of a deal as I feared it would be.
At least that’s what I thought before my father summoned me to the palace.
It’s the last thing I want to do after being gone for the past several weeks.I just want to go home, even if I’m not quite sure I have a home to go home to.
But I know how these things work.
They need someone to blame for what happened today, and I have a feeling that’s going to be me.
When I reach my father’s office, I pause, mentally preparing myself to get reamed out.
I know I fucked up.Know I should have been more observant and seen the photographer snapping Anderson’s photo.Berating me won’t change things now.
My father doesn’t care, though.He’s never been one to miss an opportunity to remind me just how much I fail to live up to his standards.
There was once a time I might have cared.
While I still take my duty to the crown — to Anderson, in particular — quite seriously, I’m no longer desperate for my father’s approval.
Not when I doubt he’ll ever give it.Too bad it took me thirty-six years to finally realize this.
Drawing in a deep breath, I bring my hand up to the door and knock.
“Come in,” he orders, and I turn the knob, slipping inside.The door’s barely closed behind me when he asks, “Did you know?”
I part my lips, his question taking me by surprise.I’d expected him to scold me for being careless and not seeing the photographers watching Anderson.Keeping the paparazzi far away from the royal family is a huge part of what we do.I hadn’t expected him to ask if I knew about the engagement, though.
“Answer me,” he demands when I don’t immediately respond, his voice a deep rumble.He crosses his arms in front of his broad chest.I can feel the weight of his disappointment pressing down on me like a heavy burden.“This engagement.Did.You.Know?”
I glare at him for several long moments, unflinching and filled with contempt.Then I give a subtle nod.
“For fuck’s sake, Creed.”His chest heaves, face reddening with rage, the vein in his neck throbbing.He clenches his jaw, mouth drawn into a tight line as his nostrils flare.“And you didn’t think to inform anyone?Are you really so dense that you didn’t think his engagement would have far-reaching implications?”
“Anderson—”
“Prince Gabriel,” my father corrects me.
“Prince Gabriel,” I repeat.
But for the first time, referring to him as his regnal title feels strange, especially when these days he truly does feel like my friend again.
“He asked me to keep it to myself for the time being.”
“Did you forget the oath you took?It’s your duty to put the safety of the royal family above all else, regardless of any request Prince Gabriel may have made.You should have foreseen that keeping this to yourself would put his life in danger, particularly if word got out.Which is exactly what happened.”
“He didn’t share it with me in my professional capacity, but as a friend.”
“You are not his friend!” he roars, his voice bellowing against the stark walls of his office, spittle forming in the corners of his mouth.“You never have been.You never will be.You’re his protection officer.Hischiefprotection officer.And if you expect to continue performing these duties that you swore under oath you would, you need to remember what’s important.And that’s the oath you took, Creed.Nothing else.Do you understand?”
“What if I don’t want to perform these duties anymore?”
The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.But this is as good of a time as any to finally tell him.My anniversary date will be here in just six more weeks.It’s time to put the wheels in motion so I can officially start training Kylian to take over.
