Page 137 of The Backup Princess

I wait in the gardens of the royal palace in Villadorata. It’s adorned with fairy lights strung from tree to tree, under which a fountain glows in the soft light. The full moon is out in all its glory, casting ethereal shadows across the scene. Vladimir’s ever watchful eye is scanning the scene as I await my introduction to the Court of Ledonia.

Tonight is the Lunar Ball to celebrate the first full moon of Fall. Although the palace is stunning, the gardens beautiful, and everyone is in whimsical costumes, it’s impossible for me to take it all in.

My mind is elsewhere.

Since the day my grandparents told me I would have to give up my position in line to the throne to marry Alex, it’s all I’ve been able to think about. Through my visit to a homeless shelter, a dinner with the French Prime Minister and his wife, and my journey here this afternoon to Villadorata, the capital city of Ledonia, it’s been eating away at me.

I know I need to talk to Alex about it, but this is definitely the sort of thing I’ve got to do in person. I can’t exactly call him and say, hey, you know how we’ve kissed a few times now and told each other we’ve got feelings for each other? Well, I’m jumping 723 steps ahead to us falling in love and getting married, and I’ve got something I need to tell you.

Nope. No way.

I mean, what guy wants to hear that from someone he’s barely even begun to date?

So, tonight it is, the first time I’ve seen Alex since my conversation with my grandparents.

Nervous? Me?

My stomach’s doing more flips than a rodeo clown.

My delicate, translucent fairy wings sit high on my back, my strapless ivory floor-length gown’s light layers whimsical. I’m Drew Barrymore in Ever After, telling myself to just breathe. Only I don’t have an evil stepmother about to tear my wings from my dress. Instead, I’ve got the weight of an impossible decision, choosing between my family, my new country, and him.

The man I love.

“Ready, miss?” Vladimir asks in an echo of my first royal event, back when I was a nervous little mouse being presented to Malveaux as a princess for the first time.

Oh, how times have changed.

I might not be that frightened little mouse anymore, but this is not how I pictured tonight.

I bite down on my lip. My mind is spinning. Tonight I should be dancing on Cloud 9, full of joy and giddiness, in love for the first time in my life, and with the most wonderful of men.

I’m not.

I’m torn, my heart cracking in two.

I suck in a breath and force my shoulders to drop.

I’ve got this.

Saying it in my head doesn’t make me feel like I do.

I pull my lips into a line and nod.

It’s time.

Vladimir offers me his hand as the gates are pulled open, and I step out as my name is announced.

“Princess Madeline of Malveaux,” the herald announces, and just as they did at my presentation in Malveaux, every set of eyes at the Lunar Ball turns to look at me, standing high up on the stone steps, feeling absolutely alone.

I force a smile, telling myself this will be over soon.

Just breathe.

Then I spot him.

Alex.

My heart throbs with unspoken words. Words of love.

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