Page 28 of The King's Secret Baby

I raise my eyebrows, impressed by his longevity and loyalty. “We’re lucky to have you and your expertise.”

He nods, a pleased smile crinkling his weathered face. “It is my greatest honor to serve the crown.”

As he returns to his work measuring me, I catch Hailey’s eye in the mirror. She grins, and I return it, a moment of levity amidst the weight of my responsibilities. But I quickly look away, reminding myself to focus on the task at hand — which, right now, is merely standing as still as possible.

The tailor sends me behind a curtain to dress in Werdenfeld’s traditional coronation outfit: loose pants, a vest with the royal crest on its chest, and a fur-lined cape.

When I step out from behind the curtain, the man steps back, surveying his handiwork with a critical eye. “Wonderful, sir. I believe we’re finished. Take a look.”

I turn to face the full-length mirror, and my breath catches in my throat. The man staring back at me looks every inch a king, from the perfectly tailored suit to the regal set of his shoulders. It’s a stark contrast to the carefree prince I once was, and for the first time, my new role feels less a burden and more a blessing.

Hailey moves to stand beside me, her reflection joining mine in the mirror. Her eyes meet mine, and I’m surprised to see pride shining in their depths. “You look like a true leader, Luca,” she says softly, her voice filled with sincerity.

Her words send a warmth spreading through my chest, and I stand a little taller, feeling bolstered by her belief in me.

“Thank you,” I murmur, holding her gaze for a moment longer than strictly necessary.

The tailor clears his throat, breaking the spell. “If that will be all, sir?”

I nod, tearing my eyes away from Hailey’s. “Yes, thank you. You’ve done an excellent job, as always.”

He bows deeply, a pleased flush coloring his cheeks, before shuffling out of the room. As soon as the door closes behind him, Hailey turns to me, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.

“I think he might actually be older than the castle itself,” she quips, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, the first genuine one in days. “I’m pretty sure he dressed my great-great-grandfather,” I reply, feeling the tension drain from my shoulders.

Hailey’s smile widens, and for a moment, it’s just the two of us, sharing a joke like old friends. But reality quickly reasserts itself, and I sober.

“We should go,” I say, already moving towards the door. “I have a meeting with my advisors.”

I quickly change, leaving my coronation attire on a hanger, and Hailey wordlessly falls into step beside me. As we walk, I risk stealing a few glances at her, marveling at the way she manages to be both a comforting presence and a tempting distraction all at once. I know I should keep my distance, focus on my responsibilities, but a part of me yearns to lean on her, to let her ease the burden of my new role.

“I need to pop into my study,” I say. “Collect my notes.”

Her nod is perfunctory. “Of course.”

In my study, I try to focus on gathering my papers — I prefer to use longhand rather than typing — but it’s like my body is buzzing to be closer to Hailey.

“I don’t know where I put them.” I straighten up from my desk, increasingly frustrated. I’m normally very organized.

“Are those them?” Hailey points.

“Where?”

She picks up a small notebook from my desk. “These.”

“Oh. Yes. They were right under my nose.”

I reach up to take the notebook from her, but neither one of us lets go. Instead, we stand stock-still, frozen in time, our gazes locked.

The room blurs around us, and my breathing picks up. Hailey’s pupils dilate, and her pink lips part. I actually salivate, remembering how that mouth tastes, how?—

The door to my study bursts open, and Stefan rushes in, his face pale and his eyes wide with alarm. “Your Majesty,” he says, slightly out of breath.

I swiftly step back from Hailey, taking my notebook with me. “Stefan,” I snap, irritated.

Not once has he ever burst in to a room like this. What was he thinking?

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