Page 49 of The King's Secret Baby

I spread out a blanket on the soft grass and wait until she makes herself comfortable before settling in beside her. As I unpack the picnic basket, my attention catches on the way the dappled sunlight dances across her skin, illuminating the rich undertones in her chestnut hair. Even in her simple sundress, she takes my breath away.

If only one thing was different. If only I weren’t royalty, where would we be now? Back in New York, preparing a nursery for the upcoming baby?

Or would we be somewhere else entirely different? A farm somewhere? A little cottage on a beach?

The location is so unimportant. All that would matter to me is that we’re together.

I clear my throat and get busy arranging our picnic. Strange. I almost got fully lost in a fantasy there. It’s so unlike me.

“What’s this?” Hailey picks up a pastry with fluffy layers of dough and a strawberry paste inside.

“It’s a Werdenfelden treat. They were my mother’s favorites.”

Her face softens. “How do you know that?”

I look down. “Oh. Ah, most of the staff who are in the palace now worked here when she was here. They love to share stories about her.”

Her lips twitch into a smile. “They must have loved her very much.”

“Some people say that she was most adored queen Werdenfeld ever had.”

A silence falls between us as we take time to enjoy our food, the peace of the gardens, and each other’s company. It’s a tranquility that I rarely get to experience, especially these days. And I find myself not wanting it to end.

Hailey finishes her strawberry pastry, humming in satisfaction. The sound goes straight to my heart.

“I can see why your mother liked these.” She licks the remnants of the strawberry paste off her fingers, and the sight does something strange to my heartbeat.

“I’m glad you like it,” I manage to say without losing my composure.

The sun is high in the sky now, its brilliance dappled through the trees overhead. A soft breeze shifts through the leaves, and the heat is begging me to strip off my shirt and lead Hailey to the outdoor swimming pool, the sister pool of the one where I almost got myself in trouble again.

But of course I stay right where I am, all of my clothing firmly on.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, turning my gaze towards her, eager to find something to distract me.

She smiles faintly. “Better.” Her eyes meet mine, brown reflecting warmth in the sunlight. “Thank you for this.”

“Of course,” I reply softly, heart pounding. “I should have done it sooner.”

Her lips twist like she wants to agree, but she ends up not saying anything and instead taking a long drink of lemonade. The guilt simmers in my chest, though. I’m doing everything I can to be a good king, and I hate that it means I can’t be a great man for her.

After a while, she daintily clears her throat. “Your father was beloved, too. I did a lot of research on him before my interview with you, and Werdenfeld clearly loved him as much as they did your mother.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “He was a good man, a great king.”

“And you are following in his footsteps,” she says, her eyes softening.

I grimace at that. How can I tell her that I’ve been feeling like I am not capable of being half the king my father was?

Instead, I deflect with humor. “My feet are definitely bigger than his, though.”

She chuckles, and the sound fills me with warmth. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

I shrug, looking out towards the gardens. She’s amazing. So smart. She sees right through me. “I’m trying,” is all I say.

“I know.” She reaches out, touching my arm lightly, and my skin tingles under her touch. I suppress a shiver and instead turn to look at her, caught in her steady gaze.

We remain silent for a moment, sharing a deep understanding. The connection feels so strong. It’s a tether, linking us in the midst of this chaotic life. I wish we were just two normal people, capable of normal lives. But we’re not.

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