Page 26 of Royally F*cked

“Well, I do believe that His Royal Highness has an obligation tonight.” Oscar gives me a hard stare.

“No. No and no,” I immediately protest. I know exactly where he’s going with this, and I’m terrified of what Charlie will say when she finds out.

I nearly forgot about this event myself early in the day when Willow requested a slumber party at my place.

“Yes, Jude. Hear me out,” he pushes back.

Charlie looks back and forth between the two of us. “I’m missing something, aren’t I?”

“Ozzy, I’m warning you.”

“With all due respect, Sir. You’re about to marry Charlie. This is the perfect opportunity to win over the kingdom and perhaps even lessen the blow back from the king.”

“If you value your job…” I threaten.

“Oh, I value my job and you know it. Which is exactly why you need to get caught leaving the children’s hospital tonight with Charlie on your arm. She can be your date to this Prom you’ve put together for the kids. And it’s safe enough that she can tell her parents. Win. Win. You two look like philanthropists of the year and your relationship comes out in a very innocent way.”

“Wait a minute,” Charlie looks up at me with eyes so full of hope and admiration. “All those late nights that you’ve been out on the town…”

This is why I didn’t want anyone to know about all those kids at the hospital. I’m not some kind of superhero and that’s exactly how Charlie’s looking at me right now.

“He spends several nights a week at the local children’s hospital and the orphanage,” Ozzy is more than happy to offer up and fill in the blanks.

“But the papers, the articles on the internet…”

“I thought you said you didn’t read those things?” I question.

“I don’t read the papers, but there is this thing called the internet. It’s kind of hard to avoid your face when it’s literally everywhere,” Charlie rolls her eyes at me. “Don’t think that gets you off the hook though. If you’re spending your nights with children, then what’s the deal with all the pictures and paparazzi slandering you?”

Stuffing my hands into my pants pockets, I blow out a breath. “Ruby gets paid good money to keep my secrets. Those photos are all from events that I have to attend and a very occasional night where I may stop off at a pub for a drink. Ruby leaks them to the press and this guy,” I point to Ozzy, “is responsible for getting me in and out without getting noticed.”

Moisture fills Charlie’s eyes and she swipes away a stray tear or two. “All this time you’ve let people assume that you’re this rebel party boy. Why?”

“It’s simple. I don’t want the media harassing the children that I spend time with.”

“Oh, Jude. You’ve got such a big heart.”

“I’m not some good guy, Charlie.”

“Bullocks,” she softly punches my chest. “You just don’t want anyone to know the real you. That is your real problem.

Ozzy clears his throat interrupting whatever moment passed between me and Charlie before he continues telling us about his plan.

I’ve got to admit, even though I don’t like it - it is pretty brilliant and will buy us the time we need until tomorrow.

“If we’re going to pull this off, we need to move quickly. Charlie is going to need something to wear, and I assume she’ll need hair and make-up as well,” I tell him.

“Already taken care of. Agnes has called in a favor to her daughter and she’s coming over with some dresses and a ‘glam squad’ as she put it.” Ozzy beams, clearly proud of himself.

“And what exactly would you have done if I said no to this idea?” I challenge him.

“Your Royal Highness, how long have we known each other? I know that you trust me, and we both know that there are times where you actually do as I say. This is one of those times.”

I chuckle and flip him off. “I wouldn’t advise getting too comfortable with oneself, Oscar.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Sir.” He smirks back at me. “Miss Charlotte, I suggest you contact your parents at the end of the night and let them know that you’ve decided to wait until morning to return to the palace so as to not disturb anyone with your arrival. Or, if you’d like, I would be more than willing to reach out to them personally to let them know you’re safe with myself and Prince Jude.”

“You would do that, for me?”

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