Page 15 of The Reluctant Wife

I look up from readingThe Owl Who Was Afraid of the Darkinto the faces of the children in the room. We’re at the inner-city school I handpicked for this engagement. I love children and, given a choice, I’d rather spend time with them than at yet another boring, official event shaking hands with dignitaries of state. I selected one of my favorite children’s books and brought along my own copy to read to the kids. Not that all of them are interested in it.

One of the little boys is scribbling into his notebook with his pencil, another little girl has her fingers linked together and a frown on her face as she glances at the door. A third boy looks out the window. There are a few in the front who look back at me with blank faces.

At the back of the room, the teacher wrings her hands in distress, no doubt, worried that she’s going to be called to the principal’s office for not getting her class to listen to the princess who deigned to drop by.

"Woooo!" I cup my palms around my mouth and pretend to hoot. The little boy stops scribbling in his book and peeks up at me from under his eyelashes.

"Woooohooo?" I hoot again…this time, with a question mark at the end, in the hope of getting more of a response.

The little girl shoots me a sideways look. The boy who’s been scribbling in his notebook lets the pencil drop from his hand.

Ryot, who’s positioned by the doorway, flicks a glance in my direction. He’s been still since he walked in, except for his head which constantly roves the room as if he’ll find danger lurking in the corners. Our gazes meet and it’s as if a truck slams into me, then he continues with his perusal of the space. The breath I didn’t know I was holding shudders out.

"Wooohooo hoo hoo." I jerk my head toward the kids to find the same boy who was scribbling in his book earlier smirking in my direction.

He lowers his hands to his sides. "That’s not what an owl sounds like.”

"No?" I stifle my own smile. At last, I have their attention. "How does an owl sound?"

He obligingly cups his palms around his mouth and hoots. Some of the kids giggle.

Then, a girl and another boy join him, and suddenly, there are a bunch of them hooting back at me. I burst out laughing and hoot with them.

The hair at the back of my neck prickles. I sense his gaze and turn in his direction to find Ryot staring at me. There’s a weird look in his eyes—one of surprise and confusion. Guess he didn’t expect me to get childish with the kids? His gaze sweeps past me as he continues his perusal of the classroom. I feel bereft at once. Why is that? Why should meeting his eyes this way affect me so much? It’s as if we’re connected by an invisible thread that lets me know exactly where he is in the vicinity.

I push away thoughts of him and focus on the children. "One, two, three, eyes on me." I raise my hand in the air.

The reading continues without incident. I bid the kids good-bye and leave the classroom without meeting Ryot’s gaze.

I wave at the photographers gathered outside the school but decline to comment.

The rest of my protective detail stand guard as I board the vehicle, with Ryot walking around to slide back inside with me. Within seconds, the entourage is on its way.

My phone vibrates with a message. I pull out the device and glance at the message from my assistant.

Veronica: Your Highness, I am so very sorry I couldn’t stay for the rest of the reading. I had to leave to take care of something. Rest assured; I will message soon with an update.

I frown. On the face of it, there’s nothing wrong with her message. But her unfailing politeness often grates on my nerves. Still, she’s good at her job, which is why I keep her on. On the other hand, evenshegets to drive herself. I push that thought of my head.

My phone vibrates again.

Veronica: Some of the biggest clothing brands from Paris want to set up appointments for you to try on clothes from their upcoming collections. Would next month work for you?

Me: Tell them I won’t be needing clothes from them this season.

Veronica: But Your Highness, you have always bought clothes from their new lines every year.

Me: Tell them it’s part of my drive to be environmentally conscious. I’ll be recycling clothes from my wardrobe until further notice.

Veronica: Are you sure, Your Highness? This is a great opportunity to have access to the latest fashion trends. It’s bound to result in a boost to your social media profiles.

I frown. Sometimes I think Veronica is too taken in with the image of a Royal Princess. She’s party to the sweat and tears that go into building my public persona, so she should know, that’s all it is. A persona. But she seems too enamored by the glamorous front I try to present.

Me: Thank you for your feedback. And you’re right. It’s a great opportunity. But at this stage it doesn’t fit in with my plans so I’m going to have to sadly refuse.

Not to mention, I won’t have the budget to buy from any of these brands in the near future. Not when my country is on the brink of economic collapse.

Veronica: Of course, Your Highness. I will let them know.

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