Page 11 of Royally Benevolent

“Emergency?” Wyatt asked, sweet face concerned.

“I guess. I must go. Apologies. I’ll email you,” I said. “We can continue this. I’d like to know more about grants.”

Wyatt nodded, looking slightly disappointed. I made an impression—only to be pulled away. I could have strangled Karin if it wasn’t her job to handle me like this. She was only doing her best to keep my world spinning.

Me

I’m coming, okay? Don’t squeal. I’ll meet you at the back door.

I crossed the street, praying no one saw me sticking out like a sore thumb in an evening gown. Annoyed, I entered the car.

Karin glared. “Don’t do that again.”

“How did you know I ran off?”

“Because we pulled the security footage. You escaped with the billionaire. He’s more than a decade older,” Karin said. “It’s ridiculous.”

She was always blunt, but why did she seem so cruel today? I’d lived a moment of freedom; all she could do was pull me back downand remind me this wouldn’t work. I set my jaw defiantly as the motorcade rolled back to the palace. I wouldn’t apologise for getting a rare moment to myself.

“I will not say anything,” Karin agreed. “But only because I think you don’t want to be put back on desk duty again—nor do I.”

“Thanks.”

I wasn’t as grateful as I was relieved. I didn’t know why everyone around me got to be wild—everyone but me. I had to be an angel.

At the palace, I slumped on the family room couch, watching a reality show. Contestants were allowed only to text one another and given nothing more than a messenger handle. They had to propose via text and marry in a month.

“That show is terrible!”

Rick entered and sat on the other couch.

“Says the man who married the woman he was set up with,” I chuckled. “In record time, too.”

“I still wish you saw it as a fairytale,” Rick sighed. “You finding out it was a setup and our love only a happy accident broke me. Ingrid was too nosey.”

Rick and Alexandra’s marriage had been one of convenience—initially. However, they fell for one another. By the time they said ‘I do,’ they were in full-blown love. Alexandra sanitised most of this because Ingrid and I were still so young. We looked at it with rose-coloured glasses, thinking Rick was a white knight who had come to save us from the regency and evil grandmother who controlled our lives.

“Ingy is always nosey,” I said. “She and Astrid are too clever.”

“Damn them both.”

We both watched TV for a moment.

“It might be nice, honestly,” I said. “Any recommendations? It’s my only chance to find someone, Rick.”

“Nonsense.”

“Why are you up?”

“I had a toddler yowling at me. I didn’t want Lex to wake,” Rick said. “He’s settled now. Why are you back so soon?”

“The event ended when the fire alarm went off. I have no idea if it was legitimate.”

“That’s too bad. But it was otherwise fine?”

I shrugged.

“What aren’t you telling me, kid?” Rick asked affectionately.

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