Page 17 of Royally Benevolent

He’s a real piece of shit.

“Can I go?”

“No, sweetie. It’s not that type of day. What about we go to Legoland this weekend—just the two of us? Is that something to look forward to?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Theo groaned.

I gave him a big kiss on the cheek and hopped up. “Be good, buddy.”

Today, I had to converse pleasantly at a ribbon cutting for Neandia’s first smart bus rapid transit system station. It was the first of a dozen to be deployed in the next two years. This bus highway was designed based on data we mined, and it was meant to adjust over time to user needs and behaviour.

Prince Rikard—known to most as Rick—waited for me. Secretly, I’d hoped Rick would be replaced by his sister-in-law. The Mayor was deeply invested in a conversation with cronies. So, as awkward as it was talking to a prince, I sucked it up and approached the otherstakeholder I needed to impress. Yes, they’d paid us for this. Yes, we’d done it for less than I might have charged any other government. But at the end of the day, it was a contract with much meaning. I cared about this relationship.

“Mr Worthington!” Prince Rikard gave me an incredibly firm handshake. “How are you?”

“Fine, you, Your Royal Highness?”

“Oh, doing well, thanks. My wife sends her regards. She’s still a bit under the weather.”

“Apologies,” I said. “And thank you. What are we waiting on?”

I was hoping itmightstill be his sister-in-law.

“Mayor Blowhard,” The Prince whispered.

I snickered. “That’s a good one. I’ll remember it, but remind myself not to call him that.”

“Yeah, I shouldn’t, but I must,” Prince Rikard said. “He asked me if my youngest sister-in-law was single. She’s twenty-one. I told him that’s not my business, and he asked me for her number.”

I shuddered. Mayor Bouchard was a tall, thin man in his seventies. His face drooped like a Saint Bernard’s might. Given his many spottings at live sex shows across the Low Countries and noted history of being thrown out of said shows, it was safe to assume the Mayor wasn’t beyond hitting on a twenty-one-year-old princess. I suspected she’d never consider it, but also that Rick would have physically ended the old man over any advances made to his younger sisters-in-law.

“Appalling.” I shook my head.

I didn’tdislikePrince Rikard. He was affable, fairly casual, and nothing like his wife. She was what you might expect from a queen—quiet, controlled, formal. Rikard was the life of the party, but hanging withanyroyals was awkward.

“The bastard never reads the room. Well, anyhow, enough about that dickhead. How are you?”

“I’m good, thanks. I’m ready to see this project finally underway here.”

“Me as well. Even Blowhard didn’t stop it.”

I laughed and shook my head. I looked down the street to see awoman in head-to-toe pink winter riding gear flying by on a Dutch e-bike. I knew it was Odie. I smiled and tried not to think about her.

Rick followed my gaze. “There she goes. Odette probably would have enjoyed being here today but had other things to do.”

Other things. Either shedidhave other things, or she was avoiding me. I grimaced. She never emailed back, and there she was out in the world. I worried maybe I frightened her by beingtooinsistent. Perhaps it was pointless? I was a little annoyed. I’d thought there was something there—a hope for progress, possibly. I shouldn’t think about her, but she was so positive. I’d wanted to believe her.

He knew we’d met. By the look on his face, he suspected this caught me off guard.

“She said you all talked the other night,” Rick explained. “She’s taking over that patronage and got Alexandra and me up to speed.”

Oh, really? Then why did she blow me off?

“So, will she be around at future events?” I asked.

“Yes. Today, she had a long-booked appointment that wouldn’t have given her enough time to make it. I know she ismuchmore charming than I am.”

I coughed nervously. “Oh, that’s not what I meant. I meant… she’s passionate about bikes! I appreciate her interest in fixing that intersection. It’s dangerous. If she is supportive, a charm offensive might get the Mayor on board with allowing a traffic survey for that junction?”

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