Page 71 of Royally Benevolent

The kicker was when Princess Astrid spoke.

“Wyatt, will you join us as Odette’s plus one for the wedding?”

My look of sheer surprise did me no favours.

“Um… we haven’t discussed it,” I said.

“Asti!” Odette groaned. “Let it go.”

“I am leaving it out there as an option. We’d love you to join us,” Astrid said.

That wouldnotbe happening. I had to end this idea of anything serious before it began. I once had a plan for life—a simple, calm life with the person I loved. It wasn’t meant to be grand, but instead comfortable. This wasn’t it. I panicked. Now, I did nothavea plan. I’d been holding the things all this time, unable to look forward. Until Odette’s interest, I’d not even contemplated what prospective thinking could feel like again. And now? Now, I was sure this was headed in the wrong direction.

40

SILENCE

ODETTE

“Are you alright?” I whispered to Wyatt.

“What?”

“You’ve grown quiet.”

“Oh, I’m just… tired.”

“Look, what Astrid said, I don’t want it to freak you out. I did not know she’d start on that?—”

“It’s okay,” Wyatt said.

A smile crossed his face—one that was put on for my sake. Had I miscalculated here? He’d wanted to see me. I figured it might be fun for Theo. Now, he didn’t look happy at all. I worried I’d done something wrong to upset him or made it weird somehow. Was it because I didn’t kiss him upon arrival? Given that we weren’t together and Theo was there, that seemed inappropriate.

“Oh. Sorry.”

He didn’t look at me.

Down the table, Linnea helped Theo butter a roll. These were the moments I felt so grateful for. These were the reasons I loved being alive. It sounds trite, but moments like these anchored you if you’d ever circled the drain and wondered if you were more trouble than you were worth or if living mattered anymore. Connection, love, and familypulled me through. I knew my family loved me and my niblings needed me.

As dessert arrived, the children exploded in sheer excitement. They had no idea how lucky they were to get dessert. We weren’t permitted any processed sugar as children. Our lives were joyless and regimented. Well, at least mine and Ingrid’s. I lived to see their happy faces light up as they dipped into a slice of chocolate gateau. They had all the good stuff I never did.

“Look, I don’t think I can stay much longer,” Wyatt said. “He’s got bedtime and I’m totally exhausted.”

“Oh.” My face fell, even if I was trying to remain pleasant. “Okay. Well, another time?”

He nodded.

I felt him pulling away. I picked at my dessert. Confused about this bizarre rejection, I questioned everything. Hours before, he checked in and begged me to spend time with him. Now, he couldn’t be bothered to even smile. What had I done wrong?

After dinner, I walked with Wyatt and Theo to the service entrance. He packed Theo in the car and waited by the driver’s seat door.

“So, another time? Maybe when we’re both feeling better?” I asked, hoping he would say yes.

“I’m going to be busy,” Wyatt said. “I uh… I’ll see you at the board meeting?”

My heart sank like a stone. I fought tears, returning to my dead poker face as I stepped back. I struggled to conceal my emotions, unlike Alexandra and Astrid, who had mastered this ability. Wyatt didn’t look at me for even a moment. He drove away, and I worried what I’d done wrong.

41

---