Page 119 of Three's A Crown

“Rosalie?” He seems surprised to see me.

I rush over and he slides out from his desk in time to catch me as I launch myself into his arms.

“I’m so sorry, Auggie. I didn’t mean to be responsible for sending Greyson away,” I say, burying my face in his neck, tears falling down my cheeks heavily.

“Hey, hey there,” Augustine says, pushing my hair away from my face. “This has nothing to do with you. This isallmy father,” he says reassuringly. “I know you would never make me choose between you and Greyson. I know you understand my love for him and my feelings for you too.”

My heart starts beating wildly in my chest.

“Feelings?” I question him.

“Yeah, I feel something for you, Rose. It’s a flutter in my chest when I see you. It’s a little soon isn’t it.”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. I feel it too,” I confess to him.

“Good.” He smiles and kisses my cheeks gently.

“Guess it’s just the two of us now. I’m excited to be on this journey with you, Rose. I don’t regret choosing you that night.”

Oh. That’s so sweet.

“And I don’t regret saying yes that night,” I tell him as I move my hand with the engagement ring on between us. “I don’t regret accepting this either.”

The prince’s eyes soften as he stares at the ring before he brings my hand to his lips and kisses it.

“Did you know that the day after tomorrow they are going to be announcing our engagement publicly to the world,” Augustine explains. “Everything changes. The media are going to have something to say about our engagement. I need you to be prepared. We have the photo shoot for the engagement photos tomorrow, too. If someone hasn’t told you, yet.”

Ah, that must be the letter slipped under my door when I was saying goodbye to Greyson.

“The gossip magazines are going to dig into everything there is about you. But you need to ignore them. Don’t believe anything they write, it is all fictional to sell more magazines.”

This isn’t how I want the people of Friendsburg to see me or get to know me as their future queen. I wanted to have a clean slate away from my father’s past, but that was hopeful thinking. “Are they going to object to us?”

“Hey …” He cups my face. “I won’t let them convince me that anyone else is a better match for me, than you,” he tells me with such conviction I have no option but to believe in him.

“So, it’s you and me against the world?” I grin at him.

“Yes, you and me.” He kisses my nose before picking me up and depositing me back on my feet. “You need to go get ready. You have lunch with my mother, and she doesn’t like tardiness. Go.” He pushes me out the door.

Moments later, one of the footmen is at my door with my sister in tow to escort us to the queen’s parlor on the other side of the palace for lunch. We nervously walk in silence through the endless maze of halls until the footman stops and knocks on the gilded door. Another person opens the door and ushers us into her private space.

The walls are lined with floral silk wallpaper, displaying tapestries and art of various floral scenes. Opulent Persian rugs cover the marble floor, again with floral motives.

“Rosalie, welcome,” the queen greets me as I enter. “And you too, Skylar,” she says, greeting my sister. She then turns and introduces us to her inner circle, who are seated around the room staring at us. They’re all dressed elegantly, with some sipping tea in fine bone china cups, while others are giggling and enjoying a glass of champagne while seated on mint-colored antique chairs. There’s a small table in the middle stacked with towers of pastries, tarts, and delicate sandwiches. The women smile and nod in my direction.

“These are some of my closest friends,” the queen says, then goes around the room introducing the women. They all greet us with warm smiles, seeming friendly enough. “Now, the main reason I wanted to set up this light lunch was firstly to introduce you to my wonderful friends and boast a little over my beautiful soon-to-be daughter-in-law.” The queen gives me a happy smile, which warms my heart.

I’ve never been so welcomed in royal circles before; it’s always been so cold for me and my sisters.

“But we also have the important task of wedding planning.”

My stomach sinks. I thought they had people who did that. I didn’t think they would be interested in any of my ideas—not that I have any.

“We have so much to organize in such little time.” She gives me a blinding, bright-white smile. “We have set up options in the next room for you today to choose from.” She links arms with me, and we walk through the open doors into another room that looks like a wedding planner threw up all over it.

I still, taking in what is set out before me.

Mock wedding tables, vases of flowers, towers of cakes, color swatches, seating plans, and invites. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed, my heart begins to beat erratically.

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