Page 14 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

I shook the thought away as a frown fell heavily on my brows. I’d come to the library to return the books piling up in my office and take a five-minute break, not be distracted further.

In the library, my steps were silenced by the thick red carpet rolled out through the middle, and dark wooden shelves and bookcases lined either side, not a single one empty. I didn’t notice it at first, but the further I walked down, the clearer the murmur of voices coming from the back became.

I recognised the timbre of my younger brother’s voice immediately. But the softer, familiar feminine voice… Who was that with Adam?

Suddenly, the woman’s voice shot through the library. “Adam!”

“Esmeralda!”

Esmeralda? As in Princess Esmeralda?

The piercing clatter and bang that followed rang through me so loudly that I lost all hearing before fear and concern for Adam slammed me into action.

I dropped the books in my hands, scattering them across the floor, and rushed to the other end. I nearly stumbled into one set of table and chairs as I came to a stop. And the sight…

Princess Esmeralda stood over my little brother where he was sprawled on the floor by a fallen chair. A teacup in her hands tipped in his direction. Its content gone.

A lion’s roar of protective rage tore through me

She’d spilt tea on Adam. She’d burned him. She’d hurt Adam like Meg had.

“What on Neves is going on?” I didn’t recognise the booming voice that left me.

Their heads flew up, but I directed all my anger at the wide-eyed princess.

Fuck, I should have known. After catching her trying to go into my room the night before, I should have known she was going to cause more trouble. But I made the mistake of giving her the benefit of the doubt. Hadn’t I learnt my lesson already?

I charged over to Adam, taking his arm and pulling him up to his feet. It completely slipped my mind that I was a prince, bred in the way of politeness when I saw the spillage stain over Adam’s left thigh. I flew around to stare down the princess. “What did you do to him?”

She flinched, shrinking into herself, and I should’ve felt guilty for speaking that way to a woman, but I didn’t. Couldn’t and wouldn’t—not if it meant my family got hurt again.

“It’s not…” She shook her head and scrambled to put the teacup down on the table. “I didn’t—”

Adam tugged at my arm, futilely trying to pull me away from her. “Kai, relax. It was an accident.”

“An accident? How was spilling tea on you an accident?”

“That isn’t what happened, Prince Kai,” Princess Esmeralda stuttered. “I didn’t—I wasn’t—”

“Then how was Adam burnt?”

She flinched again, her warm golden skin turning red and blotchy over her cheeks and neck.

“Would you just listen first before yelling,” Adam said.

“I’m sorry.” She shook her head, her greyish-brown eyes growing damp. “I didn’t mean—”

I’d heard more than enough. I needed her to leave before I caused an international scandal by raging at another state’s princess. But I couldn’t just let her get away with hurting Adam without consequences either.

“Leave the library now,” I snarled, “before I inform King Kareem of the antics you’ve been pulling.”

I had never in my life seen anyone visibly blanch the way she did. Turning so pale she almost looked bloodless, her eyes so dark and stricken she looked near lifeless. It was as if I hadn’t threatened to tell on her but threatened to torture her with ancient instruments.

I felt a pang of guilt fire through my chest.

Silently, she straightened her spine, yet she looked so small and fragile like an injured bird. Hardly able to look me in the eyes as she clasped her hands in front of herself. “I apologise. It was my fault,” she muttered, her voice steady but barely above a whisper.

And then she walked away. Shoulders back, chin high. Strong and regal.

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