all had their fairy tale made up in their minds. After my brother’s death, they all came again before his body was even buried because they wanted to be the future queen.
Noblemen, politicians, staff, and friends were all pushing women to get close to me. They thought I was still the old womanizing Prince Galahad. I had a baron who tried to introduce his daughters to me at my brother’s damn funeral. I could see the greed and the lust for more in their eyes—all of them salivating at the chance, like wolves over wounded sheep. So, I did not want to see anyone anymore. I focused on working. I buried my head, and in the process, left Odette to overthink and do what I had noticed she did best, jump to action. Run right away from me.
However, I knew she cared.
The way she fought back the tears, the way she held onto me, the way we kissed, I knew she cared more than anyone else ever had. She wanted just me and nothing else.
Finally.
So how could I just let her go?
If it were easy to find a woman like her, I would have found her long before. It was Odette. However, I could not abandon my family or the crown; all I could do was make her feel safe beside me, and I would.
I would fight to keep her this close.
Brushing the hair off her shoulder, I kissed her cheek, then rose from the bed, grabbed my phone, and stepped into the living room, closing the door behind me before I dialed.
“Yes, Adelaar,” Ambrose’s stern voice answered from the other line.
“Do you remember the profile my brother had you create last year?” I asked, walking to the windows. I could see the red roof of the palace in the early twilight hours in the distance.
“Yes, on a Ms. Odette Wyntor.”
“Do you remember what it was for?”
“I was never told what it was for, sir.”
I smirked. “Yes, but I am sure you assumed, did you not?”
“Yes.” He took a moment. “What shall be done now?”
“Now, you will have the staff prepare for her. We will arrive later this morning. I wish for her to be in the room adjacent to mine.”
“That room is meant for your fiancée, sir. Is that what she is?”
“Yes.” I smiled.
There was a long pause on the line.
“Ambrose?”
“Sir, may I speak my mind?”
The smile on my face dropped. “Of course, Ambrose.”
“Prince Arthur had many great plans for this nation. Many ideas that, well, many others did not understand or agree with. However, he had the people’s trust and acknowledgment behind him.”
“Are you saying I do not have that, Ambrose?”
“You are slowly building it, sir, that same trust and acknowledgment. People are coming to see you as the new Adelaar. Anything new may—”
“Ambrose,” I interjected, not wanting to hear anymore. “I am determined. I shall have my way in this.”
“Very well, sir. But there must be a statement,” he said, the tone in his voice changing.
“Then, there will be a statement. I will personally write it and send it to you so you may look it over.” I frowned, leaning against the window as my brother’s face came to my mind.
“Yes, sir, and when do you wish for it to be released?”
“Immediately.”
Another pause before he finally said, “Very well.”
“Ambrose.” I sighed, sincerely wishing it did not have to be this way, praying that she and I were underestimating people's true nature.
“Yes, sir?”
“Before you send out the statement, prepare for everything—the media, the leaks, the gossips, everything. There may be a need for many more statements ahead, I am sure.”
“Understood. We will prepare. But so must you, sir,” he replied.
I snickered, nodding, and let out the air in my lungs. “Do you think we shall survive it?”
“The House of Monterey always survives—somehow.”
I nodded. “We shall see you soon.”
“Very good, sir.”
Hanging up, I turned to go back to the room and found her standing there, sleepy-eyed, and in an oversized robe.
“Jesus!” I held my hand over my heart. “Odette, make a sound! You know I hate when things or people just appear behind me.”
“Fâlipüks,” she replied, calling me a scaredy-cat in Ersovian.
My mouth dropped open. I could not help but smile. “What did you just say?”
“Nothing—”
“No! That was not nothing.” I grinned, rushing over to her as she tried to escape into the bedroom. “Say it again!” I laughed, wrapping my arms around her.
“No!”
“Please?” I held on tighter.
“LäIrak meni.” Odette struggled in my arms telling me to let her