wasn’t just for show. This was serious. For these people, for this country, he was almost almighty. He was their future king.
“This way, Miss Wyntor.” Mr. Ambrose directed me toward the double white doors, which were engraved from top to bottom. Outside were two guards, but they were different from Iskandar. They wore gray, soldier-like uniforms instead of the black suit he did. As we approached, they opened the doors, and I stepped into another wondrous and luxurious room under the watchful gaze of old portraits.
“The queen will arrive shortly. You may wait,” Mr. Ambrose said as I took in the new surroundings. The walls were colored white, but the trimmings were all gold. A single large decorative rug covered the whole room. There were five chandeliers because, why not. One was over a drawing table by the window, another by the piano at a different window, one above each entrance on both sides of the room, and the largest hung in the center. The furniture was a deep brown and stitched, and as I walked farther, I smelled lavender, but I noticed it was coming from the fireplace even though there was no fire.
Above the fire was a large portrait of a man and woman—no, the king and queen. However, it wasn’t Gale’s mother. The woman’s hair in the image was black, not red. And though the king looked similar to Gale’s father, it wasn’t him, either.
“Who are these people?” I asked.
“Those monarchs are King Cornelius IV and his wife, Queen Consort Arabella. They are the predecessors to His Majesty King Lionel III and Queen Consort Elspeth,” Ambrose answered, and I glanced back to see him standing with his head high and chest out. The tone in his voice rang out with pride...and slight annoyance. Was I supposed to know that?
“So, Gale’s grandparents?”
His lips twitched in obvious displeasure. “Royals may use nicknames among each other. However, when addressing anyone else, staff or the public, they must be called by their title and then their first Christian name. Therefore, he is Prince Galahad whenever you are speaking to anyone, not of the House of Monterey.”
“Okay then, so these are Prince Galahad grandparents.”
“Yes, they are,” he answered promptly. “Now, when the queen enters, you must stand. However, you do not need to curtsy again, as you have curtsied once for the day. This, of course, is unless you are at a formal function or dinner with the queen. This is the protocol you will need to remember at all times. All. Times.”
“So tomorrow, I will have to curtsy to her again?” I asked, sitting on the couch, really wishing I had chosen more comfortable shoes.
“Yes.” However, Ambrose was not the one who answered. The queen entered, so I stood right back up. She had changed into a dark-colored, long-pleated skirt and a simple blouse with pearls. The same older woman who I had seen with her this morning was still beside her now.
“How has everything gone so far?” she questioned, coming around the couch, tucking her skirt under before she sat down. “Please, sit.”
“I was told everything turned out well.” But I wasn’t sure.
She looked at Ambrose. “Have them send us copies as soon as possible. We will release them later in the week.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded as maids rolled in a cart of tea, pastries, and fruits. I was grateful, Gale and I had eaten at the hotel because I wouldn’t be okay with just this.
“Julianna, we will have the room now,” she said to the woman, and I now realized who it was that had been running around looking for a purple dress.
“The queen will have the room now,” Julianna stated to the rest of the people who had come in with her as if they had not heard the queen say those words herself.
Nevertheless, one by one, they cleared the room as the queen lifted her cup of tea. They fled as though they were escaping a burning building, and when they had all left, I sat up straighter.
“Please.” The queen outstretched her hand to the table.
“Thank you.” I did not like tea, but I also did not want to be awkwardly munching on food first. So, I took the drink.
“There is so much to say, Odette,” she said, and I sipped. “It was Arthur who convinced me that we needed you—for your money, that is. However, in my eyes, you had many things working against you.”
“Like?” I wanted to keep my questions and answers as short as