Cara laughs, shaking her head. God, I’ve missed that sound. For most of my childhood, Cara was with us at the castle. Whenever court life became too serious, I could always count on her to cut through it with a laugh.
Where my life has been defined by duty and responsibility, Cara has always been carefree. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to take this trip this year. One last time feeling free until I was chained to my title.
She snorts, shaking her head. “I’m not taking my top off, you pervert.”
“I only asked you to sing me a song.”
She smiles, staring up at the starry sky without answering.
“Come on,” I say. “When we were kids, you wouldn’t stop singing. Your voice was beautiful.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why not?” I nudge her, and Cara turns her head to stare back up at the stars. She doesn’t start singing, and the only sound is the ocean around us.
Finally, after a long silence, Cara sucks in a deep breath.
“I’m leaving,” she says into the night.
“You’re what?”
“I’m leaving. Next week, I leave for the United States, then maybe Farcliff, Canada, and who knows? I want to see the world.” She glances at me, her bright, wide eyes peering deep into my soul. “I applied to a bunch of music schools, but I haven’t gotten into any of them. Most of them didn’t bother replying. Could be a blessing in disguise. This way, I can just leave and see where the wind takes me.” She lets out a long sigh. “I’m thinking I’ll start with Los Angeles. It’ll be relatively warm there, so not too much of a shock to my system after growing up in the Caribbean. I’ll see if I can get a record deal, or at least make some contacts in the music industry. If not, who knows? I can do something else. I always wanted to be a singer, but maybe I’m just not good enough.”
“Bullshit,” I answer. My chest is tight. Cara’s leaving? For good? First my mother, then Luca, and now Cara, too? I clear my throat. “Your voice is amazing.”
“Not according to the dean of admissions for most of the top schools in North America.”
“Whatever. Screw them. Sing me something. I’m your future King.”
“Playing the King card now, huh?” She grins, shaking her head. “What if I refuse?”
“I’ll make you walk the plank. I’ll tie you up to the mast and never let you leave.”
Cara’s laugh rings out in the silent night. “So, life as normal, then. Trapped here to do someone else’s bidding.”
My eyes prickle and a lump forms in my throat. I wasn’t expecting that. It takes me a few seconds to compose myself. “Is this because of Luca?”
She answers with a sigh.
In a way, I’m happy for her. I think Cara deserves to make a new life for herself. She stopped singing around the time she was promised to my brother Luca. It was arranged by our parents, but it still felt natural. They loved each other.
Then, Luca jumped off a cliff and broke his back. He moved to Singapore to get treated, and he pushed us all away. Refused to have us visit. Stopped taking Cara’s calls.
I saw her break. We suffered alongside each other, until we drifted apart.
Maybe leaving is a way for her to heal. To find her voice again.
She deserves a fresh start. Cara’s always been independent, and I doubt even Luca could have kept her in Argyle for long. They would have had a happy, adventure-filled life together while I stayed at home and ran the Kingdom. I was always a little jealous of Luca—and of Cara, too—but my duty to the Kingdom was more important than any spontaneity.
Now, more than ever, my responsibilities have to take precedence. My father is sick, and I know I’ll have to step up soon. In a way, this solstice sailing trip is a goodbye to my youth. I didn’t think it would be a goodbye to Cara, too.
“Do you miss him?” she asks in the silence.
I turn to look at her, the moonlight glowing over her smooth skin. Cara doesn’t meet my eye. She keeps her gaze on the stars as I stare at her profile.
Has she always been this beautiful? Maybe it’s the light of the moon and the gentle rocking of the boat. Maybe it’s the two glasses of wine I had with dinner, but Cara seems to have a glow about her that I haven’t noticed before.