Later that night, I tried to sleep, but my mind raced with a million thoughts and worries. Costa Rica, Rhys, whether he would stay on as my bodyguard, the public’s reaction to Nikolai’s abdication and engagement to Sabrina, my grandfather’s health, my debut as crown princess, my move back to Eldorra…
I squeezed my eyes shut. Breathe. Just breathe.
Eventually, I fell into a restless sleep, plagued by nightmares of getting crushed beneath a giant crown in front of the palace while everyone pointed and laughed.
The next morning, I woke up earlier than planned to get ready for my press conference and cover the dark circles beneath my eyes with makeup. I skipped breakfast, not trusting myself to hold the food down, but when Rhys showed up at seven o’clock sharp as promised, he insisted on ordering eggs and a smoothie from room service. No coffee. He said it would help with my anxiety, and surprisingly, it did.
Nikolai’s speech started at eight, and we watched in silence as my brother—clad in his military dress uniform, his face taut but determined—delivered the words that would change Eldorran history forever.
“…I hereby announce that I am abdicating my title of Crown Prince of Eldorra and removing myself from the royal line of succession. This decision did not come easy…”
The audience’s gasps were audible even through the screen, but Nikolai forged on.
Most important decision of my life…
My love for the country…
Succeeded by my sister, Princess Bridget…
I sat stock-still the entire time. I’d known the abdication was coming, but it was surreal to see and hear Nikolai announce it on-screen.
After he ended his speech, the camera switched to a visibly stunned news anchor, but Rhys turned off the TV before I heard what the anchor had to say.
“Do you need a moment?” He radiated such natural confidence and authority it almost soothed frazzled nerves.
Almost.
I had my own press conference coming up soon, and I wanted to throw up.
Yes. Preferably a million moments.
“No.” I cleared my throat and repeated in a stronger voice, “No. Let’s go.”
I checked my hair and clothes one last time before we exited my suite. Everything a royal family member said and wore in public had hidden symbolism, and I’d dressed for battle today in a sleek Chanel suit, heels, and a subtle ruby, gold, and diamond brooch that reflected Eldorra’s flag colors.
The message: in control and ready to take over.
The reality: a complete mess.
As Rhys and I took the elevator down to the lobby, a certain numbness set in, making the world around me fuzzy.
Tenth floor…ninth floor…eighth floor…
My stomach sank further with each floor we passed.
When we reached the lobby, the elevator doors swished open, and I saw a thick crowd of reporters clustered around the hotel entrance, held back only by security. Their shouting reached a crescendo when they saw me, and everyone in the lobby turned to stare at the source of the commotion.
Me.
I’d dealt with the press plenty of times in the past, but this was my first encounter with them as crown princess. It shouldn’t be any different, but it was.
Everything was different.
My breaths turned shallow. Pinpricks of darkness danced at the edge of vision, and my steps faltered.
“Breathe, princess,” Rhys said quietly. Somehow, he always knew. “You are the future queen. Don’t let them intimidate you.”
Inhale. Exhale.
He was right. I couldn’t start my first day in my new role scared and timid. Even if all I wanted was to run to my suite and never come out again, I had responsibilities to fulfill.
I can do this.
I was the future Queen of Eldorra. It was time to act like it.
I took a deep breath, straightened my shoulders, and lifted my chin, ignoring the stares of the other hotel guests as I walked toward the exit and the beginning of my new life.
Part II
21
Bridget
Six weeks later
“His Majesty is ready to see you.” Markus stepped out of my grandfather’s office, his face so pinched he looked like he’d just swallowed a lemon whole.
“Thank you, Markus.” I smiled. He didn’t smile back. He merely gave a quick nod of courtesy before he spun on his heels and marched down the hall.
I sighed. If I thought my becoming crown princess would improve my relationship with Edvard’s closest advisor, I was sadly mistaken. Markus seemed more displeased than ever, maybe because the press coverage after my brother’s abdication had…not been great.
Also not great? My nickname: Part-Time Princess. Apparently, the tabloids did not appreciate all the time their future queen had spent away from Eldorra, and they delighted in questioning my commitment to the country and general suitability for the throne every chance they got.
The worst part was, they weren’t completely wrong.
“I’ll see you tomorrow for the ribbon-cutting,” I told Mikaela, who’d accompanied me to my meeting with Elin earlier regarding image damage control.
“Sounds good.” Mikaela snuck a peek at Edvard’s half-open door. “Good luck,” she whispered.
We didn’t know why my grandfather wanted to speak to me, but we knew it wasn’t good. He didn’t summon me to his office unless it was serious.
“Thanks.” I mustered a weak smile.
Mikaela had been my best friend growing up and was currently my right-hand woman during my training to be queen. The daughter of Baron and Baroness Brahe, she knew everything about everyone in Eldorran high society, and I’d recruited her to help me transition back into Athenberg society. I hadn’t lived here in so long I was completely out of the loop, which was unacceptable for the future queen.
I hadn’t expected her to say yes to such a big task, but to my surprise, she’d agreed.
Mikaela gave my arm a quick squeeze before leaving, and I steeled myself as I entered Edvard’s office. It was a huge, mahogany-paneled room with double-height ceilings, windows overlooking the palace gardens, and a desk large enough to nap on.
Edvard’s face crinkled into a smile when he saw me. He looked far healthier than he had in the weeks following his collapse, and he hadn’t shown any symptoms since the big scare, but I still worried about him. The doctors said his condition was unpredictable, and every day I woke up wondering if that would be the last day I’d see my grandfather alive.
“How’s training going?” he asked after I slipped into the seat opposite him.
“It’s going well.” I slid my hands beneath my thighs to tamp down my nerves. “Though some of the parliamentary sessions are quite…” Tedious. Snooze worthy. So boring I would rather watch paint dry. “Verbose.”
Nobody liked hearing themselves talk more than a minister who had the floor. It was amazing how little one could say using so many words.
Unfortunately, a monarch’s duties included attending parliamentary sessions at least once a week, and my grandfather thought it would be useful for me to get acquainted with the process now.
Ever since I returned to Eldorra, my days had been jam-packed with meetings, events, and “queen lessons” from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep. I didn’t mind, though. It kept my mind off Rhys.