Theo looks up at me and says, “Keller, take a seat.”
I sit down on the same settee as Lilly, but I put at least two feet between us. Theo looks between us, and I know he knows when the corner of his lip twitches. Nothing gets by him.
But, being the classy man he is, he doesn’t start the conversation with the knowledge that Lilly and I are an item. Instead, he says, “Lilija, tell me, how do you like it in Torskethorpe?”
“Honestly, I love it.” She smiles. “Granted, it took me a moment, but after I got used to the perpetual sun and the summer weather, which doesn’t even come close to the heat of Miami, I started to immerse myself. I found little pieces of the house I grew up in all around Harrogate. I know there was a falling out between my mom and you, but I want you to know that there was so much of this country that she kept close to her heart and instilled in me without me even knowing about it. And with every day that went by with training, the hidden secrets my mom planted started to unfold.”
“Really?” Katla asks.
“Truly,” Lilly says. “And the more Keller taught me, the more I realized that this country I knew nothing about has been my home all along.”
Theo’s eyes widen as he grips the cane between his legs now. “Wait, Lilija, are you saying . . . are you saying you’re going to stay?”
Lilly glances at me and then back at Theo. “I am. I’ve thought long and hard about it, and even though I loved my life in Miami, I felt a piece of me was missing. When I came here, I found that piece. This feels right. This feels like home.”
King Theo clutches his chest as he leans back on the settee, his eyes misting with tears. “My darling, you have no idea the joy you’ve brought us, brought this country.”
“It was more of a selfish decision on my end. Being here, it feels like I’m close to my mom again.”
“Well, your decision feels heroic to us,” Theo says. “I’m just—I’m beyond words. I don’t know what to say.”
“I do,” Katla says, placing her hand on Theo’s leg. Queen Katla has never treated Theo with anything but utter adoration, their PDA never concealed. She’s not a cold woman, but a slightly broken one. Proud, yet sad. I know that deep within there is a warm-hearted woman who longed for restoration with her estranged daughter. And now she has a chance in some ways. “It takes a courageous woman to fly to a foreign country, find out she’s a princess, and being the remarkable adult that she is, accept the responsibility that’s been handed down to her. I know I’ve done some heinous acts in the past regarding communication with my children, but, Lilija, I need you to know that I’ll spend the rest of my time making up for it. I’m a stubborn woman, but I also know where I’ve wronged this country, and pushing my children away is my fault. Having you here, it feels almost like I don’t deserve it.”
“Katla,” Theo says softly. “We’ve spoken about this.”
“I know, but I need Lilija to know where I stand.” She levels herself with Lilly. “And I stand with you, Lilija. I shall be your backbone, your support, your concierge. I’ll be everything you need.”
“How about a grandma?” Lilly asks softly. “Never really had one of those, and it was what I was excited about most when coming to Strombly.”
Katla’s eyes now well up as she nods. “Yes, yes, I can do that for you.”
“There’s a lot I don’t know about you guys, and I would love to spend some time getting to know you. And maybe you can show me some of the things my mom made. Maybe some pictures of when she was younger?”
“We would be most pleased to do so,” Katla says. “Is there anything else you request?”
“Um, well, not sure you need to know this, but . . .” She twists her hands together and looks at me, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Fuck, she’s going to tell them. “Keller, well, he’s . . . uh, we’re sort of an item.”
Theo smirks.
Katla shifts her attention to me.
And a light sweat breaks out on my upper lip.
“Is that so?” Theo asks. “Keller, care to explain?”
“Yes, sir,” I say. “Although I know it’s not in my position to let my personal business mingle with my professional, and I apologize for that, I attempted to avoid getting involved with Lilly, but as time went on, that was harder and harder to do.”
“I didn’t make it easy on him, either,” Lilly says. “And I didn’t tell him I was going to admit this, so he’s caught off guard, but I want to be open with you both. Keller means a lot to me. He’s been my lifeline during this whole process. If I could request anything, it would be that we’re allowed to continue to date, because I would be devastated if that wasn’t allowed.”