Mother's Approval

Luke

When the palace came into view in the distance, I squeezed Sophia’s hand. Mine was slick with sweat, but I didn’t let go.

“I love you,” Sophia said. I snapped back to reality and looked at her. “I don’t know what else to say, so I wanted to leave you with that. No matter what happens, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Thank you,” I said. “That helps.”

“Here we go,” she muttered as the palace gates opened for us. “This view never gets old.”

She stared out the window at the palace grounds. Even though I’d spent a majority of my life living in the palace, we had the same view of it. Each time I returned home, I always marveled at the beauty. The palace had been my second chance at life, and I had promised myself I would never take it for granted.

Either the car moved at warp speed, or my sense of timing was off. Before I knew it, the driver was out of the car and holding my door open.

One of the valets was already helping Sophia out of the car.

As I didn’t want Mother to attack my fiancé fi