Caroline’s POV:
"I am glad Your Highness obeyed me last night," Lucille murmured in my ear as she did my makeup in the morning. Not that there were official engagements during the day today, but I was the Princess of Tresoria, and I had to present myself in the best possible way at any time. Sometimes I missed looking at myself in the mirror without makeup, as if all cosmetics were a mask for the world, but it was not in the right tone and I would be highly disapproved of by my mother and Madame Tremblay if I were not in my best, especially while Stephan was visiting. Morning makeup would be light and quick, because today there was so much to do, so the last thing I had to worry about right now was my outfit and grooming.
I had breakfast in my own room, as I had arranged with my mother, and as soon as I was ready, I went to her private tearoom, whic
Caroline’s POVThe ball's dinner was an exclusive event that reporters would not have access to, save for a famous and influential columnist for the country's largest media outlet (and a friend of the royal family), who, according to my father, would portray the private event in a candid and discreet way. In other words, my father or probably someone in his staff would review any material about the dinner before it was published. He always did that. The "freedom of the press" that he claimed our country had was actually restricted to what he wanted to be published. However, the lack of cameras and reporters made me a little more comfortable. Stephan was certainly the main guest of the evening and drew more attention than his own parents, who actually held the noble title of his family. Sitting next to him and being introduced as half of this couple brought me some attention that I wasn't used to. Knowing how to behave was one thing. Carrying my
Chapter Eleven: The Disastrous NightCaroline’s POV:"Miss? We need to go right now," one of the guards told me, but I was in shock. I could not move even if I could.There had been attacks near the royal residences before, but nothing frominwardthe gates, and on a day like this when the castle was full of guests.All I could think about was Lord Hammond, who was hanging on to his life, as far as I could tell. I had not seen anything, luckily, but that did not stop my brain from creating an image of that kind-hearted man lying on the ground with his body all bloody."She's in shock, sir," the guard told someone, and I think it was Stephan.“Your Highness? Your Highness?" Stephan told me and gently shook my shoulders before continuing, "We need to get out of here. We're not safe."After Stephan shook me, I shook my head to wake up from my daze and it seems li
Caroline’s POV:The day after the disastrous ball was marked by an emergency meeting between my father and his advisers, trying to minimize the impact of the news that came out on the media. Normally, I would be pretty upset about not being asked to attend this meeting, but I did not really feel like leaving my room.I ate all meals in my room and we spent the day, Lucille and I, trying not to talk about the bomb that went off yesterday in the middle of the dance. I was far away, by luck or fate, so all I could think of was hearing the noise and then being locked in one of the castle's shelters, but Lucille had seen the horror up close, and from what she told me, she could not remove from the image out of her head of Lord Hammond bloodied next to the bomb.It was really lucky that she was on the other side of the window where the bomb had been dropped and had been scared by the s
Chapter Thirteen: The improvised cleaningCaroline’s POV:As time passed, the mood in the palace calmed down again, thank heavens, and we were soon back to our normal routine. The routine we had even before Stephan was invited to the palace as my future fiancé. Gradually, I went back to attending council meetings with my father, but this time I had a different strategy: I would keep my mouth shut so that none of the lords would give my father any more absurd advice. So, I went into the meeting, took notes, even wrote down my personal opinions, but I did not volunteer to suggest anything. The lords in the council would look at my new posture as if I had a change of heart, but I was not going to them that this was more a strategy than acceptance of their plan.In my mind, they were all wrong because the lords liked to oppress the people with more taxes, compulsory military service, and misery. I wo
Caroline’s POV:I spent a few days training for the fateful inspection and trying to master my fear of horses until finally the day of the ceremony of the troops had arrived. I was in a ridiculously puffy sundress for the occasion. There was so much tulle and lace it was unbelievable. Since I would probably do something awkwardly and it was very sunny, Lucille managed to get me a very large hat, which covered most of my face. Everyone would know it was me there, but few could say anything about the face I would make when I felt embarrassed, and I was sure that would happen.At ten to eleven in the morning, with the sun already very hot, we were all there on the small platform set up in the winter garden. Reporters were present and photographed our smiles and greetings but were not allowed to ask direct questions under my father's new press policy. At eleven o'clock my father, mother, and I were led to our horses
Caroline’s POV:The rest of the week flew by and then finally it was Friday, when my parents would leave the Palace on a little hunting trip. My father was the most excited about hunting, but there would be a whole entourage with them, including the lords, a good part of their families and some of the maids and jacks from the palace. Everyone was preparing to depart today after breakfast, and I was preparing myself to have the whole weekend for me.I opened my eyes that morning a little happier. Not that I did not love my parents, but there was so much pressure for everything to be perfect when they were around that I could not help feeling the pressure ease a little in their possible absence.My mom came to my room early in the morning, unannounced, and I was still getting ready for breakfast. When she walked through the doors, Lucille was finishing the last touches of my already impeccable makeup.
Liam’s POV:I had arrived at the Palace a few days ago and was still getting used to the discipline and schedules that the Palace guards had to keep. I was a recent graduate of the military academy in Tresoria and came from a family that traditionally served in the army. Not necessarily because we had some sense of duty to the country, but unfortunately because military service was mandatory and was perhaps the highest-paying job in the region where I came from.I must confess that I was new here, but I had already experienced some very curious episodes, like on my first day here, when we were being inspected by the royal family, for example, there was an incident with the princess who fell off her horse and the only reason she did not hit the ground was because I had reflexes fast enough to catch her before she was hurt. She appreciated my gesture, but not even looked me in my eyes to thank me. I also won a per
Caroline’s POV:The impromptu employee party took place on Saturday night, and since Sunday everything seemed in perfect order. Not all employees were working, and as Lucille said around, Sunday was Olivia's day off, so I enjoyed the quiet day in my room.I knew that the palace servants believed the princess was a recluse, and some of them even felt sorry for the princess and thought that perhaps she was ill. I did not pay attention to these conversations because it was all people's speculation. But the fact is that I often felt so comfortable around them as Olivia that I dreaded the day when I would have to reveal to everyone that I was Caroline. Surely, they would treat me differently, and I could not blame them. So, I decided that I would take this farce as far as I could so that I would have more friends, When I could no longer support this story, I would apologize to them all, but make it clear that I was s
Caroline’s POV “So, were you even considering telling me that you are seeing someone?” I asked Lucille the moment Liam left my room. I crossed my arms in my chest because I was angry at her. Well, she was the first person that knew about Liam, and probably the only one that I trust, to be honest, and she was telling me nothing. What kind of friendship was this? “I was going to tell you, Care, at the right moment…” she told me and trailed off. “And the perfect moment would be…?” I shoot at her. “Well, when he asked me out for a second time, which didn’t happen until now,” she told me a little disappointed. Oh, poor Lucille. I was going to demand a proof of her friendship now but I lost my courage. She was really uneasy because of the waiting. I didn’t have a lot of advice to give to her, considering that my experience was an inch bigger than hers, so I put a hand on her shoulder and told her: “he will. Or, at least, you will call him tomorrow to help us and maybe this little reunio
Liam’s POVI knew that I couldn’t demonstrate any kind of possessiveness towards the princess, but I must confess that right in that moment my blood boiled in my veins seeing that Reichart guy try kissing her. I swallowed that pill hard and fought to keep my composure.When he finally left the corridor, I noticed the princess looking at me. She probably knew that I'd seen them, and she looked as pale as a ghost.We weren’t alone in the corridor, though. I had a couple of other guards watching the princess’ quarters. She saw that we couldn’t speak freely. She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times like a fish trying to breathe on the surface, and then she opened her bedroom’s door and closed it after herself.I was boiling in anger, and I couldn’t do a thing. Maybe she had a plan and was making me jealous so she could contrive on whatever plan she had to get rid of him. I had to keep it cool and preclude her from doing so, because we never knew what kind of future effects these i
The next day dawned too soon, and the hours seemed to pass by until the afternoon when my suitor and soon-to-be fiancé knocked on my door. Lucille opened the door for him, but I wasn’t far, and I could see behind Stephan that Liam made a face. He didn’t like my idea to get rid of Stephan, but at the same time, he wasn’t enjoying this story at all. Well, good for him. It was silly of me, but I believe that causing Liam some jealousy could help me to get him on board with my idea or give him any other one that we could use in our favor.Too soon, though, Lucille closed the door and excused herself to my dressing room, murmuring something that I could not understand. Stephan avoided the awkward silence and started talking:“Good afternoon, Caroline. I hope you are doing fine.”He seemed so formal towards me, that a little laugh escaped from my lips.“What are you laughing about?” He asked me promptly.“I’m sorry, Stephan. Good afternoon. I’m fine, and you?” I told him, but before he coul
“Well, I don’t know what you are talking about,” I told Stephan with a smile plastered on my face. I wouldn’t admit anything that easily.“Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. The fact is: do you remember the last time that I walked you to your room and we talked about respect? Well, this would be a flagrant disrespect. Something that I can’t accept in our relationship,” he told me. He wasn’t actually threatening me, but there was a small discomfort on his tone. Something more than his words were saying. Was he trying to tell me that he would harm me or Liam?“Do you remember, Caroline?” he insisted.“Yes, Stephan,” I told him upset. So, he finally decided to show a little bit of his true colors. My tipsy me wanted to fight with him and throw in his face the fact that Liam really existed, and that even though he didn't have a royal title, Liam was worth a thousand Stephans to me.“Well, I might not have known your favorite color until this morning, but I do have my pride, and I will defend
“I know, darling! It is a lot to process, but don’t worry, honey. This party is going to be spectacular!” My mother took advantage of my silence and continued to chatter as if the news she had just given me was the best news ever.“But mother, I thought that we were going to take it slow…” I tried to dissuade her from this idea. Of course, we were not taking it slow. They never suggested that, actually. I was the one trying to delay my engagement and eventual marriage as long as I could.“Don’t be silly, darling! You know that our families are longing to be as one!” My mother answered me.I swallowed a couple of times, with no idea what to say to dissuade her, and she continued talking, clueless as if I was quiet because of the excitement.“You know, your birthday parties are always epic, and this one will be the biggest one ever! Stephan&rsquo
Caroline’s POV:“So, are you or are you not going to tell me what is going on? What did you find, Liam?” I asked him at the very moment he passed through my bedroom door the next morning. I purposely decided that I wouldn’t have breakfast that morning with my parents and that I wanted to be alone just because I wouldn’t like to waste one more second without knowing what Liam learned in his last meeting with the revolutionaries.“Well, I’m going to tell you what I can,” he told me carefully.“What do you mean when you say that you’re going to tell me what you can tell me? I thought that you would tell me everything you have heard!” I complained.“Which means almost nothing,” he murmured as an answer.“Then tell me what you heard, and we can decide together if this is almost nothing or not,” I demanded of him.He nodded acknowledging my reques
Vanessa looked at me with a wide smile spread on her face. Steppenwolf noticed immediately that we knew each other, but he didn't look as surprised as the others."Hey, looks like you two know each other!" Jack said pointing at Vanessa and me."Of course, they know each other, Jack. Our boy was shot, and our sweet nurse Vanessa took care of him," Steppenwolf said with a smile on his lips."Wait… was everything planned, including the shooting?" I asked in disbelief.Steppenwolf grimaced and said to me, "Of course not, kid. We didn't want to lose one of our own, but the aftermath of it all resulted in you being close to the princess and that positively surprised us, that's all. The fact that Vanessa took care of you is just a plus."I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. At least they weren't that morbid."He knows me, Dad, but he didn't know I was part of the group," Vanessa said turning to Steppenwolf.Dad? Did I
Liam’s POV:I left the princess’ room thinking about how I would contact Steppenwolf this time. Of course, I had the excuse that we were looking for Guttenberg, but I also had the responsibility to find out more about who was Morgan and what was that "nurse mission" mentioned in Vanessa’s letter. I just had no idea how I would connect both subjects in my next conversation with them, and if I would be allowed to know such a thing.Well, at least I didn’t have to wait a lot for another meeting. In one of my breaks on the next day, I went to my room as I always do, and tucked into my pillowcase there was a small note that simply said:Tonight, 11 o’clock. Same square.Sure, you don’t have to be a genius to understand where this note came from. In the next opportunity I had, I let the princess know that I was going to m
Caroline’s POV:“So…? Did you guys find anything?” I asked Lucille and Liam at the moment they got into my room and closed the doors. Curiosity was eating me alive, and I was extra anxious because my conversation with Vanessa didn’t go the way I planned.Lucille sighed a little frustrated and told me: “Well, not really. She got nothing about you guys, at least, not in her room. Any threats that she could launch couldn’t be sustained by proof.” Damn it. The worst part was to know that all the tension on the tearoom was for nothing.“Well, thank you, guys,” I murmured to them, and then I continued: “I guess that we are back to square one, after all.”“Don’t say that too soon,” Liam told me, and a small light of hope emerged on the horizon. I looke