Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
And with my hair. I loved my curls, big and fluffy, and I had been growing them for almost ten years, but this morning, I had no idea what to do with them. I put them up and then let them down. Then back up and then back down until I became fed up and just left it down.
This was me.
Me glammed up a bit.
But me.
There wasn’t much more I could do. Nothing was going to make me less nervous. I needed just to go. Grabbing my purse, I wheeled out one of the suitcases behind me. I heard the television, and for some reason, I could follow along a little before coming out to see the subtitles on the screen.
“Breaking News. After what pundits and officials called the perfect state dinner with Prime Minister Christoph Leon of Austria, Prince Galahad reportedly went to see what palace officials claim as his longtime on-again, off-again sweetheart, Odette Wyntor, heiress of Etheus LLC and Grammy-nominated singer. Sources are saying the Adelaar has done his best to keep this relationship a secret for over a year now, but with her arrival in Ersovia, Bellecoeur Palace has officially released this statement in the very early morning, which reads:
Since childhood, Prince Galahad and every member of the royal family have been aware of the love and warmth the members of the public have given them, to which they will always be eternally honored and grateful. However, the royal family also knows with this love and warmth comes a great deal of interest in their private lives, whether they wish for it or not.
The royal family never wishes to infringe on the freedoms of the Ersovian people. One of those freedoms being the rights of the press to speak or write anything they wish, whether or not it is true or false. For this reason, it has been the policy and tradition of Bellecoeur Palace only to comment and provide statements on matters of genuine and factual importance. And so, we shall do so now.
Prince Galahad and his longtime girlfriend, Odette Rochelle Wyntor, are engaged. A formal announcement was to be made of their relationship last December; however, due to the tragic and untimely loss of Prince Arthur, the statement was withheld as the royal family and country mourned. And though still in mourning, Prince Galahad has decided it is no longer right or proper to keep his relationship from the public.
He trusts that the people of Ersovia will welcome and love the woman he has chosen to spend the rest of his life with—as his family has. He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press will be just, fair, and kind as the royal family and Miss Wyntor readjust to their new roles and life.
“Miss,” Iskandar called to me, already stepping toward me, getting Gale’s attention. Gale turned back to face me, dressed in a different dark-colored suit from the one last night.
“Is this your only bag, miss?” Iskandar said, outstretching his hand for the suitcase.
“There is one more in the room.”
He nodded, going around me to get it, and Gale stepped forward.
“Just like I thought, you look stunning.” He smiled.
“You would say that no matter what.”
“Because it is true, no matter what,” he replied.
However, I was distracted by my name and photo next to his on the television screen behind his head. “Did you write that statement?”
“You can tell?”
I smiled, nodding. “It just sounds like you.”
“Why? Too formal?”
“No”—I stretched—”it’s kind.”
“Anything for you, my dear.” He smirked, offering me his hand.
I took it only for him to bring it up to his lips and kiss it, making me roll my eyes. “Now you are laying it on heavy.”
But I missed this.
“You will get used to it again.” He rubbed my knuckles before looking down at my finger. “Do you still have the ring I gave you?”
“No, I threw it in the lake because I was so mad at you,” I said, and his eyes widened. Laughing, I lifted my clutch. “Joking, I have it and the brooch.”
“Oh, how you torture my heart...” He half laughed.
“Should I wear it?”
“Wait until we get to the palace. We will take an official picture there.”
I nodded.
“Odette?”
“Hmm?”
“Breathe.”
I nodded.
“That is not breathing. That is nodding. Breathe, Odette.”
I inhaled and exhaled. “Happy?”
“Yes.” He watched me carefully. “We should get going. Have you called your mother?”
I shook my head. “I’m saving my energy.”
I didn’t want her reminding me how crazy I was.
“You can always just pass me the phone.”
“No, I definitely cannot.” She would say things that might break his spirit. The only one who could go up against my mother was me, and even I lost most times.
“Okay, let’s go,” he said, squeezing my hand.
When we walked forward, Iskandar was already standing at the door. I hadn’t noticed him walk by and where my luggage went, I wasn’t sure, but he focused on getting us out of there.