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)
“Your coronation.” I smiled, remembering what Gale had just told me a few days ago. “They came from the Japanese emperor.”
He nodded, smiling in return. “You know your history. Yes, when I received these trees from the emperor, I thought, ‘What will this kingdom look like when they are fully grown? How can I possibly lead it as my father once did?’ All I did was be born, and yet that was my qualification. That small act that was not even of my choosing was all anyone needed. They all looked at me, and yet I was terrified.”
I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be hearing this or if I heard it right, but it was amazing to me nevertheless. “From everything I’ve seen, you’ve done amazingly. People here love you, sir.”
He grinned and glanced back to me with an eyebrow raised, and at that moment, he looked a lot like Gale. “Yes, well, thank you. However, I had a lot of help, so that much it is wondrous, actually. It is as if God steps in sometimes to guide me through.”
“If so, I’d really like some help tomorrow, sir!” I dashed forward as he wobbled a bit and dropped Persephone as he grabbed the side of his head. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Just a headache,” he replied, though still hunched over.
“Let’s go back inside,” I said, walking forward. However, I had only taken three steps before it seemed all the palace had woken up, and suddenly, a frantic nurse, three guards, and Mr. Ambrose, who I saw for the first without a suit, came rushing out.
“Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
“Call for the doctor.”
They surrounded him to help him inside.
“I’m fine. I am fine,” the king repeated, but that didn’t stop their fussing and checking over him.
I quickly picked up Persephone so they would not trample her.
In the midst of it all, he turned back to me. “Miss Wyntor?”
Everyone’s eyes also switched back to me as if they just remembered I was here.
“Yes, sir.”
“The secret is to lean on your strengths when you can and others when you cannot. Or at least, that has worked for me.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that. But I nodded anyway. “Yes, thank you, sir.”
Just like that, they all carefully whisked him away, leaving only me, Persephone, and Mr. Ambrose in the gardens.
“Miss, if you saw him out here, you should have called—”
“You are right. Forgive me. I was caught up listening to him,” I replied.
He frowned, looking down at me. “Please return to your rooms. You have a busy day ahead of you. We cannot afford for you to be tired. Would you like some tea brought up for you?”
“No, thank you, Mr. Ambrose,” I said, handing over Persephone. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, miss.” He nodded back to me.
The whole way up the stairs, I found myself thinking over my interaction with the king. It was odd. The first time I had met him, I saw a very sick, old, kind of hateful man. And yet tonight, I saw the father Gale often talked about. I wondered if he would still have talked to me like that had he known I was supposed to marry his son—if he’d known I would be the next queen of this nation.
I wanted to say yes. But I honestly didn’t know.
Entering my room, I kicked off my slippers and tossed my robe to the other side of the room before laying down onto the bed. I thought I had only closed my eyes for a brief second— no, half a second before I heard my name called.
“Miss. Miss?”
“Huh?” I opened my eyes, nearly blinded by the sun as it came into my eyes. “Ugh. What time is it?”
“Seven in the morning, miss. We need to start getting ready.”
I was still tired, but I jumped out of bed, anyway. Now I had a team of my own, surrounding my room—dozens of people bringing in clothes and shoes, a makeup artist, a new hairstylist. They were all around, making sure everything was perfect. I was ushered from my bed to my bath, to one chair, and then another.
It all took a few hours.
They finally settled on a soft-yellow, knee-length cocktail dress and nude heels. You would have thought they wouldn’t care as much since I would have to wear a cap and gown. Gelula held them to be careful, with a portable steamer in her bag for any touch-up or other assistance I may need between my room and the walk over to the other side of the palace courtyard. It was only a fifteen walk, and they even deliberated on whether or not they should transport us via a car.
Us, as in Sophia and me.
She stood in the hall dressed in a black lace, fit-and-flare dress with black heels, a royal brooch on her chest. A whole team surrounded her as well. When she looked at me, I curtsied, and she just nodded a good morning and looked at her assistant.