Cruel King (Royal Elite 0)

“Oh. Shit.” Dan exclaims with astonishment. “Does this make me the maid of honour?”

I laugh, the sound is carefree and happy. “Sure does, bug.”

Dad walks out the front door, wearing a proud smile. Jonathan stands by his side, staring between his son and his nephew.

Sometimes, I think he wants Aiden to be more like Levi. At other times, it seems the exact opposite.

I wouldn’t call Dad and Jonathan friends, but they tolerate each other enough to visit one another’s homes when we invite them.

“I’m happy,” I whisper to Levi. “Thank you for existing, my king.”

He smiles. “Thank you for being mine, princess.”

And then, he’s kissing me again.

Bonus Scene

Right before the wedding

* * *

Astrid

* * *

My body nearly shuts down from exhaustion as I push the flat’s door open.

I’ve spent the entire day with the wedding planner, the flowers’ planner, and all the planners.

Seriously, if I knew a wedding would be this hard, I would’ve opted to have a small ceremony. Levi insisted that he wanted our wedding blasted all over the world so everyone knows I’m his — typical Levi.

Dad also wants a suitable wedding for his only daughter. I couldn’t just say no to that.

It’s too late to turn around now. There’s still only a week until the big day. Let's hope I don’t collapse before then.

Don’t get me wrong, Levi does help. He’s even more enthusiastic about this planning charade than me. However, I’m the one who has to go through endless dress fittings and whatnots. As Mrs Hudson, our planner, keeps saying, ‘the wedding is all about the bride’.

What if this particular bride doesn’t like the spotlight? Well, there’s nothing to do about it.

I’m stuck.

My phone pings. I shuffle my backpack over one shoulder and some groceries and Mrs Hudson’s brochures to retrieve my phone.

A smile breaks on my lips. It’s a text from my best friend.

Daniel: I rock the maid of honour role. Guess who’s going to steal your spotlight, bugger?

He attached the picture we took at the fitting room yesterday. I’m in my wedding dress and he’s in a dashing black tuxedo. He has a smug look all over his face as he fingers his bowtie and wraps his other arm around my shoulder.

God. He’s such a dork.

But seriously, if Dan wasn’t there for me this entire time, I would’ve gone bonkers.

I type with one hand, still shuffling too many stuff.

Astrid: You’re welcome to steal the spotlight any time, bug.

Daniel: You can’t take that back. I’m holding you to it, screenshot and everything.