“His Royal Highness has not given instructions, mademoiselle.”

“Well, I—I’m visiting.” I tried to think of how to put our arrangement in suitable terms. I had already been warned once about my word choice. “His Royal Highness asked me to stay.” It sounded funny referring to him that way. I knew he was the king, but I didn’t think the weight of his position had hit me yet.

The men didn’t budge. “There are no instructions,” he repeated.

I crossed my arms. What in the hell was I going to do? I couldn’t wander aimlessly around the palace. They weren’t going to let me upstairs. I was starving. And I needed to get home to check on my best friend.

I sighed. “Is Georgan here?” I asked. “The driver?”

“Yes.”

“Would he be able to take me home?”

They looked at each other.

“Outside, mademoiselle. His car is parked in the tunnel.”

“All right. If you see D—” I corrected myself. “His Royal Highness, will you please tell him for me that I went home?”

“Certainly.”

“Thank you.” I felt this innate need to curtsy, but stopped before I reached the hem of my skirt. I turned for the door and walked outside. I recognized the car from last night. Georgan polished the eagle on the hood.

“Bonjour.” I smiled. Maybe talking to the driver wouldn’t be as awkward. “Hola.” I didn’t know what to say.

He looked up from the hood ornament.

“Oui?”

It was hard constantly bouncing between French and Spanish. “I was wondering if you would be able to drive me home?”

“Of course.” He rounded the engine and met me at the rear door.

I looked at the palace over my shoulder. Something told me I should stay. Camp out next to the king’s security, no matter how they glared at me. But the fantasy had to end at some point. It couldn’t last forever. I knew how this worked.

“Merci.” I nodded when Georgan closed the door behind me.

It was strange to be in the same car from last night. It didn’t feel the same without Damon. He had consumed the air around us. Now, it just felt like an empty back seat.

Georgan called through the speaker, “Do you have the address, mademoiselle?”

“Oh yes. It’s XXXX.”

I settled into the seat as he pulled from the curb and drove us through the tunnel. We exited on the other side of the entrance. The palace grounds were immaculate. The flowers whizzed past me. We turned outside the gate and I wondered if I would ever be back here.

Would I see the king again? Or I had I just made the stupidest decision of my life?

My notecards were exactly where I had left them fanned out across the living room floor.

“Brooklyn?”

“In here.”

I walked to her bedroom. We shared a comfortable two-bedroom. It was one of the perks of the city. Freychon wasn’t as expensive as other European hubs.

“Hey.”

“I’m so glad you’re here. I was getting worried.”

Tags: Violet Paige Don't Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net