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Tim and his bandmates asked us to follow them to another bar. Despite my desire to push Alexandra up against a wall and domuchmore, I wasn’t going to cockblock my future sister-in-law. Astrid was quick not to hold Tim’s hand in public. She was smart. Meanwhile, Alexandra disregarded any sense of propriety, and I adored her for it. I wanted people to know I was with her. I wanted to claim her in a way—not as an object, but as the woman I was about to marry. Any man would feel the same. Alexandra felt more mine than ever. But, for the first time, I hoped she might see me as hers.
Twenty-Three
Alexandra
Is a Royal Wedding Happening?
Last night, Prince Rikard and Queen Alexandra were spotted leaving a bar in the entertainment district in Neandia walking hand-in-hand. Rikandra were spotted with the alt-rock band, Riot Elephant. Walking with the band’s frontman, Tim Sheers, was Princess Astrid.
Onlookers said that Rikandra spent time at the club they were seen leaving “all over one another” and stated that the Queen was spotted showing off a very large diamond on her left hand. This seems the new normal for the royal couple who have been inseparable since they were first spotted together weeks ago.
To add more to this plot, photographers caught Queen Alexandra heading to the barn with Prince Rikard the next morning sans-diamond. The jury remains out with Rikandra showing no signs of waning. We are waiting with bated breath for official news.
“Alexandra, we need to talknow!”
Celeste returned. I was about to atone for everything I got away with. It was a glorious two days. Rick took us out on the town. I danced in public. We’d barely been apart for more than five minutes. No, we did not get into any trouble. With people around, we’d not have time to avoid getting caught. Still, we did what we could. We ate in the dining room this morning like independent grown-ups and went riding this afternoon. It was freedom again, but I knew I would pay mightily for it.
I stopped. “Yes?”
Rikard stood to my right. I expected him to scurry away, but he stood fast.
“You’re dismissed, Prince Rikard,” Celeste said.
“Dismissed?” Rick played dumb.
“Dismissed. Go on. This is a private conversation.”
“And Alexandra is my fiancée. So unless that has changed, I’d rather stay.”
His tone was fierce. He’d gone from laughing to a growl in about a minute. It was hot and no one else defended my honour.
Celeste set her jaw.
“I am here to help, as always, if I can answer any questions, Your Majesty,” Rick said.
“Did you take the girls out last night?” Celeste demanded.
“They were hungry, ma’am. Yes.”
“You realise I should wring your neck for that?”
Mouth agape, I turned. His face remained neutral.
“Well, you can do as you please. However, I made sure they stayed out of trouble and returned in one piece.”
“You might say that, but the press are saying that you were canoodling with musicians of all people! And that the two of you couldn’t keep your hands off one another. I won’t have this, Prince Rikard! You haven’t married her. Not yet anyway. And you won’t get anywhere?—”
He played dumb. “Is it my fault if I find my future wife irresistible? Apologies, but I am a weak man.”
“You should not take her out and kiss her in public. And you should know better, Alexandra!”
I was unsure how to respond.
“Hormones are a dreadful thing! Can you two not wait a few months? In my day, we didn’t so much as kiss before a wedding.”
I stifled a snicker. It was all a bit harmless. We were supposed to be madly in love, right? What was a bit of light snogging on a night out? That was normal for any other person my age. I wanted to push back.
“We will be good,” Rick said.
