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“Determined—I like it,” Caleb said with a grin. “Are you already settled in your room?”
I nodded. “Yes, and I brought enough clothes for at least a week. I don’t think it will take me that long to win your sister back, but knowing her, I packed a few extra things. I’ve been traveling lighter lately.”
“You have no idea how much I enjoyed watching you document your travel across South America on your motorcycle. I was living vicariously through you every time you posted something new on social media. Every new post, you were somewhere else—amazing landscapes, incredible cultures. It looked … freeing. Just so you know, you’re my role model.”
I supposed that from an outsider’s perspective, it looked like the trip of a lifetime: the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, the bustling markets of Lima, the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires, and the lively beaches of Rio de Janeiro, to name a few of the more noteworthy destinations. Each stop in South America played a part in my futile search for clarity, but every attempt to find answers had come up empty, leaving me more lost than before.
I shrugged. “Freeing? Perhaps. But it’s funny how freedom can feel a lot like floating aimlessly without an anchor. When I left, I thought I was searching for myself, for some sort of profound understanding I was supposed to gain after losing my father. But in reality, I was just running away from everything that mattered.”
Caleb tilted his head to the side. “You mean … Veronica?”
I nodded. “I thought she’d wait. Foolish, I know. When I returned and saw that she had moved on …” My voice trailed off as the memory of that realization hit me anew.
“August, you were grieving,” Caleb said. “Maybe you needed that escape to deal with your pain in your own way. Losing a father is not like losing a friend. Not everybody mourns the same way.”
“Maybe,” I conceded. “I paid the price, but at least I learned from it.”
There was a long pause, then he asked, “What will you do now?”
“I have to make things right,” I said, feeling the determination settle in. “Starting with Veronica. I’ve never had regrets in my life until that trip, but I’m going to fix it.”
Caleb nodded, understanding flashing in his eyes. “I’m rooting for you.”
I managed a smile. “Thank you. It’s time to face things head-on. My lapse in judgment is behind me.”
“Hey, if you need a wingman, you know where to find me,” Caleb said. “We can be like Batman and Robin.” He smirked. “As long as I can be Batman.”
I laughed. “Okay, Batman, help me find Veronica. Where do you think she could be?”
“Looks like we’re about to get some answers,” Caleb said, gesturing outside through the large front window.
I followed his line of sight to see the family driver returning, then stepping briskly from his car. We rushed down the corridor and pushed through the front doors just as he reached the top step.
“Your Highnesses,” the driver said, bowing. “Are you in need of a ride?”
“No—we’re looking for Veronica and Daphne,” Caleb said, a hint of urgency in his voice. “Where did you take them?”
The driver looked back and forth between the two of us, his expression on the hesitant side. “I’m not at liberty to say, Your Highness.”
“How long have I known you?” Caleb asked.
“With all due respect, not as long as I have known Princess Veronica, Your Highness,” he answered.
The driver obviously had clear directions from Veronica to not reveal her whereabouts, but this was ridiculous. I needed to find her.
“That’s fine,” Caleb said, waving it off. “Of course, I understand. I will just interrupt Mother’s state dinner to let her know that her beloved daughter, the Princess of Kastonia, has gone missing. I’m sure she can get to the bottom of it, which will start with questioning you. I certainly hope I don’t cause a scene with all those dignitaries.” He turned toward the front door in what appeared to be a brilliant bluff.
“Your Highness!” the driver said.
Caleb stopped and turned back around. “Yes?”
“I don’t know Princess Veronica’s final destination, but I know where I dropped her off,” the driver said, his eyes on me this time.
Caleb stepped forward. “What about Daphne? Were they together, or did she stay behind?”
“They’re both traveling together, Your Highness.”
“We know you’re protecting her confidentiality, but unless there’s a bodyguard with them, you could be responsible if something happens to them,” I said. “We’ll handle this from here. Where are they heading to?”
