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Chapter Twenty
Princess Veronica
One Month Later …
The bittersweetness of my last night in Verdana lingered in the air. August was getting the cast removed from his arm today, signaling his complete recovery, but it also meant my stay was coming to an end.
I didn’t want to leave.
As I chatted with Daphne on a video call, my gaze occasionally drifted to the suitcase open on the bed—half-packed, and a silent testament to my imminent departure.
“Still no hint of a proposal?” Daphne asked.
I shook my head. “No, nothing yet. I told him we should take it slow, and when the time is right, he’ll know. There’s no hurry.”
Daphne smirked through the screen. “Tell that to Queen Annabelle who is more than ready to abdicate the throne. August must have told her not to intrude, because I’m surprised she hasn’t been pushing it.”
“I’m not worried about her,” I said with a laugh. “How about you? How are things going with Caleb?”
“It’s been amazing, to say the least.” Daphne beamed with sheer bliss. “I’ve seen him twenty-one days in a row, not counting the days in Verdana and Africa. We’ve been inseparable.”
“Truly, I have never seen you happier than you are right now,” I noted, genuinely curious about her budding romance with my brother. “Your relationship seems to be on the fast track.”
“More than you think.” She leaned closer to the camera, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I told him I loved him.”
My heart warmed for them both, but I couldn’t hide my shock. “Wow! And what did my brother say to that?”
With a knowing smile, Daphne replied, “He told me he’s loved me since he was five years old.”
We both laughed, not at all surprised.
A sudden thought struck me. “I need to have a talk with him. You’d better not get engaged before me.”
“Don’t you dare!” Daphne’s laughter filled the digital space between us. “We could have a double-wedding!”
I shook my head in amusement. “I know you’re joking because that is not going to happen with two princes from different countries.”
Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from August. He said he was running late at the hospital, and that it would be better to meet him at the restaurant, using the backup driver at the palace, since the main driver, Marco, was with him.
“It looks like I need to get going,” I said, standing to gather my things. “I have to meet August at the restaurant.”
“Maybe he’s going to propose tonight,” Daphne said.
I was sure that would not happen.
“It’s just a dinner,” I said. “He wouldn’t propose at a restaurant. We’re just celebrating him getting the cast off, and my last night here. I’ll be home tomorrow and will call you when I get there. Can’t wait to see you.”
“Can’t wait to see you, too,” Daphne replied, her smile wide and warm as we said goodbye and disconnected the video call.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled up to the restaurant. I got out, then saw Marco leaning against the SUV in one of the parking spots.
“Hey, Marco!” I said, waving to him as I walked toward the front door of the restaurant.
“Princess Veronica!” he called out. “There’s been a slight change of plans.”
I stopped and spun on my heel. “August is not inside?”
He shook his head and opened the backdoor of the SUV. “I will take you to him, if you don’t mind.”
