Page 11 of Throne Off Course

Alexander frowned. “I’m not you.”

“I know, it’s a tragedy, really.”

Alexander shook his head, a reluctant smile threatening at the corner of his mouth. “No,” he said firmly. “I will not be taking your ridiculous advice.”

Sebastian grinned wider. “Oh, I know,” he said. “I just wanted to see your face when I suggested it.”

Alexander rubbed his temples. “I don’t know why I still talk toyou.”

“Because I’m the only person who tells you the truth.”

Alexander ignored him, but the slight softening of his expression suggested that, irritating as his friend might be, Sebastian wasn’t entirely wrong.

7

So You’ve Met a Hot Prince and Now Your Life is in Shambles?

“Absolutely not,” Harper said the moment Emilia sat down across from her, her expression murderous.

Emilia blinked, setting her laptop bag on the chair beside her. “What?”

Harper leaned forward. “Whatever unholy rage is currently radiating off your entire being, I refuse to let it ruin my coffee.”

“Harper,” she said, voice dangerously even, “I have met the future King of Caledonia. And he is—”

“A devastatingly handsome, well-tailored mistake?” Harper guessed, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Emilia stabbed a sugar packet open with unnecessary force, granules spilling across the wooden tabletop. “—he’s the kind of handsome that would be impressive if he didn’t already worship himself enough for the both of us.”

Harper laughed softly. “Oh, I love this for you.”

“No, you don’t,” Emilia snapped.

Harper stirred her coffee lazily, the spoon clinking rhythmically against porcelain. “Oh, but I do. Please, proceed.”

Emilia threw her hands up. “First, I walk in to find him telling his aide how ridiculous it is that someone my age would apply for this position. Apparently he thinks I only wanted the job because I saw his ‘idiotic GQ spread’ and was hoping for achance to meet him.”

Harper’s eyes widened, her mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. “No. He didn’t.”

“Oh, he absolutely did,” Emilia continued, the flush on her cheeks deepening. “He actually insinuated I have a Pinterest board of royal wedding ideas. Me!”

Harper pressed her lips together, clearly holding back a laugh. “And you heard all this…?”

“Standing right behind him,” Emilia confirmed. “And then when I made it clear I heard every word, he had the audacity to act like nothing happened.”

Harper leaned forward, completely enthralled. “What did you say to him? Please tell me you eviscerated him.”

“I informed him that I was approached for this position and declined it twice,” Emilia said with grim satisfaction. “And that I understood why the concept of being selected on merit might be foreign to him.”

Harper clutched her chest dramatically. “Emmy! You didn’t!”

“I did.” Emilia finally took a sip of her coffee, the hint of a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. “You should have seen his face.”

Harper looked positively delighted. “And then what?”

Emilia’s momentary satisfaction faded. “And then he was arrogant. Condescending. Insufferably smug. And utterly convinced that the monarchy should be allowed to sanitize history however they see fit.”

Harper sipped her coffee, unconcerned by her friend’s outburst despite the curious glances from neighboring tables. “Mmm. A classic prince problem.”