by Avery Katz
The breakfast spread on the table was mouthwatering, to say the least. I had missed the palace food. Our chef made the best croissants and pies. He was an award-winning chef and the author of two cookbooks.
“May I speak to you in private?” I asked my parents and grandmother to join me in the nearby drawing-room. They exchanged worried glances but did not object to my request.
I knew it was against protocol to interrupt them during brunch, especially with a guest in our midst, but Justin was about to become a member of the royal family. It was hard to look them straight in the eye and say what I came here to say, but I conquered my nerves and crossed my fingers.
“I know the three of you are disappointed in me. Your dream of having a daughter-in-law to dote on is no longer an option. Choosing Justin means stripping you of that dream, but I love him. I really do.”
Mother reached out and held my hand.
“Oh, dear. Theo, please tell your son what you just told me earlier this morning. Silly boy. We love you with all our hearts and nothing you say or do will ever change that.”
“Your mother is right. I may be tough on you when it comes to certain duties, but I have no say in who you choose to be your consort. The heart wants what it wants. Life has taught me to embrace change and put my family first. Now, may I please return to my scrambled eggs and orange juice? I hate it when my food gets cold.”
“Yes. Of course. Sorry about pulling you all aside like that.”
“Rupert. Do you know what your problem is?” Grandmother Emmeline stepped closer and looked me square in the eye. “You put everyone’s needs above your own. You need to find balance in everything that you do. We’re simply glad that you finally found someone regardless of gender. Why on earth did you think that the pressure of having an heir would fall on you? You are not that special, you know.” She added with a teasing smile. “I never cared for such things. In fact, I think Raplen is more than ready for a gay king to take the reins.”
Chapter 26
JUSTIN
“Excuse my French, but you look like you’re about to shit yourself,” Nate said from beside me. “Relax, man. Let your hair down. They’re probably discussing your future. I can tell that the queen likes you. Kissing her hand was a nice touch. Bravo.”
I took another sip from my orange juice and waited for Ruppy to come back. His dad’s piercing gaze was making me so fucking uncomfortable. Prince Theodore was an intimidating man. He had a strong jawline and a beard that made mine look like the Amazon jungle. It was trimmed to perfection. He probably had his own barber.
I scratched my neck and kept my eyes glued to the dining-room door. I was too damn distracted to notice the intricate wallpaper with its fluttering butterflies and blooming flowers. The interior looked like it belonged on the pages of Martha Stewart Living.
Princess Margaret suddenly appeared in the doorway. She reminded me of a delicate fairy with her flowing silk dress and doll-like features. She had a pair of striking green eyes and milky white skin. No wonder the Lockridge brothers were all so stunningly handsome. Ruppy followed her into the room with his grandmother in tow. He gave me a reassuring smile before sitting down beside me. The suspense was fucking killing me.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Everyone has given you the seal of approval.” He beamed.
“Oh, thank fuck.” I breathed a sigh of relief and gave myself permission to relax in my velvet chair. Queen Emmeline sat down and looked straight at me. Her serious face suddenly broke into a welcoming smile. I had a feeling she was a cheeky old woman.
“Before we begin our weekly brunch, I would like to say a few words regarding Ruppy and his new boyfriend. I’m so happy that my eldest grandson is finally able to embrace who he is. It may have taken him thirty years to do it, but a wise man once told me that it’s better late than never.”
“Does this mean that they have your blessing?” Danny inquired.
“No. I was just pretending to be happy for my Ruppy.” She rolled her eyes sarcastically at him. “Of course they have my blessing, Daniel. You all do. Now please dig in. The food is getting cold.”
A tall woman with graying hair and a scowl on her face suddenly stormed into the dining room. She reminded me of the villain from Sleeping Beauty.
“This cannot happen!” She declared in an appalled voice. “Have you all gone mad?”
“Shit. The wicked witch of the east is here. Hide your husbands.” Nate whispered.
She circled the table like an angry shark and pointed a finger straight at Ruppy.
“If Rupert marries a man, there is no hope for Raplen or its future.” She then turned her head to glare at Freddy who went pale in the face at her outburst. “There is definitely no help in that department.”
“Nice to see you too, Edith. Really. How dare you disrespect our future king?” Freddy pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. “Nothing and no one is ever good enough for you. You feed on hate and negativity. You always make me regret coming back here.”
Edith staggered, and the color faded from her cheeks all of a sudden.
“There is nothing I regret more than bringing you into this world.” She folded her arms across her chest and sat down. Freddy gritted his teeth and was asked to sit down by Prince Theodore.
Ouch. Her words were so cold and cruel. No wonder he only referred to her as Edith and not mother. There was nothing motherly about her. Ruppy cleared his throat and tapped on his water glass.
“I’m so happy to have the blessings of my family.” He then stared at Edith, who refused to meet his gaze. She just pouted like a child in the corner and made loud clanking noises with her cutlery. “Most of you anyway. As you all know, this is Justin’s first time here in Raplen, so I will be showing him the sights today and taking him on a private tour of our beautiful city.”
Danny and Greg started clapping much to everyone’s amusement.
“Yes! Go Ruppy.”
The crown prince laughed and sat down with a big smile on his face. The tension in my shoulders faded, and I was finally able to enjoy the delicious food and company.
Prince Theodore asked me a few questions about my line of work. The ice surrounding him began to melt. He even graced me with a friendly smile by the time brunch ended. He insisted we join him for a quick cup of tea in the drawing-room where Ruppy surprised me by playing the piano. His long fingers flew across the keyboard as he played a familiar tune. I tried to guess what it was but failed miserably.
“I give up. It does sound like a song from a soundtrack though.”
“Yes. The song is Kiss from a Rose by Seal.” He told me. “I first heard it on MTV when I was maybe ten or eleven years old. It belongs to the Batman Forever Soundtrack.”
“Oh, my God. Yes. I do remember that song! It sounds better on the piano.” I finished my tea and placed the cup on the nearby tray. The short butler with the complicated name asked me if I would like a refill. I shook my head no and thanked him.
The drawing-room was bright and airy with pale yellow wallpaper and chocolate brown floors. It offered a view of the rose garden, which was right outside the French windows. I could picture myself sitting here with a book in my lap. The funny thing was that I had zero interest in reading. The room made you want to relax and get lost inside the pages of a novel. Too bad we had to leave. Not that I was complaining. Fuck no. Ruppy was about to give me a private tour of the city.
We went upstairs and slipped into something more comfortable before taking the elevator down to the underground garage.
“Grandmother just had this installed to spare us from taking the dungeon stairs. Believe me when I say that they’re both steep and terrifying. Freddy once fell down those steps and had to get his forehead stitched.”
“Oh. So this was originally the palace dungeons.” My voice echoed throughout the massive garage. The walls were made of big blocks of stone. They looked old but well preserved.
“Yep.” He nodded. “People are
under the impression that those dungeons still exist, but my late grandfather had them removed. He kept the original structure of course and turned it into this well lit and well-ventilated garage. We keep our most prized possessions down here in a secret vault, so security is not a joke around here.”
“Yeah. I noticed the cameras and motion sensors. You were right. The palace is safer than San Francisco. Much safer. I also noticed that there are no paparazzi stationed outside the walls.”
He unlocked the doors to a brand new silver Audi. It was one of my favorite sports cars.
“Your observation skills are on-point. Unlike America, we have an agreement with the paparazzi here. They give us our space, and in return, we grant them special access to family events and photos.” He explained. “It really is a win-win situation for us all.”
“Sounds like an excellent strategy.” I climbed in next to him and watch him start the engine with the press of a button. He drove us straight to the historical center of the city. The weather was perfect, so I took off my Diesel jacket and gazed outside my window. The cobblestone streets and lush green landscape filled my vision as we passed by a row of classic buildings that showcased the famous European architecture.
“There is a rule against building high-rise towers to preserve the city and its heritage.” Ruppy filled me in. He parked right across from a medieval church and motioned for me to follow him out of the car.
We were greeted by an old priest who recognized the prince and took us on a free tour around the old church. There were other tourists in the vicinity, but none of them looked suspicious. The bodyguard in me wanted to comb the area, but Ruppy reached out and squeezed my hand.
“Relax. People here are used to the presence of royalty, so I rarely ever need bodyguards to go out in public, unlike the United States.”
We visited a couple more churches before exploring an ancient castle that was perched on top of a hill. The stone keep castle was surrounded by a forest of pine and olive trees. It was divided into three different sections and showcased the medieval history of Raplen. Ruppy led me down a narrow corridor and showed me the secret underground tunnel that was once stuffed with treasures and gold coins.
“Where did they keep all the fancy silk and cashmere dresses?”
“Follow me.”
We ended up walking the short distance to the Museum of Fashion. Dresses that once belonged to his ancestors were on display at the elegantly furnished exhibition. We spent three hours exploring the city on foot. It was a very pedestrian-friendly. Most of the neighborhoods were calm and well maintained. Some of the low-rise buildings dated back to the Victorian era.
“My people are fond of gardens and horses. There’s a horse fountain in almost every square and alleyway. Speaking of fountains, I want to show you something.”
We ventured down a narrow street lined with colorful flower pots and green benches. Much like San Francisco, Raplen was blessed with hills and slopes that were mostly draped in a blanket of greenery. Nature was on another level here. I was no poet, but I could sit down under that olive tree and write poems about the place. Ruppy guided me towards a fountain the size of Texas. It was fucking huge. It was approximately the size of Fontana Di Trevi in Rome.
“Welcome to our very own wishing fountain.” He grinned and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “We need to take a selfie in front of this horse right here. He’s my favorite.”
I noticed that everyone was tossing coins into the bronze fountain. Ruppy had his coins ready in the palm of his hand.
“I always throw a coin every time I come here.” He told me before turning around and tossing the coin over his shoulder.
“So, what did you wish for?”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and smiled.
“This time, I just threw it in without making a wish. I didn’t need to make one anyway, because my wish already came true.”
Chapter 27
JUSTIN
We took a stroll down a quiet street with ice cream cones in our hands. Raplen City was an open museum with monuments and historical buildings as far as the eye could see. It was love at first sight for me. The people were friendly and non-invasive, and the food was amazing. We finished our ice cream cones and shared a cup of hot chocolate at the best chocolatier in town.
“So, where are you taking me next?”
“It depends. Are you in the mood for museums or mysterious castles? What you saw is just the tip of the iceberg. We can also visit Swan Park, which is home to the butterfly sanctuary and the orchid garden.” He suggested.
“How about all of the above?” I grinned sheepishly. That had to be the happiest moment in my life. I was living it up in Europe with a handsome prince by my side and a cup of real hot chocolate in my hand. The cool spring breeze flirted with my hair as we sat outside the small shop. I could hear the sound of wind chimes floating from the balcony right above the cobblestone street. There was something magical and captivating about the city.
“We can certainly arrange that.” Ruppy chuckled. He was full of smiles ever since we left the palace. We paid for our hot beverage and walked hand in hand back to the car. I was busy taking in the scenery while he grabbed his jacket from the back seat. It took me a couple of seconds to realize just how distracted he was. He draped his leather jacket over his shoulders and scanned the busy street for something.
“What is it?” I asked. His hand brushed against mine. It was cold to the touch.
“I thought I saw someone familiar.”
“Who did you see?”
He shrugged. “Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me. I saw hundreds of faces this week alone.”
“Yeah. It must be exhausting.” I suddenly heard his stomach growl. He blushed and suggested we have lunch at his favorite Italian restaurant.
“Hurry up before I start seeing hot dogs and pancakes walking around the street in red dresses.”
Luckily, the restaurant turned out to be just around the corner. The owner was a bald man with a hipster mustache and a very warm personality. He showed us to our table and offered us two glasses of wine on the house. The place was laid back and very cozy. It had ten or eleven tables with checkered tablecloths and black iron chairs. We shared a plate of fettuccine Alfredo and a small pepperoni pizza. The food was fresh and very appetizing.
“I could get used to this.”
“Me too,” Ruppy said before feeding me straight from his own fork. He was so fucking adorable.
We drank our wine and ordered dessert. I used the wireless internet in the restaurant to check my email and text my sister. By the time I was done, Ruppy had eaten his portion of our pie. Something was off, though. He wore that same distracted expression on his face.
“Penny for your thoughts.” I asked him. The place was packed and noisy as hell. Ruppy refused to tell me, so I jokingly threatened to pull out my gun and put it on the table. “Come on. Tell me.”
He sighed and nodded towards the man who was seated at the back of the restaurant.
“I saw him back in San Francisco. At least I think I did. He attended one of my live interviews.”
Alarms started going off inside my head. There was nothing remarkable about the man in question, but he was wearing a cap indoors. It had the Raplen national flag printed on it. He had hairy arms and wore knockoff Gucci shoes. It was hard not to get suspicious of someone who tried so hard to blend in. I quickly asked for the check and told Ruppy we were leaving. We paid for our lunch and exited the restaurant in a hurry. My main concern was getting him to safety.
“Wait. I think I forgot my phone in there.” Ruppy turned around, wanting to go back inside but I reminded him that he left his phone in the Audi. The man in the red cap suddenly stepped outside and caught up with us.
“Stop.”
He blocked our path, so I urged Ruppy to stand behind me. The prince refused to follow my orders and instead, chose to confront the man. I had a bad feeling about him.
“Have you bee
n following me?”
The stranger became red in the face.
“Yes, a little. I had a trip planned for Raplen, so when I saw that you were going to be in the States, I made an effort to see you.” He admitted. “Raplen is beautiful. All I wanted was to get an autograph from Your Highness.”
“We need to go. Now.” I said through gritted teeth, not wanting to waste any more time. Ruppy stiffened and refused to listen to me.
“Here in Raplen, you are simply my boyfriend and not my bodyguard, so please calm down. You’re scaring everyone with your voice.”
He apologized to the man who held out a photo for him to sign. There was something sinister about him. I could not for the life of me, figure out what it was. Ruppy was in the middle of signing his name when he suddenly pulled a gun out of his pocket and pointed it at me. His fast draw caught me off guard. He must have practiced that move a thousand times.
“Fuck.” I froze and watched Ruppy move off to the side. The man was livid. His beady eyes shot daggers at me. I could tell that I was his primary target. He did not appear to have any accomplices. The crowd around us screamed and ran for cover.
“I don’t like people getting in my way.” The man spat at me. “This is the third time you try to get in my way when I tried to interact with Rupert. How dare you come between us?”
Ruppy held out his hands in a peaceful gesture.
“Please. There’s no need for this.”
The man laughed. It was a cruel and derisive laugh. He was clearly unhinged.
“There is every need. You can’t love Justin. Yes. I know who he is. Justin only wants you for himself. He’s not going to share you with me.”
Ruppy took a small step forward. I wanted to scream at him and warn him about the dangers of approaching a crazy individual. Prince or not, he was not equipped to deal with the situation. The man suddenly deactivated the safety switch on his handgun and glanced at Ruppy.
“Please. Just let me buy you a drink, and we can sit down and work this out in private.” He spoke to the stalker in a soothing tone. “Guns are not the answer to everything. I really appreciate you coming here. I should have never ignored you during that live interview. This is all on me.”