Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 42883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Good evening, Your Highness,” he greets as he nods at me, giving me the go ahead. Then, the gate draws back, allowing me access to the castle.
“Good evening,” I mumble before speeding down the driveway. The palace grounds are as still and silent as a mouse.
I pull into our special underground garage and turn off the ignition, sitting in silence for a bit. Hopefully, my father has already gone to bed because the king hates it when I waltz into the palace late at night. A man my age shouldn’t have to answer to anyone, of course. I should be able to come and go as I please. Unfortunately, my father doesn’t see it that way, and his incessant need to remind me of my future role as the King of Chromia puts a strain on our relationship, to put it lightly.
I get out of my car and head into the palace, loosening my tie as I walk toward the elevator. I unwrap the cloth from around my neck and toss it over one shoulder. The elevator doors ding as they spread open, and I saunter in, pressing my floor number with my head hung low. Goddamnit. I can’t get the scene with Miranda out of my mind. Hopefully, word doesn’t reach my father because my dad happens to be friends with her father, and I’d hate to give him another reason to hound me about the way I choose to live my life. The doors ding again, opening up to the top floor of the palace and I exhale heavily as I step off of the elevator, still hanging my head low.
“What kind of future king walks with his head down?” my father asks, startling me from the shadows. Dammit. I feel like I’m a teenage boy sneaking in past my curfew.
“It’s been a long night,” I say. He studies me for a bit, like he’s searching for something.
“Have you been drinking?” the king asks sternly, his eyes peering into mine. Is he kidding me? He treats me like I’m a child. He may run this kingdom, but he sure as hell doesn’t run my life. I roll my eyes.
“Yeah. Because I’m thirty-five years old, and I’m old enough to have a damn drink,” I answer firmly. He takes a few steps back, huffing as if I’ve just insulted him.
“The future King of Chromia shouldn’t be out partying with god knows whom every night. Eric, you represent this country, this family, and – most importantly – the throne. What you do now as a Prince affects the way the world will see you when you actually do come into power,” he says. Sometimes, I feel like he’s more worried about the image of the royal family than he is about my happiness. The thought makes me morose.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say as I brush past him and dart into my chambers, closing the door behind me before he can get another word out.
I toss my tie onto the floor and pour myself a glass of scotch. Then I dig into my blazer pocket and pull out a pack of cigarettes, placing one between my lips and lighting it. I plop down on the couch as I take a drag of the cigarette, allowing it to relax my tense frame. I sip the scotch and toss my head back as I sprawl out on the couch.
I wish the crown was as important to me as it is to my father, but it’s not. I long for a life outside of the palace, one that consists of authentic relationships and, most importantly, genuine love. To my dad, the throne is the only thing that matters. Well, that and duty to our country, heritage, and the Chromian people. But try as I might, I can’t summon any enthusiasm for my future. I know there’s something else out there – something more important than ruling a kingdom – and it’s just a matter of finding it.
CHAPTER 3
Kitty
The taxi’s a splurge, but it’s worth it because it’s the first day of my new position, and I don’t want to show up rumpled from mass transit. But still, the day feels different. As the cab comes to a slow stop in front of the huge bronze palace gates, a guard walks towards us, looking through the car windows to see who’s inside. My hands tremble as I reach inside of my purse to pull out my work badge, and he nods before motioning to another guard to let us through the gates.
To say that I’m nervous to clean the royal family’s private quarters would be an understatement – I’m petrified because what if I screw up? What if I do a bad job? Aunt Nellie says I shouldn’t worry because I’m one of the best maids at the castle, but I can’t help myself. Gosh, I just hope I don’t mess up the opportunity.