He chuckles, his eyes twinkling with affection. “Just be yourself and I have no doubt you’ll charm these other snooty aristocrats the way you did me.”
“You mean I get to charm the pants off them?”
His eyes darken immediately with dirty promises. “Careful. I don’t have time to punish you properly before dinner this evening.”
“Mon dieu. Perhaps you should have this conversation where I can’t hear either of you.”
I throw Althea a contrite smile, but by this point, I think she’s heard it all from us.
The opulence of the hotel is evident from the moment we step foot inside its grand lobby. Rows of chandeliers hang from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow on the marble floors and ornate furnishings. I can’t help but marvel at the sheer elegance of it all. It’s like stepping into another world, though by this point, I should start getting used to it.
“Welcome, Your Majesties,” the hotel manager greets us with a slight bow, his tone as polished as the brass fixtures that adorn the walls. “We are honored to have you as our guests.”
“Thank you,” Sebastian replies graciously.
“May I show you to your suites?” the manager asks, gesturing toward a private elevator.
“Please,” Sebastian murmurs, and after being escorted into a private elevator, we ascend in silence until we reach the top floor.
“Here we are,” the manager announces as he opens the door to an expansive suite, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer panoramic views of Lake Geneva. “The royal suite. We trust this will meet your expectations.” I hold in my snicker, thanking him as he escorts us around, showing us every luxurious detail of the suite before leaving us with, “Your comfort and satisfaction are our top priority. Please do not hesitate to call upon our staff should you require anything during your stay.”
“Thank you,” I chime in, offering a smile of my own. The manager bows once more before making his exit, leaving us alone in the sumptuous suite.
“The royal suite? Really?”
Sebastian shrugs. “Althea is in a presidential suite if that makes you feel better.”
“I’m not sure how I’m feeling,” I admit, going for the luggage the staff brought in and immediately hanging up my gowns and his suits in the spacious walk-in closet.
“Overwhelmed?” He follows me in, leaning against the wall and smirking, likely because I’m unpacking when I know we have a butler who will come in and do that for us.
We have staff in the palace—a cook and maid staff—and Sebastian does have a butler of sorts who tends to his clothes and things. But it just feels less formal there. The children are there running around, and now we have a pet ferret. It feels more like a home despite the fact that it’s a palace.
“A bit. And this thing hasn’t even started yet.”
“Understandable,” he says with a gentle chuckle as he watches me stuff sweaters into drawers. “But remember, you belong here just as much as anyone else.” He moves across the room, wrapping his arms around my chest from behind. “You know, for how nervous you are that people will judge you over the fact that you were once my nanny, I worry this will all be too much for you at some point.”
Oh.
I spin in his arms and wrap mine around his neck. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I. So let’s remember that and let everyone else go fuck themselves.”
I laugh. “Is that your royal decree?”
“Absolutely.”
He leans down and kisses me, his words and body a soothing balm to my nerves, and I will myself to let go of the lingering doubts that have plagued me since our wedding.
“Thank you,” I whisper, resting my head on his chest.
“Always,” he murmurs, planting a tender kiss on the top of my head. “Let’s relax for a bit before we have to get ready for tonight.”
He kisses my lips again and leads me away from the closettoward the living room. The sun is dipping low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the sprawling landscape that stretches out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The room’s furnishings are as opulent as one would expect for a king and queen, with plush velvet sofas, intricately woven rugs, and walls adorned with expensive works of art. However, what truly makes the atmosphere romantic is the subtle attention to detail—flickering candles nestled in glass holders, fresh flowers arranged in elegant vases, and the delicate scent of jasmine wafting through the air.
As I continue to absorb the enchanting scene outside, I become acutely aware of the sounds that fill the room. The gentle crackling of the fireplace, the soft tapping of Sebastian’s feet as he moves about, and the comforting rhythm of his steady breathing. At this moment, I feel like the entire world could fade away, leaving just Sebastian and me in our own private haven where time seems to stand still.
