“President Laurent.” Sebastian reaches out and shakes his hand. “It’s nice to see you. It’s been a while.”
“Oui. Unfortunately, not since your late queen’s funeral.” His expression grows somber, and I remember that Nora was French by birth. “But now I see a new love has brought you back to us.”
“Yes. President Laurent of France, may I have the pleasure of introducing you to my wife, Queen Bellamy.”
“Your Majesty.” He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“President Laurent,” I reply in French. “The pleasure is all mine.”
We exchange light conversation and I’m thrilled I’m able to keep up in French.
“Your Majesty,” a woman’s voice interrupts, causing me to turn toward her while Sebastian continues speaking to the French president. Her regal features and pretty green eyes seem familiar, though her name escapes me for a moment. “I’ve heard so much about you. Congratulations on your wedding. Becoming queen and being married to King Sebastian must be quite the adjustment.”
I hold my smile at her backhanded comments. “Thank you. It has been a whirlwind, but I’m learning to navigate both pretty well.”
“Ah yes, such a steep learning curve from where you started,” she agrees, her tone dripping with condescension, and Istand here, smiling sweetly despite it. “Well, if you ever need advice, don’t hesitate to reach out. After all, we queens must stick together.”
“Oh, thank you. How kind of you to offer. Bless your heart.”
She blinks at me in confusion, and I inwardly high-five myself. As any American Southerner will tell you,bless your heartphrased this way isn’t the least bit as kind or sweet as it sounds.
The woman gives me a withering glare and turns on her heels and stalks off.
“Bless your heart?” Althea leans in to question.
“It was a polite way of sayinggo fuck yourselfin American.”
Althea bursts out laughing. “Oh, that is a good one. I’ll have to remember that.”
“Everything okay?” Sebastian asks now that the French president has continued on. He hands me a glass of water and not champagne from a passing tray. Boo. Of all the nights I could really use a drink, this is one of them.
“Yes. Just wading through the sharks while searching for the fish.”
The corner of his mouth curls into a wicked grin. “It’s going to be a long night, my queen. But I promise I’ll make it worth the wait.”
“You better,” I grumble.
He leans in and kisses the corner of my lips before he’s called away by someone anxious for his attention.
I inwardly sigh. “How long is this cocktail hour going to last?”
“An hour.”
I raise an eyebrow at Althea. “Did you really just answer my rhetorical question by stating the obvious?”
She smirks as the two of us make our way over to the meager spread of food.
“Does no one eat at these things? There’s like three pieces of cheese here.”
“No. They don’t eat. And dinner will be small as well.”
Now my sigh is audible. “It’s moments like these when I really miss delivery pizza.”
“Queen Bellamy,” A woman in a blinding white skintight gown with a plunging neckline drawls as she approaches me, extending her hand for a cold, limp handshake. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you since I heard you and King Sebastian were attending.”
“Wonderful,” I say, waiting for her to tell me her name.
“Your Majesty, this is Margret Awal of Wales.”
