That’s Keller, though, always thinking about me.
Always putting me first.
It angers me but also makes me swoon at the same time, because he’s just as important as me. I wish he would realize that.
“Thank you,” I say quietly as I take the handkerchief. He fades into the background as well while the redhead steps up to me.
“And this is Marit,” Pala says.
Marit with the bright green eyes and most beautiful head of hair I’ve ever seen.
“It’s wonderful to meet you,” I say as Marit pulls me into a hug as well.
“It’s so great to meet you.” She pulls away, and just from this brief glimpse, I can tell that Isabella is the more loving one, while Marit is the stronger one.
I just learned that they’re twins, Isabella three minutes older, crowning her the heir of the throne of Marsdale. Three minutes separates sisters from the pressure of fulfilling a long history of lineage, and one being the support. I could not imagine the dynamic between them.
“Keller, of course it’s so good to see you,” Pala says as she walks up to Keller and pulls him into a hug. Keller lightly pats her on the back, his body size much larger than everyone else in the room with Theo coming in a close second.
“Queen Pala, always a pleasure,” he says, and Pala pats his arm.
“Just Pala, we’re family. No need for formality.” She scans him up and down and shakes her head. “The last time I saw you, you had about forty pounds less muscle.” She chuckles. “I didn’t think you could grow more, but here you are, proving me wrong.”
“He eats eggs, whole, like Gaston,” Theo says from behind, causing us all to laugh.
Keller then shakes Marit and Isabella’s hands before Theo claps his hands together and says, “Shall we head to the sitting room and do some catching up?”
“I would love that,” Pala says as she takes her girls by the hand and follows Theo and Katla. “I also planned on giving the girls a tour of the palace. Show them all the places where I got into trouble as a kid.”
“Can I join you on that tour?” I ask as Keller walks next to me.
“We’d love that.” Pala winks at me.
I might not know what’s happening with my relationship with my fiancé, I might be at my breaking point, but this right here, this joining of families, this is what I needed at this moment more than I ever thought.
* * *
“They keptyou at Harrogate while you trained?” Isabella asks. “Mum has told us about that place. She was terrified to stay the night.”
After an hour of talking as a group, Theo, Katla, and Pala stepped aside to have their own conversation, probably to clear up any possible old feelings they might have, while I took Isabella and Marit to the other side of the room where we huddled like a bunch of teenagers to gossip. Keller left to meet Pala’s security team. I heard whisperings that they could help with wedding day security.
“The first night I was there, I thought I was being haunted by a ghost. Scariest night of my life.”
“I can’t imagine,” Isabella says. “I’ve grown up in our castle, and I still have moments when I’m absolutely terrified, especially when the wind starts whipping around.”
“Don’t say that to her,” Marit reprimands while nudging her sister. “She might not come visit us if she thinks the castle is creepy.”
I chuckle. “No need to worry, I think after spending time in Harrogate, nothing can bother me now.”
“So Keller took you there and trained you? What was that like?” Marit asks.
I lean forward and whisper, “In all honesty, boring as hell.” They both laugh. “I love Keller, but he’s not the kind of professor who keeps you riveted in the teachings. Also, he was very distracting with his bulky size and built muscles.”
“He is quite fit,” Isabella says. “Handsome as well.”
“Remind you of anyone?” Marit asks, a knowing gleam in her eyes.
Isabella shushes her sister. “How did you two fall for each other?”
