"I was an ass."
"Yes, you were."I met his eyes."But we don't have time for this conversation right now.We have a reception to get through."
"After, then.We need to talk."
"Maybe."
The doors opened and Elena appeared with her clipboard and her professional smile."Your Highnesses, the first guests are arriving.Are we ready?"
"Ready," I said, before Archie could continue.
We took our positions at the entrance to the gallery, standing close enough that we looked united but not touching.Every smile was performance.Every word was calculated.And when Archie's hand settled on my lower back for a photograph, I felt the touch like electricity through the silk of my dress.
This was going to be a long evening.
The reception itself was less awful than I'd expected.The children were enthusiastic about the books I read to them, which helped.And the foundation director was a warm woman in her sixties who treated me like a person rather than a scandal waiting to happen.
"You have a wonderful way with the children, Your Highness," she said after I'd finished reading a story about a dragon who was afraid of heights."Natural and warm.That can't be taught."
"Thank you.I used to volunteer at the library back home."The words came out before I could stop them.Back home.As if Oregon was still my home instead of this palace I was learning to navigate.
"Well, they're very lucky you chose to share that warmth with them."She patted my arm."Don't let the nonsense in the papers get to you.Anyone with eyes can see you're exactly where you belong."
The kindness in her voice made my throat tight."That's very generous of you."
"It's not generosity.It's observation."She glanced over at where Archie was talking to a group of donors."And I've been watching your husband watch you all evening.That man is besotted."
I followed her gaze to find Archie looking directly at me with an expression I couldn't fully read.When our eyes met, he didn't look away.
"It's complicated," I said.
"Love usually is."She smiled."But complicated doesn't mean impossible."
After the children's portion of the event ended, there was a reception for the adult donors.I was making my way through the crowd, shaking hands, and accepting compliments on my dress, when a woman in her forties approached with the kind of calculating smile that meant trouble.
"Princess Bettina, how lovely to finally meet you."Her accent was British, upper-class, and dripping with false warmth."Lady Caroline Ashford.I'm a friend of Queen Isabelle's."
Of course she was."Lady Caroline.Thank you for supporting the foundation."
"Oh, I wouldn't miss it.Especially not after today's exciting news."Her smile sharpened."I imagine it must be difficult, having your past examined so publicly."
Every instinct screamed at me to make an excuse and walk away.But Viktor's words echoed in my head:Project confidence.Show that you're suited to your role.
"Not really," I said, keeping my voice light."I'm proud of my past.I worked hard, put myself through college, and built a life I was happy with before I knew about my heritage."
"How admirable.Though one does wonder if perhaps more discretion might have been warranted in certain...social situations."
The implication was clear.She'd seen the photos.Everyone had seen the photos.
"You mean the skiing trip with my college friends?"I smiled pleasantly."Yes, we had a wonderful time.Have you ever been skiing, Lady Caroline?The hot tubs are lovely after a day on the slopes."
"I'm sure they are.Though perhaps without quite so much photographic documentation."
"Well, when you're a normal college student, you don't generally anticipate that harmless photos will be used to attack you years later."I took a sip of my water."But then again, I suppose that's the difference between living authentically and living in fear of how things might look."
Her eyes narrowed."Some might say that royal life requires a certain...awareness of appearances."
"And some might say that royal life requires authenticity and genuine connection with people rather than performing for appearances."I leaned in slightly."But I'm still new to this, so perhaps I'll learn to be more calculating with time."
