“Yes, of course. Adelaide, are you ready?”
I nodded.
The queen clapped her hands. “Wonderful. Do be sure to stop by my office and say goodbye before you leave.”
My mouth popped open. “Oh, are you not joining us?”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid Mirabel and I have several things we need to get wrapped up if we are going to fit the donation drive into the events schedule. But Oliver knows all the history, and I trust he can answer any questions you have.” She took my hands in her own. “It was lovely having tea with you today, dear. You have grown into such a lovely young woman. Your parents should be proud.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I murmured as she placed a soft kiss on my cheek and left the room.
Oliver led me out of the parlor and down the corridor toward the ballroom. I walked next to him, willing my heartto stop beating like a bass drum. It seemed impossible that he wouldn’t be able to hear it, too.
This was our first time alone together since our hookup in the storage closet. Earlier this week, following the competition’s opening gala, all the contestants had attended a press conference and tour of Altborn’s artisan workshops. I hadn’t been able to avoid him that day the way I had at the gala, but I had managed to steer clear of being alone with him. Being alone together was bad. It was when we were on our own that I couldn’t deny the flutter of butterflies in my stomach every time he looked at me or his hand brushed against mine.
“I’m sure you remember the grand ballroom from the welcome gala,” Oliver said as he held one of the enormous doors open for me. “Or, perhaps you don’t…were you even there?” he added cheekily.
I felt heat rise in my cheeks. “Oliver…”
He shook his head and huffed a laugh through his nose. “I get it, Laidie. I don’t blame you for hiding.”
“I wasn’t hiding, I was…” I stuttered, trying to come up with an excuse for my absence, which he had clearly noticed. “Okay. I was hiding.”
I looked around, taking in the room’s vaulted ceilings, the crystal chandelier, the damask-covered walls. I moved closer to a tapestry hung near the door, awestruck by the details woven into the piece. It was a shame I hadn’t spent more time in the ballroom that night—this space was stunning.
Oliver followed me, keeping a respectful distance between us. “Adelaide, if you don’t want to be here, that’s okay. You’re welcome to remove yourself from the competition at any time. I only want you to be here ifyouwant to be.”
I turned, meeting his silvery gaze. “Okay,” I answered, unable to say anything else.
“Come on, let’s keep going.” Oliver held out his hand and I took it, following him wherever he led.
After touring the state rooms and the art gallery, we made our way to the second floor where the family’s offices were held. Oliver noted which door belonged to which working royal before letting me explore his own office.
I ran my fingers over the back of a comfortable-looking armchair and perused the collection of books on his shelves, interspersed with knickknacks. “Just a few things I’ve picked up during my travels over the years,” he noted, following my gaze to a ceramic bowl painted in a brightly colored geometric pattern. “That one is from a market in Marrakesh.”
“It’s beautiful. Will you keep this office when you become king?” I asked, turning to take in the large wooden desk.
Oliver shook his head. “No, I’ll move into my father’s office. They’ll move my things following the coronation.”
I hummed thoughtfully. “Will you miss it?”
“My office, or the freedom of not being the head of state?”
I snorted. “Either. Both.”
“Yes. And yes. But if I don’t take on the title, it’ll become Rosie’s responsibility. And she deserves to finish out her childhood without the weight of a crown added to it.”
I took his hand again, squeezing it tightly. I didn’t let go as we left his office and he led me to the family’s privateresidence wing.
As we walked, he narrated which suites were currently occupied by family members and which were vacant, throwing in bits and pieces of the palace’s history as we went. He paused briefly outside of one door before saying, “This is the palace nursery. It’s where all of us children lived until we were five and got our own rooms.”
Ice spread down my spine and I pulled my hand away from his, pretending to adjust my hair.The nursery.For the babies he and his wife would have.
Adelaide, you are an idiot, I chided myself. Yet again, I had managed to lose myself for just a moment, enjoying holding his hand and the conversation that came as easily as ever. But hearing the word “nursery” come out of his mouth was a stark reminder of what could never be for us.
Oliver cleared his throat. “Well, that’s about it. Is there anything else you wanted to see?”
I shook my head. “No. Thank you for the tour. My dad will be here to pick me up soon, though, so I should probably say goodbye to your mum and get my coat.”
