“Um...” I twirl a strand of stray hair around my finger, glancing away.
“You do. It’s so obvious. If my brother’s wife were here, she’d tell you the exact same thing. She’s a bit of a love expert.” Alice sits up taller. “I can’t wait to meet him. Are you guys free next weekend?”
I almost choke on my hot chocolate.Are you guys free?As if we’re a couple with a shared social calendar. He’s my boss. Even if I am falling for Theo, nothing beyond friendship can happen between us. But more than that, there’s one other giant elephant in the room.
“Alice. No. We can’t.” My cheeks burn. “No one here knows about the princess thing.” I groan, pressing a palm to my forehead. “And I’m not ready for it to come out yet. I don’t want things to change and my new friends to see me differently.”
Alice’s mouth forms an O shape. “Hold on. How is it thatno oneknows? Not even your supervisor? HR? Didn’t you have to sign some legal paperwork when you were hired?”
“The head of HR, security, and the woman who hiredme are in the loop,” I admit quickly. “They had to know. But they’ve all signed NDAs.”
Alice blinks, incredulous. “How have there not been any leaks?”
I haven’t stopped to question it. Because why tempt fate? “I don’t know... People don’t care as much about my family? I’m just another engineer. I have a pretty low-key life.”
Her expression tightens, the playfulness completely gone. “That may be true in America, but it won’t be in London. The press here is relentless. Some of these photographers would sell their souls for the right shot. If someone even suspects who you are?—”
“I know where you’re going with this,” I cut in, slumping back against the couch cushions. The weight of it feels like a physical pressure on my chest. “It’s been so nice to blend in and be normal.” I sigh, looking at the ceiling. “But London is another monster. I’ll put in the request. My parents, the embassy, and the Imperial Household Agency will probably insist on it anyway the second they see my itinerary.”
“Arthur and my father will too.” Alice nods, satisfied but still looking worried. “You don’t need an army of officers, just two or three to make sure you don’t end up on the front page and you’re left alone. As for Theo... you need to tell him. The sooner, the better.”
I groan, the sound muffled as I press my face into a throw pillow. “Alice?—”
“No, don’t ‘Alice’ me. You’re already falling for the bloke,” she says, her voice firm. “You can’t build a relationship on a foundation of ‘I forgot to mention I’m a princess.’ If it comes out sideways, it’ll look like you didn’t trust him. Or worse, like you were playing a game.”
She’s right, of course. Again.
“I think he’ll handle your news better than you think. He sounds like the type of bloke who doesn’t scare easy.”
Her words hang heavy in the quiet of my living room. “I know,” I say quietly, tracing the rim of my mug. “It’s just... once I say it, I can’t take it back. Everything changes. He might start looking at me like I’m a porcelain doll instead of an engineer.”
Alice nods slowly. “You’ll just have to trust him.”
In the years I’ve been living on my own, I can count on one hand the number of people I’ve told about who my parents are. I’ve never felt close enough to anyone to trust them with it. It’s always been easier to keep that part of my life separate. But with Theo... everything feels different. I can’t put my finger on why. “I guess so,” I murmur.
“Wow, you just agreed to that way too easily.” She studies me. “You’re in deeper than I thought. You really like him.”
I open my mouth to argue, but the words don’t come. My pulse stutters. “I do,” I say, finally admitting it aloud for the first time.
Alice’s grin widens, triumphant. “Finally. I was starting to think I’d have to fly across the Atlantic myself to knock some sense into you. Now, dates. I need those and where you’re staying.”
After we say our good nights, I’m left staring at my phone. Taking a deep breath, I open the text thread with Theo and scroll through to today’s messages that I still haven’t answered.
Theo: Thought you’d appreciate that I actually left the office for lunch today. Here’s my proof.
I tap the photo and zoom in. His hand is holding a Nando’s takeaway bag, the edge of the wrapper stampedPERi-PERi Chicken.I laugh to myself. At least it’s not Burger Chalet.
Then I notice the background. Behind him, Tower Bridge arches over the Thames. The gray-blue sky has broken just enough for sunlight to glint off the water. He must’ve taken this right outside Excelsior’s London headquarters, which is in South Bank.
I start typing.
Kaori:Look at you, embracing the great outdoors. I’m impressed. Also... I have some news.
I hover over my keyboard, debating whether to add a winking emoji, then hit Send. The message goes through. There’s no immediate read receipt or reply. Just the faint, taunting time stamp. I lock my phone, not surprised. It’s late over there. I hope he’s sleeping.
I lean back against the cushions, letting out a slow, shaky exhale. It feels surreal. In just a few days, I won’t be zooming in on a pixelated photo. I’ll be standing in that exact spot, with Tower Bridge arching behind me and the Thames breeze on my face. Seeing Theo Riverton in the flesh.
I press a hand to my chest, feeling the frantic skip of my heart, and smile at the sheer absurdity of it. “Get a grip, Kaori,” I whisper to the empty room. “It’s a work trip. Just like you told Alice.”
