When we get back to Saint Pierre, I tell Ria the date is over.
Even though I didn’t mean to, it seems that the First Date Rose curse is still alive and well on my season.
11
Spencer
B
eforeIdoanythingLyra-related, I visit the castle to see my father.
My father doesn’t really have an official title, nor a job description. They call him the right-hand man of the king, but no one really knows exactly what he does.
He does a lot.
Duncan Laz has been at the side of the king of Laandia since before Magnus was king, guiding, advising, and supporting him in everything he does.
The fishing dispute with Canada? Duncan was behind the scenes researching the issue, talking to the right people, and creating the talking points so Magnus could nail the negotiations.
When the queen suddenly passed away? Dad, with Mrs. Theissen’s help, organized the funeral, dealt with the outpouring of grief from the country and basically ran Laandia for weeks while the family grieved.
When Bo had a secret wedding eight years ago—
No, that was me. My father had no clue about that.
I head to the castle after beers with the boys. Bo offered to fly me down to Saint Pierre first thing in the morning, and there is much to be done if I’m going to take a few weeks off.
I’m really not sure how much time I’ll need because I have no idea how long Lyra will want to keep me around.
If at all.
I manage to avoid most of the staff and residents of the castle as I slip upstairs to Dad’s office. He has a suite of rooms on the top floor but his office is down the hall from the king’s. It’s the one hallway that doesn’t look like a castle, renovated under the former king. I’ve always thought it looks a little like a corridor in the White House.
No one really likes it. I much prefer the rest of the castle, which is why I set up an office on the main floor, conveniently close to the kitchen.
The door to his office is open but I knock anyway.
“What’s up?” Dad runs a hand through his grey hair. People say a lot of things about Duncan Laz but the one thing everyone agrees on is that he is a seriously beautiful man with great hair. “Long day. You here for work or just to say hi?”
I shake my head. “I cut out early. I needed a meeting with the boys.”
He narrows his silvery eyes and motions me to take a seat. His eyes are the same colour as mine—flashing grey one moment and green the next. We all got the good hair from Dad, but mine will never hang loose to my shoulders as his does. Even after all these years, my father still looks like he belongs on a romance novel cover, albeit a little tired with a few extra lines around his eyes.
“Was that meeting about Lyra?”
Dad’s abrupt question throws me. I know what I came to say to him, and planned how to say it, and I wasn’t going to start with Lyra.
I thought I would slowly get around to her.
Dad leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. “I wondered if her going on that reality show might light a fire under you. Guess it’s better late than never.”
My jaw drops and I’m silent for a full minute. “What do you mean?” I finally manage.
“Spencer Xavier Laz, do you honestly think that there is anyone in this place who doesn’t know that you’re completely crazy about our princess?”
“I—what?” I give my head a shake. I’m not usually so tongue-tied.
Dad chuckles. “You want me to call in Magnus? We’ve been expecting this day since you first crawled up on the queen’s bed to see Lyra when she was born.”
