Away from him.
Away from all this mess I never wanted.
But the emotions—the fear, the grief—follow me like a shadow.
I can feel Nicolas’s gaze burning into my back, but I don’t turn around. I disappear into the bushes, heading toward the castle park.
Panting and gasping for air, I dart out through the massive gate separating the park from the royal cemetery and hurry to my car.
I’m alone here. My brother doesn’t know where I am, and I have no intention of returning to Perlington House anytime soon.
Fumbling, I pull my phone from my pocket and tap on Lizzy’s contact. I need my best friend.
“Lia, hey?—”
I cut her off immediately.
“Can we meet? Now? I… please,” I beg her, because I… I feel so… I don’t even know. It’s all too much, and I want to crawl out of my own skin.
Suddenly, the weight of what I have to do in two days, what is expected of me, hits me like a bomb. It takes my breath away, and I feel like I’m drowning in my own panic.
“Meet me at the lake in half an hour. I’m on my way.”
I nod, even though she can’t see me, but she’s already hung up.
My body is buzzing as I open my car door with trembling fingers and slide inside.
How dare he say something like that? How dare he label me a title-chaser? He doesn’t know me at all.
But you don’t know him, either, my inner voice chimes in smugly. I shove the thought aside. I don’t want to hear it. He’s a jerk.
I start the engine, and as I glance in the rearview mirror, I spot a black motorcycle, and its rider, parked at the far exit of the park. Nicolas.
It dawns on me that he and Philipp must have seen each other far more often than I thought. But I’m in no mood for rational thinking or arguments right now. I’m far too upset.
My heart skips a beat, and my anger at him, and at the whole situation, flares up again.
I start the car, lift my chin defiantly, and flip him the middle finger as I drive past, then step on the gas. I speed through the gate faster than I should, ignoring the guards shaking their heads. Normally, I’d be embarrassed, but I just need to get away.
Twenty minutes later, I’m out of the city and turning onto the gravel road leading to Lizzy and my lake. It’s our sanctuary, secluded and peaceful, where no one else goes. It’s not large, but it’s beautiful, hidden within a grove of birch trees. The grove itself has an incredible charm, with its white trunks and branches swaying in the wind, inviting you to sit there for hours. As the trees thin out, you can see the small, pebbled beach leading to the shimmering blue of the lake. On the accessible side, there’s a weeping willow where I always sit, enjoying the view. It’s my place to find peace.
When I park next to Lizzy’s baby-pink Audi, I can’t help but smile. She loves that color and insisted on her car being painted exactly like this. In that regard, she’s truly a princess.
The gravel crunches under my soles as I make my way to the willow. Lizzy is already sitting beneath it with two coffee cups, scrutinizing me as I approach.
“What happened?” she asks immediately, noticing my trembling fingers as she hands me one of the cups. I take it from her with a grateful nod.
So much for calming down.
Lizzy knows exactly how shaken I am. With a sigh, I sink onto the grass beside her, leaning back against the trunk.
“Everything. Or more accurately, your brother. Or the fact that in two days, I’ll be moving into that castle, which suddenly feels way too small, dark, and suffocating,” I admit helplessly, shrugging because I can’t even explain the chaos inside me.
“My brother?” Of course, that’s the first thing she picks up on, and I exhale sharply.
“I was at Phil’s grave. I wanted… I wanted to talk to him, clear my head. Then Nicolas showed up out of nowhere and scared the shit out of me, just to smugly inform me that I’m some kind of title-chaser. He made it sound like I only cared about becoming queen.”
I’ve worked myself up again, my heart racing wildly. The very thought of what he implied makes my blood boil.
