"I'm not sure how the queen is," Victoria replied honestly. "He hasn’t said anything to me about the queen since he left."
"But is there something wrong with the queen's health?" her mum pressed. "I've known her as long as I've known your father. I met them about the same time."
Victoria shook her head. "It's not my place to say anything that’s not public knowledge, Mum. Enzo asked me not to say anything to anyone, and he specifically mentioned talking to my family without official clearance."
"I see."
She thought her mum actually meant it, though she likely wasn't very happy about it. Victoria didn't quite understand it herself, except that information about anything to do with the monarch's health was very carefully controlled. Even though they were allies and trading partners, Enzo's family likely didn't want anyone from leadership in another country to know.
"Mum, I love you. I can't tell you anything more right without clearance - now or ever." Victoria felt hot tears fill her eyes. Her mum had to understand the position she would be putting Victoria in if she pressed the issue. “It would be the same way if the situation was reversed. Please don't ask me to."
Her mum sat silent for a moment or two then gave a slight nod. "Very well."
The conversation moved on to other, much more trivial, matters.
When Victoria returned to the hotel, she thought about texting Enzo again. She didn't want to come across as clingy or needy as she'd seen some girlfriends be in her years of traveling. She wasn't just a girlfriend, but their relationship had started after her last purchase of fresh produce. Her insecurities likelyhad no basis in reality, but even her status as a "princess" had never given her a solidly positive self-image.
A good counselor could probably go into why that might be, but for the moment Victoria didn't care to delve into that much self-reflection. After checking the clock and doing the time zone math, she decided to risk it though it was later than she would normally text almost anyone.
Immediately, the return text bubbles appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Disappeared.
Appeared.
And finally a text came through.
Enzo
If you’re still awake I’ll call you in a few minutes.
If they knew each other better, Victoria probably would have smirked and sent a text reminding him about those time zones, but instead she just sent a quick confirmation text.
After hitting send, she went into the sitting area, took a spot on the big chair, and waited.
He wasn'tready to be king.
If Enzo had learned anything in the last few days, it was that he didn't see how he could ever be prepared. Certainly not in afew days or even a few weeks, if his mum lived longer than the doctors initially suspected.
Leaning back in his office chair, he knew he wouldn't have a choice. He would be king soon, ready or not.
He needed to call Victoria. He'd planned to text or call her several times in the last few days, but he'd been mentally and emotionally worn out by the time he returned to his suite at night. When he woke, early, it was still the middle of the night in Southern Santiero. During the day, he was busy nonstop.
Making time would have been a priority, if anyone had known they were a couple. His assistant would have made certain he had time built in to his day, even if only for a short call.
Sitting back up, Enzo picked up his phone and started a video call.
On the second ring, Victoria's face appeared. "Hi. How are you?"
His public smile spread across his face without thinking about it. "It's been a long few days. I'm sorry I haven't been able to get back to you. How are you?"
Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "I'm good. I've spent some time with my mum, but otherwise I've been at the hotel most of the time. I've read some books, watched some movies. I'm supposed to go seeCome from Awaywith my family and a few others at the theater next week."
"What's that?"
