Wheels up in five for Kerkyra. Also quit it with the your majesty stuff, you’re making me nervous x
Are you serious?
Very serious about your majesty being a no-go for you specifically. Also I’m very popular with the Greek coast guard what can I say? Made an impression I guess
You’re memorable, to be fair
That’s suspiciously like flirting. Or he’s messing with me. At any rate, I’m grinning. Across the aisle, Mads catches my eye and frowns slightly, and I cough and pretend to look all businesslike to appease him. I can’t wait to do my best to try to ditch him in Greece. Or at least not have him hulking over my shoulder, and I’m hardly a short man. I know he’s meant to protect me, and he has a job to do, but he’s entirely disconcerting.
Meanwhile, I stare at Stef’s text, my heart pounding.
Where are you?
Kerkyra. Also for coast guard reasons.
Did you finish your dig? Find anything old?
For now and yes
Are you free later?
Can be. Text me when you’re settled
I’m so tempted to ask him about François, but I refrain. Forget François. The universe has given me an opening, and I’m taking it. I shut off my phone, close my eyes, and do my best to fake sleep all the way to Greece. Until it actually becomes real sleep after we take off.
* * *
“Your Majesty? We’ve landed at Corfu International Airport. Plentiful sunshine and 32 C.” The same air steward from earlier peers down at me. I rub my eyes and straighten. She hands me a little packet with a warm, damp cloth to refresh myself and a bottle of water.
“Thanks. This is great.”
She smiles. “You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy your trip.”
“I’ll try.” I smile back.
Then she goes off. I wipe my face to wake up, then my fingers, and down half the bottle of water. The door to deplane is open, and already, the plane is warming up with the hot summer’s day outside. I’m in a lightweight summer suit, white shirt, shiny shoes—ready as it gets for my appointment this afternoon with the coast guard in Corfu Town.
As arranged, we meet in a secure room behind the scenes in the airport. I have a Greek lawyer meeting me, and together, we sign off on my affidavit with the Greek authorities detailing the accident and confirming there was no foul play or negligence. It’s surprisingly brief. I expected an afternoon of questions, but we’re out within twenty minutes. I get plenty of curious looks from airport staff even through the back channels of the airport, who don’t usually have royals stop by every day, in fairness.
Soon, I’m taken to my car with an unmarked escort tailing us and driven northeast from Corfu Town to the private villa I’ve booked for the week. As ever, the security details are impeccable. Mads is satisfied when he checks in with the advance security team.
Better yet, the villa is even more gorgeous than the photos. It has a stunning view of the water from a high vantage point, with an infinity pool I can’t wait to get into.
I waste no time in finding my bedroom inside, admiring the very sleek contemporary interior, all bright and fresh, and changing into shorts, sandals, and a linen shirt. I slide on my sunglasses and stop by the kitchen to grab a beer, where a private chef has stopped in for a couple of hours to prep a few meals for me.
I flop on a lounger and text Stef.
Arrived at my villa. Let me know if you want to come up or for me to come meet you
I’ll come up if you want to keep low profile
I make myself take a deep breath and stare up at the cloudless skies to compose myself. I message Mads to let him know I have a very special guest arriving. Then, I send the address, drink my beer, and try to be very, very patient as I gaze at the Kerkyra coastline with the summer’s heat beating down—waiting for Stef.
Chapter Fifty-Three
An eternity or two later, as the sun has lowered ever so slightly in the afternoon, there’s the sound of footsteps behind me. I sit up on my lounger and take off my sunglasses, rising. I tuck them into my chest pocket.
“Your Majesty.” Mads’ voice. He catches my gaze before I focus on Stef beside him. “Your guest has arrived, Prince Stefanos.”
