Page 88 of The Royal in Room 3

“What are you suggesting?”

“A private trip to California.”

My heart jumped with joy. “You mean it?”

“It would give the family time away and allow you the chance to disappear for a few days.”

I stared at Father, seeing more than a king, but a parent trying hard not to lose another son. And he wouldn’t have to. Now all I needed was to wait another two months to see Jude. Two months to come up with as many reasons as I could to get Jude to agree to flip the script and let me teach him how to be a royal instead.

28

JUDE

I’d made the biggest mistake of my life when I’d let Soren go, and I had no idea how to fix it. The past month had only shown me that I’d been a coward, ending our relationship because I was afraid I would never be enough for him, even while he kept insisting that I was.

I regretted it almost as soon as he left the country and had spent the past month trying to secure an Electronic Travel Authorization to travel to Belvaria. Unfortunately, my application had been flagged because of my past conviction. Every request for additional documents seemed to lead to another delay, leaving me trapped in California while Soren remained oceans away.

Yesterday, my sister reminded me about my mother’s pantry, which was hanging loose. I was working on it when my phone chirped on the table. I rested the hammer on the floor and went over to check the notification. Soren hadn’t reached out since he’d returned to Belvaria, but it didn’t stop me from thinking—hoping—it was him.

It wasn’t.

The email was from the Belvarian High Commissioner. I closed my eyes, wishing for the best before I read the email. My heart sank. They had refused my travel authorization to the country. I’d fucked up and wouldn’t even have the chance to correct my mistake.

I sank heavily into a chair and reread the rejection letter. They’d even gone so far as to advise me that sending another application was unlikely to be successful. There was no other way into Belvaria.

Are you really going to abandon your boy?

Soren’s last words to me echoed in my head, filling me with guilt. Maybe this was a sign that Soren had moved on and didn’t want anything to do with me. I’d watched the court case in Belvaria at Halo House with all the angels gathered in the sitting room. Outside the courthouse, he’d acknowledged what Halo House meant to him. He’d sung Phoenix’s praises and even mentioned Vale.

He hadn’t mentioned me at all, and maybe I should take that as a hint that he no longer wanted anything to do with me.

But I wanted to fix it.

“Jude, darling, are you okay?” Ma asked as she entered the kitchen. She’d ditched the walker and was moving around much better now.

“I’m not sure,” I said honestly.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you? Is it your breakup with Soren?” She came over to the table and took her time sitting down.

“Yes. I made a huge mistake, and I don’t think I can fix it.”

“You can’t or don’t want to fix it?”

“I’ve been trying to go to him,” I said with a frustrated sigh. “But their High Commission just denied my ETA. I can’t go to Belvaria to apologize.”

“And he’s unable to come here?”

“Phoenix says he can’t leave the country for a while, given he’s just resumed his role as their crown prince. The ball is in my court, and I’m blowing it.”

“Oh dear. This is a problem.” Ma shook her head and tutted. “I still can’t believe you had the chance to make me a queen and you declined.”

I groaned. “Ma, you know me being with Soren wouldn’t make you a queen, right? I wouldn’t even be a king but a Prince Something—I forgot what he said it was.”

Me? A prince? Could anyone blame me for walking away? The idea seemed ridiculous, but my love for Soren was genuine. If he thought I could be the man to stand by his side while he ruled a nation, I loved him enough not to allow my fears to come between us.

“Ah, honey, I’m just an old woman. Let me have my fun.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.” I got to my feet and started pacing, but there wasn’t enough space for it to have much of an impact, which only left me feeling more frustrated.