Chapter 21 — Miles

It’s been a whole week.

One whole week, and her absence has left a gaping void in my life.

I can’t count the number of times I’ll turn, expecting to see Lisabet at my side. Or the number of times when I’ll reach out, hoping to hold her hand only to grasp cold air.

The whole palace is unnerved—not that I really care. There are whispers amongst the attendants, the security guards, the advisors. They all know something major has happened, the rift between my father and I too obvious to deny.

I’m outside in the courtyard with Jingles, playing a game of catch. David and Tobias stand at a distance, quiet and respectful, but clearly uneasy. Neither of them has spoken a word to me, and I in turn haven’t bothered to keep up with pleasantries. I never expected Tobias to be on my side, but David? I trusted him more than anyone else in the palace. I would have even gone so far as to call him a dear friend.

Now I know anyone on Father’s payroll is anything but.

They never leave me alone now. Never out of sight. Something tells me that it’s Father’s doing.

It’s suffocating.

David appears the most uncomfortable, always hanging back, never quite looking me in the eye. It feels weird being mad at him, but I think we can all agree that I’m perfectly justified. Now I finally understand how Father’s been able to keep such a tight leash on me all these years. Here I was, foolishly trusting that my closest friend would keep even my smallest of secrets. I should have known better.

There are no such things as secrets within the walls of the summer palace.

Jingles retrieves the tennis ball I throw, but he seems to be in a mood. His tail doesn’t wag as hard. He doesn’t bark as much. I have to wonder if he’s only playing catch with me to amuse me. I crouch down and scratch him behind the ear, staring at the collar Lisabet picked out for him when we were in Paris. Jingles whines, places his paw on my knee, likely sensing that something is wrong.

Everything is wrong.

Poor boy. It’s got nothing to do with you.

I haven’t been able to get a hold of Lisabet. Her orchestra’s touring Europe, so it’s not like any of her colleagues would be able to point me in the right direction. The number that I keep trying to call goes straight to voicemail. I even tried good old fashioned email, but there’s no telling if she’s read any of my messages or sent them straight to the trash bin.

I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.

And now I don’t know how to fix it.

“Miles?”

I don’t stand to greet Mother as she approaches. I keep my eyes on Jingles, smoothing out a patch of matted fur on the back of his neck.

“Miles, dear?”

“What is it?”

“Your father’s requesting an audience with you.”

“Tell him I’m busy.”

“That’s what I told him the last three times he’s asked for you. I think he’s starting to catch on.”

“Oh, how terrible,” I reply dryly. “I hope he’ll find it in his heart to forgive me.”

Mother sighs and takes up her spot next to me, bending down to give Jingles a couple of pats on the head. “Don’t you think you’re being a little over dramatic?”

I give her the side eye and say nothing.

“All right,” she concedes. “I heard it. You’re both be overly dramatic.”

“Very funny.”

“I really can’t stand what’s going on between you two. Won’t you talk to him for my sake?”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Miles—”

“How do you put up with him?” I ask. “After all this time, how’ve you managed not to bite his head off and just leave?”

Mother sighs. “There are days when I definitely want to.”

“Do you mean bite his head off, or leave?”

“Yes.”

I chuckle bitterly. “I see.”

“I’m serious about having to see your father,” she continues. “We have an unexpected guest. Or rather, two.”

“Who?”

“Caroline Raines and your cousin, Lord Greyson. They’re in the King’s receiving room.”

I roll my eyes and groan. “Can’t I catch a break? Caroline I get. But why is Neville here?”

“Oh, you know. He’s kind of obsessed with keeping the royal bloodlines of Europe going and whatnot. It’s his passion project.”

“Meddling in other people’s lives isn’t a passion project.”

“Tell him that. I heard he’s invested a great deal so that he can work with Miss Raines.”

“Not my problem.”

“Just go say hello to them, Miles.”

“I’d really rather not.”

“Dear—”

I rise, throwing the tennis ball as hard and as far as I can. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, Mother, but the girl of my dreams is on the other side of the ocean currently hating my guts. No thanks to Father. I have more pressing issues to stress out about than entertaining his guests.”

Mother places a hand on my shoulder and nods slowly. “You really liked Miss Thompson, hm?”

“More than I thought possible. And now—”

I cut myself off. There’s a burn in my throat, a sting in my eyes as pressure mounts in my skull. I’m exhausted. Constantly being monitored, trying to live up to my father’s expectations and failing, worrying about Lisabet and wondering where on Earth she is now has me weary beyond belief. My bones ache, every inch of my spine is stiff, and my skin feels feverish.

Lisabet had a way of making me feel calm, content.

Now her absence just compounds all the other problems in my life, making them heavier and that much more unbearable.

Mother combs her finger through my hair affectionately. “You have a duty to your people, Miles. I don’t agree with the way Albert handled things, but I can see where he’s coming from.”

“You do?”

She nods. “Unfortunately. For people like us, there’s no such thing as love.”

Her words sting like a million tiny needles to my back. Even though she sounds apologetic, there’s also an air of tired wisdom about her.

“Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” she says before hooking her arm in the crook of mine. “Come along, my son. The King can’t be kept waiting any longer.”

Caroline Raine is much unchanged. Sweet golden locks tucked away into a low bun, loose strands at the sides of her face falling just shy of her white blouse’s collar. The woman looks every bit a professional. Effortlessly elegant and very kind.

Lord Greyson, on the other hand, looks like someone’s just stomped on his foot and run away without apologizing. I haven’t seen him in a number of years, but he’s grown much more sour looking. He holds himself with pride. Straight back, head held high, always looking down his nose at everybody not just because he’s freakishly tall, but because he thinks he’s the most important person in any room.

Father’s seated on the ottoman. He doesn’t greet me as enthusiastically as our guests.

Or at all, for that matter.

“Prince Miles,” Caroline says sweetly. “Good to see you again.”

Lord Greyson claps me on the shoulder hard. “Cousin.”

“Cousin,” I say curtly.

“Couldn’t help but notice you were taking your sweet time choosing a marriage candidate,” he says, getting right to business like he always does. “I hope you understand that Miss Raine doesn’t get paid until you close your file.”

Caroline shakes her head, flustered. “Please don’t worry about it, Prince Miles. I’m more concerned with doing a job well done. It’s Lord Greyson who’s…”

“Impatient?” I supply.

Caroline’s too sweet to confirm, but I can tell by the look in her eye that she totally agrees.

Lord Greyson folds his arms. “King Albert and I have been discussing the issue of Oxlandian succession. It’s about time we get things in order.”

A tick of annoyance makes the muscles in my neck unbearably tight.

“Don’t you think those discussions should involve me?” I mumble through gritted teeth.

Caroline pipes up. “That’s why we’re here, Prince Miles. I’ve brought a selection of new candidates to choose from, since none of the others that I provided before seemed to pique your interest.”

“Miss Raine, I’m really not—”

“Pick a damn woman and get on with it,” King Albert snaps.

A hush falls over the room. Mother looks mortified, but says nothing. Caroline swallows hard. Lord Greyson nods in agreement with my father.

“You’ve dragged things out long enough,” Father continues. “I’ve invited Miss Raine to stay with us until you find yourself a wife. A suitable wife. She won’t leave a second before. Is that understood?”

I want to yell.

I want to scream until my head explodes.

“Are you that hell bent on securing our family’s legacy?” I ask, numb to the core. “You’d sacrifice my happiness just for the sake of the Crown?”

“Yes. The survival of our lineage is all that matters.”

I shake my head. “I feel so sorry for you. You’re so wrapped up and busy in living up to our history’s traditions that you haven’t been able to live.”

Father raises a hand. “Enough. It’s settled. Miss Raine will be our indefinite guest until I see you walk down that damn aisle.”

I’ve always known that I’ve been trapped, but it doesn’t really hit me until now. My royal title is starting to feel more like a curse than a privilege.

Nobody speaks up.

Nobody dares.

The only thing I can do is think about Lisabet.

Wherever she is, I hope she’s doing better than me right now.

A sudden wave of resolve hits me harder than a runaway train.

I can’t stay here. I need to know that Lisabet is safe, that she’s OK, that she made it home.

I have to get to her. I have to apologize. Prove to her that she means more to me than anything in the world.

It’s just a question of how do I slip past the guards and sneak out of the country?

And then it occurs to me.

I might have to take a page out of my good old friend Jamieson’s book.