I nod and smile brightly. “Sure. Let’s go.”
* * *
Alden isa picture-perfect gentleman as he walks me back to my room in the North Wing. We keep the conversation light, discussing the upcoming coronation. A flurry of activity unfolds around us as we pass through the Great Hall, where at least a dozen housekeepers are dusting chandeliers and polishing floors.
“There hasn’t been a ball here for a long time,” Alden murmurs as we cross through an archway into the throne room. It reminds me of a church, full of stained glass and somber air. “Not since King Leopold and Queen Abigail threw a party to celebrate Henry’s birth.”
“You must’ve been very young.”
“Little more than a baby.” His grin is quick. “I don’t remember much. Ava wasn’t even born yet. Neither were you, come to think of it.”
“Is that typical? To have so few balls?”
“King Leopold wasn’t a fan of excess or debauchery.” His eyes grow sad again. “Not like his son. Henry loved a good party. If he’d been crowned… his coronation would’ve been a celebration the likes of which Germania has never seen.”
I’m quiet as we ascend the grand staircase up to the second floor, at a loss for what to say. Whenever he speaks of Henry, I feel like a total imposter — an unwanted changeling, swapped out for the rightful heir.
Alden seems to realize we’ve waded into uncomfortable waters, because he suddenly squeezes my hand and brightens his tone. “See those suits of armor?”
I glance at the row of medieval-looking hollow knights that line the hallway.
“Funny story…” He chuckles. “Once, maybe five years back, after a few too many rounds of Germanian ginger mules, we were all stumbling around the castle…”
By the time we round the corner toward my suite, he’s got me laughing uproariously as he tells me about the time he, Chloe, Carter, and Henry got drunk, put on antique suits of armor, and ran through the halls at midnight, their battle cries waking up everyone in the entire castle.
“Then, Chloe fell over and couldn’t get back up. The armor was so heavy, it took all three of us to stand her upright again.”
I throw back my head and laugh. “Oh my god, please tell me there is photographic evidence.”
Alden shakes his head, grinning. “Afraid not. Can you imagine if that ever leaked to the press? We would’ve been lambasted.”
“I’d imagine Simms did some lambasting of his own, when he found out.”
He laughs. “How right you are.”
We’ve reached my door, but I hesitate in the hallway. “Alden… thank you.”
“For what?” he asks, squeezing my hand.
“Taking my mind off things for a while.” I shrug. “I haven’t laughed this much in a long time.”
“That’s a crime.” He steps closer, perfect teeth flashing. There’s not a single hair out of place on his perfectly parted platinum head. “You have a wonderful laugh, Emilia.”
He’s not quite six feet tall, so when he leans his face down toward mine, the distance isn’t all that far. I feel my mouth go dry, watching him come closer.
Is he going to kiss me?
Am I going to let him?
My questions never get answers — there’s a bang from our left, loud enough to make me jump out of my skin. Alden and I both spin our heads to look and find the source of the sound standing in the doorway of his suite, hand still on the knob, glaring darkly in our direction.
Carter.
Just the sight of him is enough to make my heart pound a mad tattoo — even with him glaring at me like he wants to ring my neck. I’m not sure what expression is on my face, but whatever he sees when he takes in the sight of me and Alden makes his lip curl with disdain.
“Carter,” Alden says in a light tone, but I notice how tense his shoulders are. “Good to see you, mate.”
Carter’s eyes cut to Alden, then drop down to where our hands are still interlaced. A muscle jumps in his cheek.