Royal Mistake #6 Page 18

  I march over to the ticket window, going straight to the head of the line. The man at the front of the line starts to protest, but when he recognizes me, he cuts himself off.

  “Your Highness,” he says with a quick bow of his head.

  “Forgive the intrusion,” I tell him. “This is an emergency.” I turn to the man at the counter. “Sir, I need you to tell me if Victoria Simpson purchased a ticket here tonight.”

  The man doesn’t seem to recognize the name, which worries me.

  “Right away, Your Highness,” he says, tapping a few things into his computer. His typing is unbearably slow. I let out a long breath and try not to show my impatience. My hand tightens at my side, and something digs into my palm.

  The ring. I’m still holding the damned thing.

  Before anyone can notice, I slip it into my pocket. The station clerk finishes whatever he’s typing.

  “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” he says. “No one with that name has purchased a ticket today.”

  Damn it.

  “Thank you,” I tell him, hoping he can’t hear the annoyance and desperation in my voice.

  If she isn’t here, then where the hell is she?

  When I leave the station, I look up and down the street. Where else might she have gone? I wasn’t lying when I told myself I’d tear the city apart to find her.

  I spend the next two hours scouring the streets, scanning the crowd and stopping in various bars, restaurants, and shops. I stop every member of the Royal Guard I see and ask after her, but none of them have seen her. A couple of them give me pitying looks, and I know word of my very public humiliation has started to spread. When I see those looks, I feel as if someone has kicked me in the stomach—but I don’t let myself focus on that feeling for long.

  But no matter how many people I ask or how long I search, I can’t find her.

  Is it possible she just went back to the palace? If she means to flee the country, maybe she went back to gather her things first.

  I could kick myself for not thinking of that sooner. That’s probably exactly what happened—I only pray there’s still time to catch her.

  I’m at the base of the road that leads up to the palace when I run into Reginald again. Apparently he’s decided he’s ruined enough lives for the evening and is turning in for the night. But he takes one look at me and perks right up.

  “Well, Andrew,” he says, grinning. “How does it feel to finally have the scepter back? And the Amhurst Valley? You’re a national hero!”

  That smug look on his face is just too much. I couldn’t give a damn about the scepter or the valley anymore. If he’s cost me the only thing I want, the only thing I need…

  He won’t get away with it, not this time.

  His grin falls slightly. “What’s that look for?” he says.

  I flex my fingers.

  “Nothing,” I say casually. “It’s just that I noticed there aren’t any Royal Guards nearby at the moment.”

  He quirks an eyebrow. “Oh? You mean to have me arrested?”

  “No,” I tell him. “It just means that this time there’s no one here to stop me.”

  And before he’s able to respond, I hurl my fist at his face.

  Victoria

  I’m barely out of the arena when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I don’t turn—I can’t face him. Not after humiliating him like that.

  “It’s what’s best for Montovia, Andrew.” My voice is broken, but not the sobbing mess I figured it would be when I made my decision to end our short engagement.

  “You’re sounding more like my brother every day. Isn’t there some saying about how over time you become the same person as the one you love?”

  I spin to face William.

  He grins. “Because you, Victoria, are becoming more like my brother with every passing moment.” His smile falls slightly. “And that is not necessarily a good thing.”

  “You can’t argue with my reasoning, William. No one in this country can. What I did back there…” Tears fill my eyes as I remember how I humiliated the man I love. “I made the only decision I could. Andrew got the scepter back and Montovia avoided certain war. What else could I have done?”

  William shrugs. “I’m not questioning your reasoning. Not at all. I…” He glances around at the crowd that has started to form around us. “Come.” He holds his elbow out to me. “We should return to the palace.”

  I nod and take his arm. He leads me to one of the horse drawn carriages waiting nearby and within minutes we’re back at the palace.

  “What are you going to do now?” William looks over at me as we walk the short distance to one of the side entrances.

  “I’m not sure. I need to explain it to Andrew. I need to make sure he understands—”

  “If anyone can understand duty to our country, it’s my brother.” William’s mouth twists into something of a wry grin. “Unfortunately.”

  “I suppose I should get my things. I can’t imagine he’ll want me under the same roof after what I did to him.”

  William only blinks at me for a few moments. “If I know my brother, he’ll do what he can to change your mind.”

  “That would be stupid. That would be—”

  “We are speaking of my brother, are we not? The one who thought putting on a pageant of suitors would cover up the fact he’d gambled away our national treasure?” He chuckles. “For as brilliant as my brother is at times, he can also be quite stupid. As I suppose all the royal children have been from time to time.”

  “Speak for yourself, Brother.” Sophia’s lilting voice comes from the doorway. She waves William away and takes me by the elbow. “Come, Victoria. We need to do a final fitting for your gown for the masquerade ball tomorrow.”

  “I…can’t.”

  She frowns. “Of course you can. You don’t think a little thing like breaking your betrothal to my brother is going to stop the ball, do you?”

  She knows?

  I’m sure they can both see the confusion on my face. “I thought you left, Sophia. How do you know—?”

  “Have you learned nothing in your short stay in Montovia, Victoria?” She laughs. “Nothing travels so fast as a good rumor, particularly one about Andrew.” Her smile falls. “Not that I expect it to remain true for long. You are planning to go back on your word to Reginald, are you not?”

  I glance between the two siblings. “And how could I do that? If I go back on my word, he’ll take back the scepter and his father will want to go to war.” I let out a long breath. “I think it will be better in the long run if I just go now. Stop torturing myself with trying to get out of what I’ve done. Besides, it was the right choice. I was never going to make a very good princess.”

  William and Sophia give each other a knowing look, but it’s Sophia who speaks first. “That is where you are wrong, Victoria. I never could have made a decision like the one you made tonight. You did what was best for a country that isn’t even your own. I’m not sure I could have done the same, even under the same circumstances. My brothers may disagree, but I think you made a very royal decision tonight. You put the needs of our country ahead of your own.”

  William nods. “My sister is right. And when Andrew’s head returns—if it returns—he’ll be the first to agree.”

  Sophia squeezes the top of my arm. “But you must attend the ball tomorrow before you leave. You’ll be masked—no one will need to know it’s you. You can spend the entire evening dancing with my brother and no one needs to know, not even Reginald. Besides, I expect that putrid excuse for a prince will be returning to his own country now that he’s had his revenge on our family.”

  William takes a step toward us, almost as though he thinks we’re being overheard. “We can wait until we have the rights to the scepter in hand. And wait until King Maximilian has signed away his claim to the Amhurst Valley and given it to my father. After that, you’ll be free to be with Andrew again in public. You can continue your courtship. I know my brother will w
ant that. It’s just going to take some time.”

  I nod. It’s just going to take some time. If Andrew will wait for me after what I’ve done to him. And it’s that thought that makes my stomach turn with guilt again. He won’t want to wait for me. Even if he does find it in his heart to understand that I did what I thought was right for Montovia, he won’t want to be with me after what I did to him tonight.

  “I appreciate the help. From both of you.” I glance between the two of them. “I really do. But I made my bed and now I have to lie in it. I can’t stay here—I should get my things.”

  “At least take the dress with you, Victoria.” Sophia looks as though she might cry. “We…we can find a hotel for you to stay at in the city. You should at least stay until after the ball. Please?”

  I’m not sure what comes over me, but I nod in agreement. “Okay.” It isn’t as though I’m in a huge hurry to get on another plane again—ever—even after everything that’s happened in the past few days. “But I can’t stay here. I just need to get my things.”

  I look down at my toes—I can’t explain the feeling in my gut other than it being an overwhelming guilt I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to shake.

  I finally look up at the two after a long moment. “If you see Andrew tonight, please tell him again how sorry I am. Tell him…tell him I finally understand how it must have felt for him all these years to have put the needs of his country ahead of his own.”

  Our heads all turn at the sound of shouting coming from the courtyard. Someone is running toward the palace—it’s too dark and too far away to see who. But then another shout comes from behind the person and another figure comes into view. And as they near the palace, it’s all too obvious what is going on.

  Andrew is chasing Reginald and is yelling at him at the top of his lungs. “Come back here, traitor! I’m going to kill you!”

  Andrew

  That coward won’t even face me like a man.

  I got in two good punches—and dodged two of his—before Reginald realized we were unmatched. Under normal circumstances, things might have been more even. But anger has given me a new strength, and apparently the bastard can’t take it.

  I sprint after him toward the palace. I don’t know where he thinks he’s going—does he mean to hide from me in my own home? Maybe he thinks the Royal Guard will come out and break us up again.

  Not before I get another hit in.

  He’s fast, but I’m desperate. I catch up to him in the courtyard, and I grab him by the collar, pulling him back toward me.

  “You coward,” I growl through clenched teeth, readying my fist to strike him again. “I swear, if you utter one—”

  “Andrew.”

  The voice is like a bolt straight through my chest. Victoria. My heart stops, and my hand freezes in midair. I can’t think. I can only wait, breathless, for that beautiful voice to come again.

  Reginald sees his opening. While I’m still stunned, trying to determine whether I’ve actually heard Victoria’s voice, he twists around in my grip and throws a punch at me. His knuckles collide with my cheek, and I stumble back. Stars dance across my vision.

  Instantly, the rage overtakes me again. I blink away the stars and lunge at him, and my quick recovery gives me the advantage. I throw him down on the ground and press a knee into his chest. This time he’s not getting away. This time—

  “Andrew, stop.”

  This time her voice is closer. Again, just the sound of it stuns me for a moment.

  She’s here.

  I shift more of my weight onto Reginald. This time I don’t intend to give him an opening. When I look up, I see Victoria coming down the steps, and my heart sings at the sight of her.

  She’s still here.

  The relief is so strong I could almost weep. But I keep my emotions in check as she approaches me.

  “Victoria.” I’m sure the relief and joy in my voice are plain for all to hear.

  She pauses some steps away, as if she’s afraid to come too close. “Andrew, don’t make this worse than it already is.”

  I glance down at Reginald. He grunts and squirms, trying to get free, but I just lean more weight onto him.

  When I glance back at Victoria, she’s looking at him, too. In fact, I’d swear she’s avoiding my gaze.

  “Victoria,” I say. “Fuck whatever arrangement you had with this coward.”

  She glances at me again, and in the light from the lanterns I see tears gleaming in her eyes.

  “Andrew…” She shakes her head. “I can’t. I can’t do that.”

  What the hell does she mean she can’t? What does she think she’s doing to me now?

  “I know how much this country means to you,” she goes on. “I know how much you’d sacrifice for Montovia. This is for your people. If I refused the offer, if Montovia lost one of its treasured symbols and the Amhurst Valley because of my selfishness… You might be all right with the idea of it now, because your emotions are running high. But in time you’d only come to resent me for it. I won’t let that happen. I’m doing the right thing, and we both know it.”

  “This is not the right thing,” I say. “This is the opposite of right. And for what it’s worth, Maximilian is the only one who can sign over the rights to that valley. Reginald is just toying with us.” I dig my knee into his chest for good measure, and he grunts and tries unsuccessfully to push me off him.

  “That’s not exactly true,” the bastard says, a little breathlessly. “My father has granted me a certain amount of diplomatic responsibility. If I tell him we’ve come to an agreement over the valley, he’ll stand by my decision.”

  “He’ll blindly accept that you gave away such a valuable piece of land to spite me?” I demand.

  “I wouldn’t put it to him in such terms,” he says. “But trust me, the deal I made with Victoria is perfectly valid, and I intend to uphold my end as long as she upholds hers.”

  This is ridiculous. I can’t believe it’s come to this.

  Victoria is suddenly just beside me, and I look up into her eyes. A tear has leaked down her cheek, but she quickly wipes it away.

  “I’m leaving, Andrew,” she says quietly.

  My heart nearly stops again. “You can’t.”

  “I have to. I…I need time to think.”

  “I don’t accept this bargain you two made,” I say, glancing between Victoria and Reginald. “I refuse.”

  “The decision isn’t yours,” she says. “It’s mine, and I’ve made it.”

  She moves away from me, and I start to stand. Reginald takes the opportunity to escape me, and he scrambles to his feet.

  “You hear that?” he says, smirking. “I’ve won, Andrew. The game is over.”

  I know that now isn’t the time to lose my temper again, but I can’t help myself. I spin and punch him again, hitting him in the jaw so hard that he falls back.

  “Andrew!”

  This time it’s not Victoria that calls my name—it’s William. And with him are a dozen of the Royal Guard.

  Shit.

  “My father will hear of this,” Reginald says, his voice thick with pain. “And so will the rest of the world—they’ll hear exactly how the heir to the Montovian throne treats his honored guests.”

  I want to charge him again, but suddenly there are guards between him and me, and a couple of them grab my arms, restraining me. William is beside me.

  “Let it go,” my brother says. “Don’t make this worse than it already is.”

  “You know what that bastard has done—”

  “I do. And mashing him to a bloody pulp won’t change anything. It’ll only make you look worse.”

  He’s right, damn him. The guards on either side of me seem to realize I’m no longer going to charge Reginald, because they release me again.

  That bastard can wait. Right now, I need to find Victoria.

  I turn, but someone grabs me again—this time it’s William.

  “Let her go, Brother,” he says
. “Trust me.”

  “I will not let her go.” I scan the courtyard for her, but I don’t see her anywhere—has she already disappeared?

  “Let her go,” William says again. “She’s made her decision. Trust her.”

  “She was tricked. She—”

  “She’s an intelligent woman. She made the decision she thought was best for both of you.”

  No. I won’t let her make this decision—not for Montovia and not for me.

  I break free of his arm and run through the courtyard to the head of the road down to the city. I’ll stop her. I’ll—

  I pause, looking down at the brightly lit streets below. The sound of music and laughter reaches me.

  But Victoria is nowhere to be seen on the road down into the city. I have no idea how she disappeared so quickly, but I know the truth deep in my chest—she’s gone.

  Victoria

  It’s strange how being cooped up in a tiny hotel room for only a day has given me the worst case of cabin fever I’ve ever had in my life. I did as William and Sophia asked—I allowed them to put me up in a small boutique hotel room on the other side of the city, far away from the festival and the crowds.

  And about as far away from Andrew as I can be while still in the same city.

  From my window, I see the palace in the distance, though I’ve been trying to avoid looking at it. Even thinking about the palace makes my stomach churn with a guilt I’ve never felt. The only thing that’s made me feel even remotely better in the past twenty-four hours was the headline in today’s newspaper, announcing the return of the Amhurst Valley rights to Montovia.

  Reginald might be a huge prick, but he’s an honest one.

  I did the right thing for this country. I probably did the right thing for Andrew, too, though nothing about what’s happened feels right on a personal level. At least now I understand why he’s had to make the sacrifices he has—I know exactly what it feels like to give up your life for the good of your country.

  It sucks.

  I’m not really sure what I’m still doing here. I promised Sophia I’d stay through the masquerade ball, but I can’t be with Andrew there. She explained how the royal family does its big reveal at midnight and the rest of the citizens follow, all removing their masks.