Page 130 of Rags to Royals

Even my first day at school had gone amazingly well.

Or so I thought.

“What happened?” Scarlett asks Mariah. “You knew last week that was going to happen. You and Greta both thought it sounded fun.”

Mariah tosses her backpack on one of the kitchen chairs.

“It’s weird! I had to call him by a different name. And then, when Leah brought up the podcast, I did have to flat outlie.”

Mariah presses her lips together, and I think for a moment she might cry.

“Ihatethat,” she says. “Before when she accused me of lying, she was wrong. I was telling the whole truth. But today, Ididhave to lie. She was right calling me a liar. Because I couldn’t tell her that Cian was right down the hall in the history room. Then I had to walk into class and I could barely look at him. I was afraid I was going to call him the wrong name or stand up on my chair and yellthat’s him! I know more than even the podcast does!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Scarlett says, glancing at me. “Leah brought Cian up again today just randomly? Why?”

Mariah stares at her. “Because of today’s podcast. Because of you guys!”

Cold trickles down my spine. This doesn’t sound good. I scowl and stomp to the counter where my phone is charging. “What did they say?”

I don’t know who feeds the podcast all of the information about the royal family. We’ve all wondered at different times. It seems that it must be a mix of people. But I don’t know anyone who would have known we were in Autre this weekend who would’ve told the podcast already.

I start tapping and scrolling trying to find the most recent episode.

Scarlett and Ruby are doing the same.

I suppose we didn’t specifically tell anyone that Scarlett needed to be a secret. Because why would they think that? I was clearly over-the-moon in love with her. Why would they think for a second I wanted to keep that under wraps?

Because I don’t.

Fuck.

Lindsey: If you haven’t seen the latest photos that Lady Linnea posted from their honeymoon trip, be sure to go to her social media pages.

Jen: Definitely. She and Jonah are so hot and so sweet together. And how we all missed that there was something between the two of them, I will never know.

Lindsey: Well, it seems that maybe the royal family and their close friends are better at keeping secrets than we thought.

Jen: You have a point. We have some juicy news to share, listeners. You know how Prince Cian and his bodyguard Henry jumped on a plane and supposedly disappeared after the wedding?

Lindsey: And then everyone said never mind, there’s no story here, just a miscommunication. They’re back safe in the US. No worries. Move on with your lives.

Jen: Well, theydidhead back to the US and theyaresafe, but there was a reason for that sudden pre-dawn flight.

Lindsey: Can I say, I love that there’s always more to the story with this family? It certainly makes our show popular.

Jen: That. Plus, it’s just fun. And romantic. It makes my little romance-loving heart swoon.

Lindsey: I’m rolling my eyes for everyone who can’t see me. I mean, of course it has to have something to do with romance, right?

Jen: Some of us love love!

Lindsey: These people are a little over the top though.

Jen: Well… yes. And Cian is no exception.

Lindsey: That’s for sure. Tell everyone what’s up.

Jen: Turns out that Cian jetted back to the US for awoman.

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