Page 17 of Royal Secret

I recount the story, watching as his expression remains unchanged. He takes notes, asks for a description, but the absence of a photograph of Jakob makes it clear; they have little to work with, and even less interest.

“We will file a report, miss, but you must understand — we have more pressing cases.” His words echo the sentiment of his disinterested gaze.

“Of course,” I murmur, feeling the dismissal deep in my bones. The station suddenly feels colder, and I wrap my arms around myself.

I should have taken a photo of Jakob. I had my camera with me, after all! Of course, he probably wouldn’t have let me, even if I’d asked. He likely already knew he would rob me of whatever good stuff he found in my room, and he would be an idiot to leave me with something I could ID him with.

Stepping back onto the street, I realize I’m alone in a hunt that seems increasingly futile. But I won’t give up. Not yet. Not until I’ve turned over every stone in this quaint country. My grandmother’s necklace means too much to surrender without a fight.

Trudging down the street, I find myself at the café where I met Mimi yesterday. It seems forever ago now, like it was another lifetime. Ordering a coffee, I take a seat at the same table I was at the day before and stare dismally at the wall. What now?

I clutch the ceramic mug, the warmth barely registering against my numb fingers. The café is a cozy alcove away from the bustling streets, yet I’m as cold inside as the stone buildings lining the old town square. I take a sip of the coffee, knowing I should eat something but not having an appetite.

“Maybe it’s time to go home,” I murmur to myself, staring into the dark liquid as if it holds answers. My grandmother’s necklace, more than a simple chain and jewel, was a connection to a past that I now feel slipping away. How could I let something so precious end up in the hands of a thief?

I blink rapidly, tears threatening to spill over. This isn’t how my trip was supposed to end. Not with heartache and loss. Not withdeception by someone who… No, I can’t eventhinkabout Jakob without a mix of anger and sorrow tangling up inside me.

I rise from my chair, needing some fresh air. Maybe a walk will clear my head, help me plan my next move. I can call Mimi and see if she has any advice about what to do.

But before I can take a step, my gaze catches on a newspaper held by an older gentleman at a neighboring table. My heart lurches, then races — Jakob’s face stares back at me from the front page.

“May I?” I gesture towards the paper, my voice quivering with disbelief. The man nods, perplexed by my urgency, but he hands it over.

“Prince Jakob,” the headline exclaims, below a photo of the man whose memory haunts me. He looks regal, untouchable — not like someone who would spend an evening with a tourist. And certainly not someone who’d need to steal.

“Why?” I breathe out.

The man frowns at me, probably thinking I’m loony.

“Sorry,” I mutter. “Um, thank you.”

I step away, my balance off and the room oddly bright. Aprince? It doesn’t make sense. The story beneath his image mentioned charity events, diplomatic meetings — nothing that hints at why he’d take my grandmother’s necklace.

Determination ignites within me, pushing the despair aside. This isn’t just about the necklace anymore; it’s about the truth. And I won’t leave Bergovia without it.

CHAPTER 10

JAKOB

Istride through the wide halls of the palace, my boots echoing against the marble floors — each step a reminder of the duty I carry as a prince of Bergovia. The grandeur of the royal residence, with its gilded cornices and ancestral portraits peering down at me, feels more important today than it ever has.

I grew up in this palace, but for most of my life it was nothing other than my home — a home filled with staff that hosted an array of dignitaries. Today this building is something different, though. It’s a source of pride, a reminder of the responsibility that I have been fortunate enough to inherit.

Today, for the first time in a long time, I will make my father truly proud.

This morning’s sunrise found me falling for Courtney, her laughter an echo in my heart. But as the morning casts longer shadows, my feelings are shrouded in doubt and confusion. How could she possess our family’s long-lost heirloom, a sapphire necklace of such significance?

My jaw tightens. No matter the tendrils of affection binding me to her, I must sever them. My involvement with Courtney has already twisted the threads of propriety and royal expectation into a complicated knot.

Reaching the heavy oak door of the king’s study, I knock with restrained force.

“Father, may I have a word?” I call out, knowing he is busy but also knowing that this matter cannot wait.

“Enter, Jakob,” comes the voice from within.

I push open the door and step inside, the familiar scent of cigars and leather enveloping me. My father sits behind his massive desk, a bastion of regal composure. His discerning eyes meet mine, and for a fleeting second, I wonder if he can see the battle waging in my soul.

“Father.” I reach into my jacket pocket, withdrawing the sapphire necklace that has been part of our family lore for generations. Its stones catch the light, casting azure reflections across the room.

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