Page 50 of Royal Secret

With the echo of my heartbeat loud in my ears, I close the ledger, the finality of the motion reverberating in my chest.

The moment I step into Father’s study, the air feels charged with silent secrets. It’s a room of power and decisions, where every object is laden with intent and history. I move past the imposing mahogany desk, towards the antique walnut cabinet where I know for a fact he puts things he does not wish to misplace.

I hesitate before the top drawer, my hand hovering over the ornate brass handle. This is more than just a breach of trust — it’s an act of defiance against the very lineage I’ve been raised to uphold. But the ache in my chest, the longing for Courtney, the desire to do right by my grandfather and Anna, it all gives me strength. With a deep breath, I pull open the drawer.

There, nestled among papers and various random objects, lies the necklace. Its stones catch the faint light, a kaleidoscope of remorse and beauty. A part of me warns me to leave it be, to close this chapter with dignity. Yet, I remember the look in Courtney’s eyes — the hurt I caused — and my resolve hardens.

Gently lifting the necklace, its weight in my palm is both heavy and freeing. With careful fingers, I place it inside the inner pocket of my jacket, feeling its cool presence against my heart. Then, I retrieve a sheet of official stationery and pen a note with a steady hand.

“Forgive me. I must do this in order to right history.”

The words are a vow, not just to my father, but to myself and to Courtney. The crown may slip from my grasp, but I cannot let our story end with such dishonor.

I leave the note in the center of the desk, a silent testament to my choice, before stepping out of the study. The corridors ofthe palace are quiet, almost expectant, as if they too sense the gravity of this moment.

I don’t want to linger in the palace too long. If I am to make my next move, I need to tie up all the loose ends at work. Make sure as many of my tasks as possible are done ahead of time and that there is enough staff to cover me. If all goes well, I will be taking a short vacation from the office. And so I jump into my car and hightail it to my workplace.

I nod at everyone I pass, from the security guards to the receptionists, always being polite and prompt, but also eager to get into the privacy of my office. Eager to continue to put my plan into play.

In my office, I pick up the phone and call the number for the aviation crew. “Prepare one of the jets for departure to the United States,” I instruct. “Houston, Texas. I need to make a personal delivery as soon as possible.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” comes the prompt reply. “We’ll have everything ready for your flight.”

“Thank you,” I say, and with that, the plans are set in motion. The necklace will be returned to where it belongs — in Courtney’s hands — and with it, a piece of my soul.

But destiny, it seems, has other ideas. As I glance up toward the door, there she stands. Courtney. The woman who unknowingly holds my future in her gaze. She’s here, in Bergovia, in my office.

Time narrows down to this singular point, our shared past and uncertain future converging in the space between us. We simply look at each other, and for a heartbeat, nothing else exists.

I stand motionless behind my desk, a million thoughts racing through my mind.

“I snuck in,” she says. “Past security. If you’re going to throw me out, please wait until I tell you what I came here to say.”

“I won’t be throwing you out,” I breathe.

“Good.” She lifts her chin a little higher. “For the national security department, I would have expected better security. Especially since a prince works here.”

A chuckle slips from my lips. God, it’s good to see her. “I suppose you were too smart for them.”

The weight of the necklace in my pocket feels like the anchor of a ship long adrift, finally ready to come home. My breath catches, held captive by the intensity of the moment. She’s here — Courtney, the woman who never left my heart, standing mere feet away from me. The air between us crackles with a thousand unspoken promises and regrets, the history we share hanging heavy in the room.

I don’t know what she has to say. I don’t know why she came all this way after leaving just days before. I don’t know if she will accept my apology or the necklace. What Idoknow, however, is that whatever comes next, it will change everything forever.

CHAPTER 28

COURTNEY

Standing before Jakob’s imposing figure, I feel like I’m caught in the middle of a winter storm — vulnerable, exposed, and quaking in my boots. The opulent room swirls around me, but all I can focus on is his intense gaze, searching mine for answers I’m not sure I’m ready to give.

“Jakob,” I begin, my voice a mere breath against the magnitude of what I’m about to divulge.

The silence stretches between us, thick as the velvet drapes framing the windows behind him. I worry he might fill it with words of dismissal or disdain — or worse, the cold chime of gold coins meant to silence me forever.

I brace myself for his anger, the possibility that he’ll lash out or turn his back on me, on us. I can almost hear the sharp intake of breath, the harsh words that will cut deeper than anything else ever could.

But then, he breaks the silence first, his voice carrying a note of something unreadable. “I thought you’d left Bergovia for good,”he says, and there’s an undercurrent of something like relief in his tone.

His expression softens, just slightly, as if the idea of my permanent absence had been a blow he wasn’t prepared to take.

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