Page 61 of Royal Reluctance

Even in a country as small and beautiful as Laandia, there is crime, and my brothers seem to be always part of it.

Myfamily—a few of my cousins are career criminals and I had an aunt who killed her husband with a cleaver. My grandmother lived on the street.

Even if I told Bo I still loved him, why would he wantmewhen I come from that?

I stay outside as long as I can feel my toes, walking along the edge of the trees to the cliffs overlooking the sea. There’s a bench, so clearly, this is a good thinking spot.

With all of my thinking, I don’t seem to be able to make any decisions. I just come up with more questions.

It is a relief that Bo didn’t replace me as soon as I left. That the love we shared didn’t vanish—might still be there.

But then I circle back to my family and what the king must think of them. He said I was now a member of his family, but what does that mean?

It means my daughter will be seen as a princess, as soon as Bo admits his paternity.

Things will change when that happens.

I’ve no doubt Bo will want to do that as soon as he drums up the courage to face a reporter. He always hated talking to the press.

Tema will have to do that now for the rest of her life. The Laandian royal family has never been hounded like other monarchies, but there has always been interest because of King Magnus’s popularity.

Prince Bo and his love child.

Secret marriage kept from the world.

Prince Bo’s new family wants to overthrow the Laandian monarchy.

I can picture the headlines now.

Maybe it would be best to take Tema and go back to Victoria, pretending we never made the trip. I can convince Bo to give me a divorce—maybe he could visit once a year to stay in Tema’s life.

That would be better for Tema. For the royal family not to have to deal withmyfamily. Bo wouldn’t have to deal with the press, the constant questions and finding the right words. That would be best for him.

But what would be the best for me?

22

Bo

“Bo,” Dad calls asI head up the stairs to collect Hettie for dinner.

I may have left her outside alone, but I won’t leave her to face my family by herself. And I did stop midway back to the castle and saw her walking to the bench.

And then inside, I checked out the window and saw her sitting on the bench.

I wait for Dad and Duncan to join me on the landing. “It’s good to see you back,” Duncan says as he gives me a one-armed hug. Duncan has been a constant at the castle my entire life and to see him without Dad would be strange.

“Hettie excited about dinner?” Dad asks.

“Would you be?” I counter.

He considers that. “Maybe not,” he admits, which I don’t believe. My father is the most outgoing person I’ve ever met. “But it’ll be fun. And I can’t wait for more of that little girl.”

“She’ll definitely shake things up around here,” Duncan agrees, and after a nod at Dad, he keeps walking.

Dad puts a hand on my shoulder. “I want to talk to you.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” Not that I can blame him—I’ve dumped a lot on this family today.

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