Page 80 of A Wise Prince

Senator Farrington and Jared are led into one room. And according to Jack, Bill and the senator’s brother are being arrested as Jack speaks to them. Jack’s agents are taking down the forty-four society, one member at a time.

In another room, Conrad Johansen is meeting with Pete, Anna, and Dad. Kate and I watch video feeds as the two conversations carry on in each room. Jared is the first to cave under Jack’s expert questioning skills. He spills about his father and uncle’s plans, how Bill and he were just pawns in their game. He admits to kidnapping Kate and her sister, partly to make the president do what they wanted but also because he still thinks Kate wants him.

I can feel my jaw clench as he talks about her.

I turn back to Johansen talking to Dad. He admits nothing, but eventually, Anna pulls up her computer screen and shows him the money transactions she has found. He still admits nothing as Pete calls in the police to arrest him for conspiracy against the royal family.

It’s hours later that everyone is seated around the dining room table back at the Summer Palace as Tessa serves her famous mac and cheese and dotes on everyone like they are made of china. We all appear weary. It feels like the last two days have been two weeks long.

My father raises a glass. “To our children,” he says toward the president and his wife.

“To our children,” the president says.

Then my father turns toward me.

“August, I know you often feel overlooked. And it’s no surprise with Chris being the heir and Anna being…well, Anna.” He chuckles. “You have worn the façade of…well, I think we all know of what…but deep inside, you have always been a truly good and wise prince. Just remember that you are loved and valued by everyone in this family and by your country. I am very proud of you, my son.”

I blink to keep the tears away at my father’s kind words. He has never spoken of me like this and especially not in front of foreign heads of state, although I think everyone now knows that Kate is my girlfriend and thus the president and his family are more than just heads of state. There’s much more to be discussed. Conversations that will be had in the coming days, but right now, everyone puts all of that aside to be here, together.

“Thank you, Father,” I reply as I lift my glass. Kate grabs my hand and squeezes it, giving me a big smile. I look around the room at everyone. And for the first time in my life, I feel…complete and understood.

EPILOGUE

Six months later…

Kate

I look at the text from my dad. He and Mom are at a friend’s cabin in upstate New York. It’s been six months since he stepped down as president, citing health reasons, although we all know it wasn’t related to his health.

The press is still circling around the Farringtons and Johansen like vultures as they go through the court process. No one knows the real story of how we figured out their plans to take down the governments of our nations, but it’s best that way. I hope it stays a secret.

I completed my graduate program four days ago after defending my thesis to my faculty advisor and two other professors. I decided to graduate without any fanfare as our family has had quite enough in the past few months. Ashlyn even took a semester off of school. She’s still shaken over the kidnapping, but she’s improving with each day.

I still visit Andrew at his home. He’s finally out of the hospital and improving. Auggie joins me for weekly visits to the hospital to read stories to the children. He grumbles about it, but I know he loves it.

I lean against the door of the horse barn as Auggie mounts his horse. He looks positively regal. I get on my horse, and we ride out to the field, the same one from all those months ago.

“Now, don’t go over the edge this time,” Auggie teases me as we let the horses drink from a small stream at the edge of the wildflowers.

“Very funny,” I say to him with a glare.

He winks at me and I try to fight the grin that wants to spread across my face. I can’t stay mad at him. He’s just too cute.

“Let’s let them drink. We can set up a picnic here,” Auggie states as he jumps down and grabs the picnic basket.

He helps me off my horse, and I lean against her as I watch Auggie, a prince, down on his knees laying out cheese and crackers and fruit and champagne.

I giggle.

“What’s so funny?” he asks me.

“Nothing,” I lie.

“Hmmmph,” he mutters as he finishes.

He’s still on his knees as he surveys his work. He holds out a hand for me and I walk over to him. I start to sink to my knees, but he stops me with a shake of his head. His hands tremble against my legs.

“What’s wrong?” I frown.

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