Page 112 of Prince of the Palisades

“There will be negativity. From the press. From our people.” She exhales. “Is Reiss ready for that?”

I pause, mouth open. Last night, all I wanted was to keep Reiss as close as possible. To never let go. But was Kofi right? Is it always about…me? Did I bother to ask if Reiss wanted all of this?

“Canyouhandle it, son?” Mom says.

“I’m not even the crown prince!” I look around the table. “Why does anyone care what I do? Who I date?”

Papa sips his tea. “You represent this country.” He motions toward Annika. “Your sister works hard to put our people first. Our family first.”

“Our family,” I repeat, almost hysterical. “The family that doesn’t even see each other?”

Papa smacks his hand down. “Ça suffit.”

“No, it’s not.” I shake my head. “Thanks toyouexiling me to America, this is the most I’ve seen my sister in a year!”

Annika frowns at me.

“Unlike you, she’s busy being a proper representation of Réverie.” Papa’s voice booms in the room. “Why do you insist on ruining your future?”

“What future?” I laugh hoarsely. “The one decided by the monarchy? I’m yourson. Not just a face printed on T-shirts in a souvenir shop.”

“You’re a prince.”

“I’m a puppet,” I argue. “And every time I try to be myself, someone cuts my strings.”

Papa scoffs. “You learned nothing in America. You’re emotional. Impulsive. Ungrateful. Disrespectful—”

“I’mme,” I say through the thickness growing in my throat.

“Excuse me.” The chair next to me shifts. Reiss stands, letting go of my hand. “Sorry, Your Majesty, but I don’t want this.”

“What?” I almost don’t hear my own voice over the ringing in my ears.

“I can handle this. I’m ready,” he says to my mom. Then, he stares down at me. “This is where you belong. Where you wanted to be. Right?”

I can’t answer him, my hands trembling on the table.

“I’m not standing in your way,” he continues. “Those kids we played with yesterday? They need you. Kids like Dom need you too. Someone to look up to. A hero, remember?”

“But what about—”

“How can you be brave if you’ve never been afraid?” His lips barely hold a smile.

Tears burn against my eyelashes.

Reiss faces Papa. “I’m lucky. My parents support my dreams. They let me choose my own path. Even when I mess up.” He raises a defiant chin. “That’s what great parents do. They don’t force their children. They let them be who they are. Mistakes and all.”

A beat of silence. I scramble for words, but nothing comes fast enough. Because, deep down, I know what’s next.

But it still hurts when Reiss whispers, “I’d like to go home.”

I stare at him, incredulous. Heartbroken.

“As you wish, Reiss,” Mom says, nodding. “Ajani, please see that he gets everything he needs. Samuel, coordinate a flight home.”

There’s a moment where Reiss lingers over me. I still can’tfind the right words to ask him to stay. He doesn’t wait for them. He turns his back from me and follows Ajani out the mahogany doors.

And I let him leave.

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