Page 23 of Prince of the Palisades

“Then what?”

I drop my hand. On the other side of the screen, the exhausted lines around Mom’s face have turned hard. She’s frustrated. So am I. Anger bubbles inside my chest like those exploding candies dropped into a bottle of soda.

“What if I just came home?” I say, desperate. “What if I just got on a plane and—”

“You can’t.”

“What if I did it anyway?” I laugh roughly. “What’s Papa going to do if I just show up?”

Mom doesn’t smile. “He’ll cut off your royal funds,” she says, cool and even. “Revoke your title. Until you’re twenty-one. Maybe longer.” She rubs her temple. “If you come home before proving to us you’re the prince we raised you to be, he’ll assign you to the Royal Council of State. You’ll work side-by-side with the prime minister. You’ll be so busy inside the palace, we’ll never have to worry about the Jadon you choose to show everyone else.”

“Is that”—I swallow hard—“what he said?”

She sighs. “I can’t change his mind on this one.”

I blink, an unwanted sting behind my eyelashes. My lungs are tight, my free hand shaking on the bed. It’s never been this extreme with Papa. Never this…final. But I have to know one more thing.

After another swallow, I ask, “Is that howyoufeel?”

It’s not uncommon for Papa to be so strict. The moment he was confirmed as Réverie’s new king, he took his position seriously. Follows every rule, never missteps. Sometimes, I think Annika’s just like him. But Mom’s different, like me.

At least, I thought she was.

Her stare is a mix of sadness and resolve. “Take advantage of this opportunity, Canelé,” she advises. “It’ll be good for you.”

It’s not the answer I wanted.

“This is your chance to grow up,” she continues. “Are you always going to solve your problems by ignoring them? Running away? Making a scene?”

I bite on the edge of my tongue to stop anything from spilling out of my eyes. To keep my attention off the flickering flame in my heart. To prevent myself from saying something I’ll regret.

“Prove yourself,” she says. “Or don’t. The decision is yours.”

5

A CAUSE FOR THE CROWN

Is the sun brighter or is it the stylish and (shockingly) hilarious Crown Princess Annika that has all of us glowing? The royal dropped byThe Late Late Showto discuss her visit to America, which includes working closely with nonprofits focused on engaging and uplifting the young women of LA! When asked about Prince Jadon, who’s been under fire for a controversial video, Her Royal Highness happily showed off a warmer side of her younger brother via baby photos. We know who our fav royal sibling is!

After ending my call with Mom, I find Annika poolside, stretched across one of the lounge chairs with a paperback in hand. California’s picturesque skies have nothing on the colorful design of her luxury beach dress. Not too far away, Luc has earbuds in, watching something on a tablet.

I angrily throw myself into the empty chair next to Annika.There’s a decorative pillow digging into my spine. I toss it into the pool.

She lowers her copy ofRoyal Holiday, then her sunglasses. “I’m not paying for that,” she says firmly.

“No, I am,” I growl. “Just like I’m paying for one ridiculous video by being exiled to this trashfire of a country.”

“Okay.” Annika turns to face me. “Mom or Papa?”

“What?”

“You always get like this”—she waves a hand at my wrinkled nose, the elbows on my knees, my posture slouched over like I’m Quasimodo’s long-lost son—“whenever it involves either Mom or Papa. So, which is it?”

I sigh. “Both.”

“Yeah, that tracks.”

Annika doesn’t add anything else. She’s great at leaving space for me to process situations. Waiting until I’ve finally unpacked all the clutter in my head before I tell her what’s on my mind.

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