Page 40 of His Runaway Princess

After choosing his own meal, Ryker handed it back. Amalia noticed he’d only chosen from the options given and didn’t ask for something else like she had.

What she’d asked for was one of her favorite dishes and though it wasn’t on the menu per se, she knew they always had the necessary ingredients in stock.

Once the order had been submitted, Amalia decided Ryker should see the rest of her apartment.

Pointing to one of the doors, she started the other direction. “That’s the kitchen. I’ll show you the rest.”

They walked around the entire apartment. It wasn’t overly large as royal apartments went, but definitely not small either.

She hadn’t done it on purpose, but the last room on the tour was her bedroom.

“Are you sure you don’t mind if I come into your personal space?” Ryker asked, stopping at the threshold.

Amalia shook her head. “No. We’ve shared closer quarters before.” Like in the cabin on Biansola.

Where they’d shared a magical kiss and she’d fallen asleep next to him.

“But they weren’tyourquarters.” Despite his seeming reticence, Ryker entered the room.

She moved farther in. “If we go through with this, it will becomeourquarters.”

He looked around, hands clasped behind his back. “This is where we would live?”

“Most likely. There are other alternatives, but this is my preferred one.”

Ryker stopped next to one of the comfortable chairs near the fireplace and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. “I know how housing in a royal family often works. At some point, it’s likely you will no longer live in the palace, by choice or not. What do conditions have to be for you to be forced to leave these quarters?”

Amalia looked him straight in the eye. “Either Ginny’s child has become monarch or she chooses not to accept the role, and I become queen.”

* * *

Before Ryker could replyto the princess’s announcement that she could still one day be queen, a knock sounded on the outer door.

“That’s our meal.” Princess Amalia turned and walked quickly toward the main living area of her apartment.

Having worked in a palace for most of his adult life, Ryker didn’t find himself overly impressed. Yes, he’d like to go back through and wander around the halls and study the different pieces of artwork and so on, but similarities to the palace in Akushla definitely existed. He suspected most palaces in the western world did. He’d been in many of them.

A minute later, he followed the princess as she pushed the cart near the door to the balcony.

“Do you mind eating outside?” she asked as she picked up the tray covered by an oblong silver dome.

“Not at all.” He followed her out onto the deck.

She set the tray on the table before glancing up. “Would you grab the other tray?”

Turning around quickly, Ryker wondered why it hadn’t occurred to him. A moment later, they had both fixed their drinks then sat on either side of the table.

Ryker let her take the lead in their conversation. As a result, they talked about unimportant things.

The weather.

Twenty-four-hour sunlight.

Twenty-four-hour darkness.

Favorite types of music.

Favorite desserts.

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