Page 19 of Once Upon A Royal Christmas
“We’re always around to help, and please call me Ingrid.” She pressed a hand to her heart. “We’re just so thrilled that we’ve been chosen to host all the royal guests this week.”
“All the royal guests? Are there more?” Gracie asked.
Ingrid nodded. “Oh, yes. The royal family of Vernina are scheduled to arrive later this afternoon. King Hans and Queen Sophia, along with their daughter Princess Alana.”
Another king and queen? Did everyone in this village have a royal title?
“I guess it’s a good thing my curtsy has gotten a lot of practice,” Gracie said.
Clara laughed. “No kidding.”
Ingrid began leading them toward a staircase on the opposite side of the lobby. “I’m sure you won’t need to curtsy. We’re all like family in San Glacera, especially here at the Krieg B&B.”
Gracie tilted her head. “Really? No curtsying?”
Ingrid paused beneath a stone archway. A sprig of mistletoe hung above her head. Her gaze drifted over Gracie’s shoulder for a brief moment, and she pulled a face. “Well, maybe once. In the beginning. Some royals are more formal than others.”
Gracie turned to see if she could figure out what had made the older woman reconsider, and she spotted a folded newspaper resting on the arm of a chair by the fireplace. A single black-and-white photograph covered the entire front page, accompanied by a bold headline in all caps—just like the screamy text messages Gracie’s dad sometimes sent by accident.
THE ABOMINABLE SNOW PRINCE GOES INTO HIDING.
“Oh, wow.” Gracie took in the image of a grizzly, grumpy face with eyebrows caked with snow and a beard dripping icicles. Whoever it was looked like Santa’s evil twin. “Who is that?”
“I’m afraid that’s His Royal Highness, Nicolas Luca Montavan.” Ingrid sighed. “The Crown Prince of San Glacera.”
The pictures of the prince they’d seen online must have been ancient. The man on the front page wasn’t even recognizable as the same person.
Clara’s eyes went wide. “No. Way.”
Her gaze flitted to Gracie, and they exchanged a look of mutual confusion.
“It’s true. That picture was taken a few weeks ago at the end of his annual Matterhorn expedition. He’s developed a reputation of being rather…” Ingrid’s forehead furrowed, and she seemed to choose her next words very carefully. “…frosty. But don’t worry. The rest of the family is just lovely.”
Gracie glanced at the photo again. A shiver went up and down her spine. Frosty, indeed.
“He’s in hiding?” Perhaps that was a good thing. Maybe she’d never meet this strange prince in person.
Ingrid shrugged one shoulder. “He hasn’t been seen in public since returning from the expedition. I’m sure he’ll attend the Ice Village opening tonight, though. Prince Nicolas would never miss something like that. It’s a royal tradition.”
“Let’s hope he manages to defrost by then,” Clara said.
“Shall I show you both to your room?” Ingrid nodded toward the staircase. “Max took your luggage up already, and I’ve turned down the beds in case you’d like to get some rest. Or if you’d rather explore the kingdom a bit, the Christmas market opened this morning. You must try the hot cocoa. San Glacera is rather famous for it.”
“That sounds amazing.” Gracie was far too wired to sleep, and she wanted to get a feel for her surroundings before she slipped into her velvet ballgown tonight for her appearance at the Ice Village. She also needed to connect with the local actor who had been hired to be her Prince Charming sidekick. She wasn’t sure when they were supposed to start doing joint appearances.
“Nap first. Chocolate later,” Clara said, and then she blinked hard. “Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever said that before. The jet lag is messing around with my priorities.”
Ingrid laughed as she led them upstairs. Clara followed immediately on her heels, with Gracie not far behind. At the last minute, something made her glance over her shoulder for another peek at the Abominable Snow Prince. The nickname certainly appeared to fit the man with the wild beard and eyelashes white with snow. Even his stare looked hard and icy.
No wonder San Glacera’s castle looked like it belonged in a fairy tale. A beast lived there.
CHAPTER SIX
Can You Keep a Secret?
“Come on, Emilie. Mittens doesn’t like it when we don’t get along.” Nick gave the little spaniel the hand signal they’d practiced, and Mittens sat up on his hindquarters and pawed at the air.
Emilie cracked a reluctant smile from her favorite chair in the corner of the palace library. Nick and his sister had spent countless hours in the library when they were children, and it was still one of Emilie’s regular haunts. “You taught your dog how to beg?”
