Page 9 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

King Rami’s gaze moved around the hall as he shifted his weight, bracing a large hand on the gentleman’s cane he used to support an old injury to his leg. Yet even with the cane, he still looked fit and handsome. With a big, charming smile, a kingly beard streaked with grey, a lean, tall build just like his younger brother, and beautiful light brown eyes, bordering on hazel.

“Now, I know,” he said, “that everyone of us is rather excited for dessert, so I thank you for your silence, and I promise, Leila and I shall keep this welcome short and sweet.”

The King of Touma nodded to his wife, and Queen Leila smiled elegantly and tipped her heart-shaped face up, making the diamond crown on her head shimmer in the light. “Thank you all for attending the 875th Peace Anniversary this year, and we are delighted to be hosting this special anniversary celebration…”

I watched, smiled, clapped, and laughed with everyone else as the King and Queen made their welcome speech, bantering like a sweet couple rather than two powerful rulers of a state.

Somewhere during their speech, when a cheer echoed around at the mention of Prince Arsh planning the annual royal scavenger hunt, my attention naturally trailed around the table.

Accidently finding Kai. Or unconsciously searching for him.

Just as his blacker than black eyes found mine.

It was as if everything stopped. My brain. My heart. My breath. The sound in the room. The world.

I sat as still as a statue, expecting him to look away like it was nothing.

But from across the table, eleven seats away, his mouth stretched. Curled up into a perfect grin with just enough teeth and warmth and…

My world tipped, fluttered, shook. Just cartoon-style kaboomed.

Pressed deep into his right cheek was the very dimple that had stolen my heart all those years ago.

Chapter Four

ESMERALDA

It was two in the morning, and I laid awake on the king-sized, wooden-framed bed, staring at the crystals on the chandelier as the moonlight coming in from the window twinkled through them.

My insomnia might have been keeping me awake, but it was Kai’s smile replaying in my mind that had me perma-grinning to the point my cheeks were aching.

Was there such a condition that caused someone to literally be unable to stop smiling?

Because I was entirely sure that was what I had developed. Or caught—maybe it was contagious.

I could have aced an audition for the role of a horror-movie clown.

I kept telling myself it was just a smile. Just a smile that probably hadn’t even been for me but for his uncle. Even if it had been meant for me, Kai had just been polite, nothing more.

But my stupid heart that stupidly craved anything from him was dancing like a stupid fool in my chest, filling me with giddy bubbles and butterflies and all things stupidly fluttery.

But it was the best feeling ever to be noticed by him.

A giggle fell from my mouth before I slapped my palm to my lips like someone might have heard me. I groaned immediately after, squeezing my eyes shut as I rubbed a hand over my face.

I’m being silly.

How was I ever going to get him to see me as a woman if I grew excited over every little thing he did like some teenage girl? Not only that, but I was the Crown Princess of Jahandar before I was a woman attracted to a man. I had a duty to do. These two weeks weren’t just for fun and games.

I needed to stop thinking about his smile immediately. Or at least stop squealing about it.

Deciding a late-night stroll was the right call, I threw myself upright and climbed off the bed, heading into the walk-in wardrobe next to the ensuite bathroom.

The room I’d been given was spacious and decorated like the rest of the palace—history frozen in time in every nook and cranny. High, painted ceilings, intricately carved cornices, and a hanging golden, crystal chandelier. The floor was covered in a worn red carpet, dark oak furniture that included two bedside cabinets, a dressing table, and a velvet-cushioned chaise that sat against the wall between the large window seat and balcony doors.

I pulled on an oversized black hoodie over my stripped blue, matching pyjama shorts and cropped shirt, then headed back out and shimmied into a pair of blue, bunny-eared slippers.

The sensor lights turned on in the corridor as I stepped out from the room. I pulled my hood up over my hair and walked down with no particular destination in mind.

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