Page 142 of Tall, Royal and Grumpy

“Then come on.” I took him into the throngs of people.

“Es—Princess. I don’t—”

“Crown Princess Esmeralda,” a young, blonde woman called out as we passed her. I immediately recognised the blue eyes of the Touman actress in some of my favourite movies.

“Yami,” I chirped.

She bowed her head. “I missed my chance to come say hi before the dinner, but I’m so glad I finally found you, Your Highness,” she said, her grin outshining the stars. “It’s so good to see you again.”

I gave her fingers a friendly squeeze with my free hand. “It’s so good to see you too. I’m so glad you stopped me. It’s been so long since I last saw you.”

“It has been. But look at you!” She waved her other hand down my body. “You look absolutely stunning, Your Highness. I mean, you always do, but this dress. Wow.”

Coming from her, I considered it an epic compliment. My face flushed as I ran my hand down my hip over the chiffon against my skin.

I felt wow tonight.

My stylist, Rose, had done a great job with the gold, shimmer make-up on my face and my hair, accentuating my natural curls in a tamed, beach-curl way, pinning it half up.

As for the dark red dress and heels, I had my favourite designer in Jahandar to thank for them. The lined chiffon created a cascading skirt that skimmed the floor, with gold embroidery scattered all over, and waterfall sleeves that swished above my elbows. The V-neck was modest, but I spent ten minutes admiring my boobs in the mirror while getting ready because of the way the wrap-style overlap complimented my figure.

“Thank you so much. You look stunning too. Pink is really your colour.”

“Thank you,” she said and threw a quick glance to Shehryar. “I know the speeches are about to start, so maybe if you have a moment afterwards, we could catch up for a few minutes.”

“Of course, I would love to,” I said and then gestured to Shehryar belatedly. “By the way, this is my friend, Shehryar Timur.”

Yami shook his hand. “I am Her Highness’s private secretary and bodyguard,” he corrected.

“I think she still considers you a friend though.” I nodded in agreement. Then Yami tilted her head at him curiously. “Are you perhaps related to the beautiful woman Prince Arsh is introducing to everyone?”

I felt Shehryar stiffen next to me, but he gave a tight nod. “Yes. She’s my mother.”

“No wonder. You look just like her. Sorry if you find this weird but I completely understand why His Highness is showing her off to everyone. I would too if I was him. She’s beautiful, and they look so happy together. Everyone is talking about how they make the perfect couple.”

I could have kissed Yami for unknowingly proving my point to Shehryar. Hearing it from someone else worked though. His posture loosened. Just a touch but it was something.

“They are?” he asked.

“Yes! I don’t think there’s a person here who doesn’t want to know when they’re getting married.”

Shehryar’s expression was between surprise and consideration as he glanced in the general direction of where I’d last seen his mother and Prince Arsh.

“I think we’re all hoping for the same thing,” I said in his silence. “But we must head to the crests now, so I will come find you again, Yami.”

“Of course. See you, Your Highness. It was nice meeting you, Shehryar.”

Shehryar remained quiet as we left Yami and continued towards the other end of the Grand Hall.

We broke through the front of the crowd where the seven royal households were gathering themselves—minus the royal children under the age of twelve—in front of long platforms draped in red velvet carpet. Three state crests were hung on the left wall: Jahandar, Shah, and Raven. Three on the right: Prio, Dale, and Khaas. In the middle of the wall between was Touma’s crest along with their state flag. Royal photographers were dotted around taking what candid pictures they could.

I followed Shehryar’s gaze to where Mama Katiya—wearing a figure-hugging midnight blue dress—was trying to twist her hand out of Prince Arsh’s, grinning and scolding him all the same as he kept her close. He looked at her like she was his entire world, and a happy tightness tugged in my chest.

“Love is enough when someone loves you as much as he loves her,” I heard myself whisper.

I wasn’t sure Shehryar heard me over the music until he hoarsely whispered, “I hope so.”

When Prince Arsh finally let go of her hand, Shehryar left my side to go to his mother, and I made my way to Kareem. He was adjusting the line of five gold buttons on the fitted sleeve of his cream tunic. Down his right side draped a cape, lined in dark red on the inside, that was attached to the standing collar of his top, and his trousers had a stripe of the same red down the outer sides.

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