THAYER
I was pacing back and forth, and every now and then, I watched through the window for the car to arrive.
I rechecked the time.
“For God’s sake. Just sit the fu— down.” Lud growled, glaring at me. “I swear I’m gonna drug you to sleep if you ask me one more time what took them so long. Just sit down, Your Highness. You’re giving me a severe headache. I can’t focus on keeping you safe if I have more dizziness than you.”
“Really? This is how you show your support?” I glared back.
They looked at each other before they barked out laughing. Ash shook his head in amusement.
“Do you think it’s funny? I don’t know the driver you hired to pick up Kennedy. For all I know, he already kidnapped her.”
“You’re irrational, Your Highness. Please, relax a little.” He checked the time on his watch. “They should be here in a few minutes.”
“You’ve been saying the same thing for thirty minutes now. Yet, I haven’t seen a car pulling over the driveway.”
“Then let me use an earpiece. Let me know from Duncan,” Ash suggested.
“That won’t be necessary.” I was the one who suggested to act like how we did back in the US. Now I regretted it. I was still playing with fire. I was still hiding my identity from Kennedy.
“Why are you so nervous? You’re not gonna get engaged with Lady—?”
“Watch your words, Ludovic. You might slip while Kennedy is with us.”
“I’ve been briefed, Your Highness. You really have to tell her everything, one way or another. This, whatever you’re doing, I can feel it, you’re gonna royally screw this up.” Lud and Ash stood simultaneously.
From a distance, I could hear the tire against the gravel in the driveway. My heartbeat sped up. My pulse quickened as I marched outside the cottage. This was one of the manors we used when we were not in the palace. I usually this one, aside from being secluded, I had pretty quite wonderful memories here.
My woman just climbed out of the car. The butler helped out the driver taking her luggage out of the trunk. While she was busy wandering her eyes around, I walked closer to her.
“Wow! This was not what I expected before I signed up for this.”
“Is that a good thing?” I grinned like a fool.
Kennedy gasped and froze in her tracks. Her sky blue eyes widened. Her mouth hung opened before she covered it with her hands. “Oh, my God! I was just guessing earlier. I never thought I would see you here of all the places.” She laughed out loud before she launched herself to me.
“Welcome to Triberis Capria, Kennedy.” I chuckled at her excitement. My heart hammered in my chest as I wrapped my arms around her and inhaled her scent—sweet and seductive.
“Thank you.”
“Did you mean it?”
I stared at her. The excitement in my eyes was pouring. “What do you mean?”
“You said to me earlier that—”
“That I missed you? I do, darling. Very much so.”
She threw herself again into me. “I thought I wouldn’t see you again.”
“I meant every word I said before I left, and I’m still keeping it, Kennedy.” I kissed the top of her head. “Come inside and tell me about your flight.”
She giggled. “I’m gonna strangle Alessia.”
“Why?” I played cool.
She raised a brow. “You sure you don’t have any idea that she might intentionally send here of all the countries?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Silly.” She hit me playfully.
“I just wanna prove to you that I’m not a member of Italian Mafias, or I traffic humans or sell drugs for a living.”
Ash came out to the living room.
“Ash!” Kennedy gushed. “Oh, my God! Good to see you again.” She hugged Ash. Awkwardly, Ash patted her back.
“Well, look who finally found her way home.”
I rolled my eyes at Lud. Kennedy did the same, hugging the fucking womanizer.
“So, how’s your flight?” I placed a hand on the small of her back as I guided her to sit on the sofa.
“I didn’t have any idea this country exists. I might have heard about it one time or two, but not until I talked to the old man in the airport.”
“Really?” Lud asked incredulously.
“When I checked my ticket, I asked the old man sitting next to me in the waiting area. My first question was, what language do they speak. He laughed at me.”
I placed my knuckles as I tried not to laugh.
Then she turned to me. “The last text I received from Alessia is I hope you’d find the answer you’ve been looking for. What does that mean?”
“What’s the answer you’ve been looking for?” I asked casually.
“Answers. I have a few unanswered questions. But it can wait. I still haven’t checked the manila envelope she gave me. She said I should open it after the party. I was wondering what party it is. I didn’t get any memo.”
“Oh? You will get it. It’s in two days.”
“Guys, I have to leave you both. Lud and I have to catch something up now that you’ve settled in. Enjoy your stay, Kennedy.”
“Will I see you both again?”
“You won’t get rid of us easily,” Lud answered.
“Good.”
Once they were gone, I offered my hand. “Would you like a tour?”
“Please.” She gripped my hand.
“This is Hawkhelm Manor built-in 17th Century. Most of these foundations are still original. Renovated twenty-five years ago after a strong magnitude earthquake that cracked off the walls.” I placed my hand on the lower of her back as we climbed upstairs. “It has eighteen bedrooms. I used to come here more often when I was in the city. Even until now. I’m not a fan of the penthouse of the hotel.”
“Why did you check-in in that 3-star hotel with the hideous robe?”
I laughed. “It was intentional.”
“Hmm. Interesting. Who’s this?” She pointed at a portrait of my great-great-great-grandfather in oil painting.
“King Kamrun Braynburg.”
“The first King and ruler of Triberis.”
“Yes. You did your assignment.”
“Thanks to that talkative driver.”
“This is the study.” I pulled the two-door opened, revealing the big library full of old books collection from constitutional law, to fine arts, to modern fiction.”
“That crest?” She pointed at the coat of arms covering the wall.
“My family’s.” My lips dried. I swallowed down my nervousness. I didn’t know where to start if she ever pried.
“Nice knight armor. Very medieval.”
I chuckled. “I guess you saw like this in a museum.”
“Yeah, but nothing like this so real and polished.” She ran her finger on the sword’s hole in the chest. “I thought a sword wouldn’t penetrate a steel.”
“It does in close range with pressure.”
She flinched. “Ouch.” She found my old photo on the table. “You?”
“Yeah. About ten.”
“The girl?”
“My sister. She’s in Guardion.”
“Guardion? I heard that frequently.”
“I planned on taking you there in the morning.”