Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“If it is so hard for you, should I simply call Wolfgang?” he demanded. “You and I know he will not leave out anything even if he wanted to.”
“He would hesitate worse than I am,” I replied, giving in, not wanting that man-child to be the one to tell him. Knowing Wolfgang, he might get emotional, seeing how his grand thought of true love did not bring Odette back.
“Is Odette all right?”
I could see the concern in his eyes now.
“From what I can tell, she is very well—”
“Good God. Then what the hell is wrong with you? What is going on? Why is she not here? I am getting sick and tired of asking you to speak, Iskandar.”
“She did not come to stay here. She came to get you to sign divorce papers, sir.”
He was silent, and his eyebrows furrowed together like he did not understand Ersovian anymore.
“Divorce papers? She wishes to divorce me?” he asked again.
How many more disappointments was he meant to have? “Yes, I gave her my number so I could arrange for you to meet tonight after dinner, and she could present the documents—”
“Hmmm.” He chuckled at first before he broke out into full laughter, neither sound I had heard from him in months.
“A divorce?”
“Yes.”
He took a step back, looked at me, and then laughed again. “Odette.”
“Sir?” I did not understand why he was acting this way.
“Pardon me.” He held up his hand and tried to regain his composure. “Tell me what she said exactly—word for word.”
“She said, ‘I’m not trying to make him feel anything. I just need his signature so we can divorce,’” I repeated her words to him.
“What does she mean she is not trying to make me feel anything?” he questioned, more amused than I had seen in such a long time.
“The princess and Wolfgang were under the impression she came here to be with you and were hoping she would help lift your spirits.”
“Ahh.” He nodded, understanding now. “And what did Eliza say when she found out that was not the reason she came?”
Did he want a record of the whole conversation? From the look on his face, that was exactly what he wanted. He stood, waiting for me to tell him everything, so I did. He did not say anything until I finished.
“She does not change,” he whispered, taking the gloves out of his pockets and sliding them onto his hands. His shoulders were relaxed, his eyes soft, and the corner of his lip turned upward into a smile.
“So, when she calls—”
“She will not call tonight,” he replied, looking over at me.
“Sir?”
He put his hand on my shoulder. “That woman really is hot and cold.” He let go and walked to the doors, knocking for them to open.
What had happened?
Was this not supposed to be bad news?
Why did he seem grateful for it?
I did not understand.
I did not understand at all.
But I did have the urge to smack Wolfgang.
Chapter 4
“The evening commenced when His Royal Highness Prince Galahad entered the state dinner with his mother, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elspeth, on his right, and the Austrian prime minister, Christoph Leon, and his wife, Amelie, beside him. This, of course, was following the royal protocol of entrance. Everything about state dinners is always highly orchestrated; not a single fork is to be out of place,” the female news anchor explained.
I understood most of the words, but I still needed the subtitles. The camera panned over the ornate, white peonies spread across the U-shaped tables. I remembered when Gale gave me those flowers and told me they meant prosperity and good fortune. Everything seemed to sparkle and glisten, from the red drapes behind them to the crystal glasses to the chandeliers hung from the ceiling. But nothing looked as regal as he did standing in the center, speaking.
“Prince Galahad gave the keynote speech in which he mentioned the long history between Austria and Ersovia. This was on the heels of the Goldberger Treaties' renewal, something the late Prince Arthur had highlighted in previous speeches. Many have been worried about whether Prince Galahad would rise and fill his brother’s role as Adelaar. This, along with rumors of the king’s illness circling and the king’s notable absence since his son’s funeral, Prince Galahad was a welcome sight of stability tonight. Sources close to the palace have remarked that the days of the party prince are long gone—”
Flipping the channel, I searched for a movie to watch. I was trying not to focus on him. I tried to relax and just get back to where I was this morning before Eliza, Wolfgang, and Iskandar came and messed up everything. Now look at me. I was sitting in bed, watching him on television with wine. Iskandar had told me to call, but I couldn’t. It was too soon and—