not a fairytale

fifteen

 We all went back to the palace around sunset and everyone went their separate ways. Blake found me and told me where they were meeting and that they'd pick us all up outside the palace grounds in an hour or so. Kate was a bit reluctant to go at first but I pretty much begged her and bribed her with the promise of there being guys she could meet from good families with titles there that would be less pressure than some official social event. Alex got Meghan to tag along easily, so the four of us went sneaking out of the grounds and found Blake in a car outside the palace grounds with ease.

There was a private part of the marina in the capital where the yacht club was but there was a separate private area off of that where the Royal Family kept their yacht and any other boats along with a private beach and small villa not far down the beach from the docks. There were already a handful of people out on the beach where there was already a bonfire lit and going.

"I brought the escapees," Blake laughed as we found Logan and Marcus.

"I can't believe you got Kate to sneak out," Logan laughed, causing Kate's face to turn bright red.

"See Kate, I wasn't lying, Logan said there would be other guys here for you to talk to and meet," I grinned.

"I guess you weren't," she sighed, her face still a bright red.

"Come on, I know a lot of them, let's go," Alex said, grabbing her arm and leading her to where everyone was congregated.

"Do I know anyone here?" I asked Logan as he took my hand in his.

"Probably," he said, "Let's go find out?"

"Lead the way," I smiled.

"There he is! His royal highness!" A guy not much older than Logan and I with dark brown hair and piercing green eyes shouted with a laugh as we made our way over to the rest of the crowd.

"Very funny Lukas," Logan laughed.

"And who do you have there?" He asked.

"Jules," he said before I could answer.

"Nice to meet you Jules," he grinned, "Wait, is this the Jules? Italian Jules? Venice Jules? Run away to Greece and ignore us all for weeks Jules?"

"Yes," Logan laughed, this time with his face turning red.

"Sneaking her in while you still can?" He asked.

"No, she's participating in the contest," Logan said, giving him a look.

"How did you manage that? You're normal," Lukas asked.

"Not that normal," I laughed, "I'm a Lombardo."

"Like Lombardo crime family?" He asked as Blake snickered.

"Lombardo as in Lombardo wine, Lombardo Italian Dining, Lombardo Olive Oil, we've really expanded our brand," I smiled.

"Same shit, different shovel," he laughed.

"My dad has a lot of political influence, my mom's family goes all the way back to the Medici, I just didn't like to associate with the fact that my family is a big deal," I said.

"Until now?" He asked.

"Until it meant not having to give up Logan," I said, "I couldn't bear to watch him have to marry some stuck up, snobby Duchess," I grinned.

"Like Jeanne Malitwat or whatever her name is? Or that chick Alex was supposed to marry?" He remarked, causing me to nearly spit out the drink I'd been handed by Blake.

"Yes those two especially," Logan laughed, "But in all seriousness, Juliette is the one I want to marry, we would've grown up and figured it out eventually anyway if Alex hadn't abdicated anyway," he said, snaking his arm around my waist, "I, for one, am glad she chose to be a part of all the nonsense."