Enthroned Hearts : A Royal Romance [18+]

The royal palace

The journey was quite long, filled with a mixture of anticipation, nervousness, and a hint of fear for what was about to unfold.

I had never harbored any interest in the royal family or their intricate affairs. The only information I possessed was that they presided over a multi-million-euro enterprise with business interests spanning the globe.

Their influence extended beyond mere business; they held both political and numerous personal connections with some of the world's most powerful businessmen. Despite the opulent and comfortable façade that royal families presented, their secrets were profoundly deeper than what appeared on the surface. I was on the verge of plunging into these murky waters without any knowledge of their true depth.

Our car took a sharp turn, entering the sprawling territory of Buckingham Palace. The guards stationed at the royal gate offered us a crisp salute. We were part of a convoy of ten more vehicles, some leading and some trailing, ensuring security from all sides. Our car finally came to a halt at the grand entrance.

My heart was pounding so intensely in my chest that I could hear my own heartbeat, a sensation that only amplified my anxiety. The adrenaline surged through my veins as my eyes traveled from the base to the pinnacle of the palace. The structure, as far as I could see, was ancient yet undeniably luxurious. The grandeur of its old-world charm combined with its regal elegance was overwhelming, and I felt a shiver of awe and trepidation course through me.

Surrounded by lush flora on all sides, with fountains, numerous trees, verdant grasses, and a... dog.

As Adrien helped me out of the car, the first to welcome me was the royal dog. He came bounding directly towards me, placing his front paws on my thighs and looking up at me with bright brown eyes, his tail wagging energetically.

I was left in awe by his cuteness. I gently caressed his head and cooed, "Awww! You are so cute!" I could feel Adrien watching us with a smile on his face. "Hey Bruno! You didn't greet me first, buddy?" Adrien bent down, taking both of Bruno's paws in his hands.

Bruno looked elated as Adrien petted him, rubbing his body gently. "Don't tell me you fell head over paws for this beautiful lady?" Adrien asked playfully, giving me a sidelong glance. I shook my head in disbelief as he winked at me, clearly enjoying the chance to embarrass me in front of everyone. He continued, "And jumping directly on her! At least make a good first impression, bud." He playfully scolded Bruno for his enthusiastic greeting, which, without a doubt, outshone his own flirting skills.

"You seem like you give free flirting courses?" I asked in a playful tone, raising my eyebrow and challenging him to answer in front of everyone.

He chuckled before standing up. He fixed his coat and then looked at me. "I only offer them to those I see potential in, and as for you," he paused for a second before smirking and whispering in my ear, "you seem like you could give me some personal lessons." I bit my inner cheek, trying hard to control my blush.

He chuckled at my reaction and was about to say something when a polite cough interrupted us, drawing both of our attention. I turned my head to find a young lady approaching us. "You must be Lady Viviana," she said, extending her hand graciously. "I'm so sorry for everything that's going on outside." She took both of my hands in hers.

She gently pressed my hands, and I felt the warmth of her touch. Shifting her gaze from my hands to my eyes, she smiled softly before speaking again, "I'll do my utmost to make you feel as comfortable as possible, Lady Viviana."

In return, I squeezed her hands with a smile. "Thank you so much, Lady...?"

I glanced at Adrien for a hint, but before he could reply, she answered confidently, "Amunet Issa." My jaw nearly dropped to the floor. She was the daughter of Eman Issa, who ran a major tech company in Egypt.