Thrown into Royalty [chicklit romance] [REVISING]

XIV.

A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating last Friday, so at least today, I'm early, am I not? And I've got a bonus, so that should make up for the lateness of the update! You might recognise a certain character in this chapter from my other book, Kisses & Pages. Enjoy this chapter and the bonus! xx h

||=||

XIV.

"Your Highness, we're only four days away from Denmark's Constitution Day," Juliette reminded me on Tuesday morning as I was putting on my makeup and jewellery for the day. She sat on the expensive velvet sofa that was in my suite of the palace.

I was fastening my Bvlgari diamond earrings as I glanced at her through the vanity mirror. "How many speeches do I have to do?"

"Two, Your Highness. One in front of the political parties of Denmark and the other in front of the public." She informed without needing to take one look at her iPad. "Oh, and you're the guest of honour at the Sveriges Nationaldag Ball on Sunday, so you'll have to deliver a speech as well."

"Three?" I frowned. "In one weekend?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I better get to it soon, then. I'll do a quick walk around the palace before I start typing up any of these speeches. I imagine that I'll have to consult with either King Henry or Queen Louise about the finished products, so arrange a slot with any of them who has a clearer schedule than the other for next few days when I say so, because I'm not sure when I'll be done with these speeches." I told her.

"It may seem like a bit of a busy week since it's Sweden & Denmark's independence weekend, but you have an interview with Elle Magazine tomorrow. Sorry for the short notice, but Her Majesty Queen Louise thought that it'd be fitting to do so." She told me.

"That's fine. I'll be able to do everything for this week. It's nothing like university after all, where you stay up all night to complete four-thousand-word essays on dry topics," I smiled. "Come on, let's walk around the palace for a while before I get started on the speeches."

I opened the door, about to leave the suite when I saw Christoffer standing in my way in front of the door. I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

He ran a hand through his hair, looking distraught. "I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"

I glanced at Juliette's direction, where it seemed that she was probably somewhere else that wasn't in sight. I sighed, letting him in. "Fine. Come on in."

"I don't have a date for the Ball this Sunday," he told me in a rush, with urgency in his eyes. "It used to be Margaux naturally since she was my girlfriend, but not anymore."

I nodded slowly, still confused about what I had to do with this. "And so... what? I don't know anyone else who you can take out to the Ball. Try Caterina and see whether she knows any girl your age or something so that you can take her out."

He shook his head. "No, not those girls. I don't want to go with them. They're only in it for the fame, and they'll try to do something funny with me, I'm sure."

I shrugged. "I don't have anyone else, Christoffer. Maybe you should try Margaux again. She probably doesn't have a date too. Maybe you both can make up by then."

"No, since she's got a date. I think she's moved on already," he told me. "It's some wealthy guy whom I know she thinks is attractive—" he stopped and I felt his eyes drill holes into me as he stared, unnerving me.

"Are you okay?" I frowned.

"Maeve, go to the ball with me." He said after staring me down intensely for a while.