Thrown into Royalty [chicklit romance] [REVISING]

XVIII.

A/N: Hi guys! So sorry for the late update. It's the start of a new year and things are already hectic. How are you guys? I hope all is well! Check out Maeve, Caterina and Margaux's outfits on my Polyvore site, and vote and/or comment on this chapter! I love you guys, and thanks for being patient! xx

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"Caterina, are you okay?" Queen Louise studied her worriedly at breakfast.

Caterina frowned, looking up at her and King Henry. "What, is there something wrong?"

I looked at Noah beside me, cocking an eyebrow. "You told your parents about last night?" I questioned, my voice low.

"Christoffer and I had to," he responded, grabbing the pepper grater to sprinkle into his cream of mushroom. "Whatever happens to her affects the family as well."

I sighed, turning to watch the scenario between Caterina and her parents play out in front of me.

King Henry went about normally about the situation, his focus on his food and his daughter. "We were informed of what had happened at the Ball."

"Oh," Caterina said, realisation dawning upon her. "It's fine. Everything's cool now. I handled it." She shrugged.

"Really? Because I heard Noah and Christoffer had to step in because you were in a lot of trouble—"

"Mom, I'm fine." She cut her mother off. "I told you guys, I'm fine! How many times do I have to repeat that? He was just an ex who got with me because he wanted to look good. I kicked him out of the Palace and I told him that he was banned from seeing me, even in school. You see? I'm fine, I know my rights and I handled it well. Now can we please drop the conversation?"

There was a heavy silence at the table as everyone watched her, including Matteus and Astrid. She simply shook her head as she made eye contact with everyone before continuing to finish up her breakfast and getting up to leave the dining hall.

After she left, I turned to Noah with a dark look. "Since when do you gang up with Christoffer against your younger sister? She handled it way better than others her age would, but I guess it was also because of our intervention at the right time, but you didn't need to tell on her. She's going to be an adult, she will tell when she feels the need to. She's responsible, and I know you know."

"Princess Maeve," I heard from behind me in a soft tone, "there is someone who requests on speaking with you."

I turned around, finding the male servant who informed me of that. "Who is it?" I inquired in the same time.

"The Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Your Highness."

I frowned, wondering what Anton wanted. I took a deep breath. "Excuse me," I muttered under my breath as I stood up, following the servant who was leading me to Anton.

He was at a private balcony, in a tailored pin-striped suit. He flicked the cigar between his fingers lightly, the burnt flakes of the cigar falling. His back faced me as he looked out into the English gardens of the Palace, awaiting my presence.

I dismissed the servant and folded my arms. "Are you supposedly the more refined and privileged version of a bad boy? Because instead of being in jeans and a t-shirt and smoking a cigarette, you're in a suit and smoking a cigar." I said, gaining his attention. "What do you want, Nordskov? The Ball's over, so go back to Denmark."

"Good to see you too, Crown Princess," he tipped an invisible top hat towards me. "Now, speaking of the Ball, I never got what you owed."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't owe you anything."