Uncharted - A My Sweet Prince Novel (2)

A New Arrival

Just as expected, the flight is hell. I have discovered that I, In fact, hate flying. But this is my best friend's wedding we are talking about, so there is not a chance in hell I'm going to miss out on this! I wade through the crowd of people, wondering just exactly what this butler looks like. I've heard loads about him from Asaka, and he seems like a pretty cool guy.

I see a man standing off to the side, his hands tucked behind his back. He is wearing a suit and a monocle over his eye and I can only assume that is the man I'm supposed to be seeing. I walk over to him and mimic his posture. I clear my throat and he looks at me, eyebrow raised. "Ivan?" I ask, cocking my head to one side.

His stoic expression changes immediately, and he smiles. "Miss Lina?" he questions.

"At your service," I say, dropping into a mock curtsey.

"I believe you stole my line," Ivan says, holding his arm out to me. "Come along - her highness is very eager to see you."

It takes me a few seconds too long to realize that he is referring to Asaka. I smile widely. "Well then," I say, once I've figured it out. "Let's go see her, shall we?"

He turns and leads me from the airport once we have retrieved my bags. He carries the both of them outside to a sleek black car while I stare. Everything is so beautiful. I can imagine why Asaka loves it so much - you know, aside from the fact that the man she loves lives here and happens to rule the kingdom. Small details like that make a difference to a person.

"Coming, Miss Lina?" Ivan asks, and I realize that he's been holding the door open for me.

I send him a cheeky smile and climb into the back. He gets behind the wheel and lowers the partition between the front and the back so we can converse. I lean forward and he glances at me in the mirror. "So," I say conversationally. "How long have you worked in the palace?"

Ivan smiles fondly. "Oh, for a very long time," he says. "Since I was just a youngster."

"Oh, come off it," I say. "You can't be that old."

He chuckles. "I don't feel it most days," he admits. "I am forty years old."

"See!" I exclaim. "Hardly old at all. Besides," I tell him. "You're only as old as you feel. You said yourself you don't feel old."

"Well now," Ivan says, shaking his head. "I don't usually feel old. But with the wedding looming closer each day," he says on a sigh.

"You really care about the princes, don't you?" I ask, chewing on my lower lip. I don't know them personally, and I barely know Ivan, but it just seems that way to me.

"Indeed," he says. "I watched them grow up. I am their confidant. When they need something, or someone, I am always there."

"A father figure," I guess.

"I suppose. When their father was unable to take care of them - being King makes it a little difficult sometimes - I was there to bandage scraped knees and mend broken hearts."

"Have there been many?" I ask.

"Hearts?" Ivan questions, turning the car down a long drive. I keep my eyes fixed on Ivan, always fascinated by the expressions people make while they tell a story. He sighs. "A few. I was afraid Jun would be the next broken heart for a minute there. I knew Asaka loved him," he explained. "It was obvious, and she admitted it before she left. Master Jun was a mess when she left. No one could even be around him for days." He chuckled and then cleared his throat. "But I am gossiping."

I grin widely. "Yeah," I say. "I noticed. Don't sweat it - I've been told I'm easy to talk to. And I won't share your secrets with anyone. I don't blab." I hold my hand through the partition, pinky raised. Ivan just looks at it. "Pinky promise?" I ask.

He quirks an eyebrow and kills the engine, turning slightly in his seat. "I do not know what that is supposed to mean. How does one swear on a pinky?"

I smile. "It's something Asaka and I used to do when we were kids. It's kind of like...our sacred oath."

Ivan smiles and locks his pinky with mine "Pinky promise then." With that, he climbs from the car and rounds it to my side, opening the door for me. "Brace yourself, Miss Lina. This shall be a very interesting endeavor."

"What do you mean?" I ask, as I accept his outstretched hand and climb from the car.

"Four princes and a King await you in there," Ivan tells me, releasing my hand and grabbing my bags. "And one very excited Queen-to-be."

I make a face. "Okay," I say slowly. "So...what you're saying is-"

He grins. "Brace yourself."

---

As with the last book, I intend to keep the chapters pretty short. I always tell myself "just one more chapter" and then I end up having one more long chapter to go. So, I keep my chapters short to help you get to bed, to keep things simple and clean, and because I feel it is easier on the eyes when reading on a computer when you don't have quite so much to read. I hope you are enjoying the story so far and hopefully you have already read Promise since this takes place after the events of that particular book. If you have not, go read it now. You've already spoiled some things for yourself, shame on you. :)

Oh, and one more thing. I'm deciding who to write next and want input! Next up is either Alvah, rekindling an old friendship which may turn into something more, or Lambert on an international relations trip for Jun where he meets a feisty princess with a bounty on her head. Let me know!

XOXO

Jennifer