In The Name Of Love

Chapter 14

"Good afternoon, Your Highness, Miss Anwyn," Mihail stated. "Thank you for sparing some time to meet with us this afternoon."

"Not at all," Mircea said with a smile. "We're glad you could come."

"It's nice to meet you both," I smiled. "Having a good day?"

I didn't understand his reply, but he then switched to German to ask his first question. "The people have been wondering how long you've known each other and how long you've been together. They were quite surprised when Her Majesty said that you were bringing your partner over, Sir."

"We met at the Tea Society at university a few months into our first year. We quickly became friends and started dating six months later," Mircea replied.

"Love at first sight?"

"Yes," he said smiling lovingly at me and I could feel my cheeks flush.  

"And for you, Miss Anwyn?"

"Err... No. It took a few months. We only saw each other at Tea Soc' because we're on different courses. He won me over after the first date. It was a disaster," I laughed.

He laughed too. It was a rich, deep sound I hadn't heard nearly enough since he told me who he was. His smile formed small lines around his eyes and always, always it made me smile too.

"Please do tell," Colin smiled and gestured to us with his cards.

"It was raining," I began.

"It always rains in Wales," Mircea softly defended.

"Yet you decided a picnic in winter was a good idea?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "He didn't bring coats or umbrellas, the sandwiches had more or less weathered away by the time he got them out of the hamper and we got splashed by a speeding lorry." I counted the things off on my fingers but didn't stop smiling. True the date had been the worst planned date in history, but we'd laughed endlessly about it. "The second date was ok, I suppose."

"I learned tea and scones is the way to her heart," he said to the presenters. "It was pretty easy after that."           

"When did you find out that your boyfriend is our Prince?" Colin asked easily.

I froze inside. We hadn't discussed what we were going to say if this came up. Was I supposed to lie and say I knew all along, or was I supposed to tell the truth? Mircea gently nudged me with his knee.

"I told her a little over three weeks ago," he said and leaned forward to explain. "After the war I need time to come to terms with what happened. I felt that to do that I needed to get away for a while and Bangor University accepted me. Wyn... she saw me through the damage and pain that more or less governed everything that I did and, as I said the other day, it's by her strength that I'm here." He let his words settle for a moment so that he could think how to phrase the next bit. "I did not keep my true identity a secret through shame or a desire to be someone else. I always intended to come back when I was ready, when I knew that I'll be able to help.

"I didn't tell Wyn straight away because I didn't want to disrupt her life with everything that being my girlfriend means. Mostly I didn't tell her because I was terrified that she'd leave, but I couldn't keep it from her anymore. And with the Freedom Ball coming up..."

"So... you never wanted to be a princess?" Mihail asked.

"I'm not a princess," I said quickly. "I'm just..."

"In love with your prince charming?"

I grinned. "Charming might be stretching it."

He laughed again.