The Royal Romance - The Valtoria Diaries

The breakfast briefing

"You know, I'll miss this room," Jen said, looking around it as she packed her last few things into her case. "I've probably slept here more than anywhere else in the last year. I know that doesn't say a lot, as we've slept in a lot of rooms over that time.."

He couldn't argue with that. "I've probably knocked on that door more times than I've changed my underwear in that time..."

"Eww. Although, thinking about it actually.. yeah, you're probably right."

"Well, by the time we pass out tonight, we'll be in our new home..." He couldn't keep the excitement he felt over this in, and put one hand on her waist, the other on her shoulder and pulled her into an elegant dance. He was rewarded with an infectious giggle. "Hey, when does my statue arrive?"

"Good question. Obviously, now Gladys isn't there anymore.." She looked a little sad for a moment, perhaps not relishing the memory of why. "I'm not sure who's meant to be in charge of things at Valtoria when we're not about."

"Gladys must have had a second in command," he suggested. "I guess we'll find out when we get there."

They placed their bags in the corridor, ready for them to be packed into their limo for later, and wandered downstairs to the briefing room.

"At least it's a breakfast briefing," Jen said. "Slightly more tolerable."

"Yep, pastries always enhance tales of great victory..."

Mara greeted them at the door. "Good morning, Duchess Jen. Duke Maxwell."

Maxwell threw her a relaxed salute as he sauntered past her in search of something to eat. Looked like there was a good spread on this morning. Loading himself up with a croissant and a few blueberry muffins, he went to sit down next to Rick. Things seemed to be fully back to normal between them now, which was a massive relief.

"Who else is coming this morning?" he asked him.

"Just us, for now," Rick explained. "Drake, Hana, Olivia, Mara and Bastien. The ones who were actually there."

"Yesssss, no Madeleine," Maxwell said, holding up a hand to Rick, who happily high-fived it.

"I got here before Olivia?" Jen said, as she joined them, passing him a welcome glass of orange juice.

"No," came a voice from the other side of the room. "As if you could ever arrive anywhere on time." Olivia slunk into sight from where she had been lurking.

"Well, I've been packing my bag," Jen said proudly. "We're going home today!" She exchanged an excited glance with Maxwell.

"Right," Olivia sighed. "So, where are Drake and Hana?"

"Drake just went to get Bastien, I'm not sure about Hana..."

Hana came running in with a tray. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I thought I'd bring hot chocolate for you all!"

"Sweeeet!" Jen rubbed her hands together. "You really look after us all, Hana. Maxwell, you have tried Hana's hot chocolate, right?"

"I don't think I've had the pleasure..." He grabbed a paper cup, and took a sip, expecting it to be hot, but it was at optimum temperature. "Woah, this is... perfection!"

Hana smiled shyly. "It might be a little on the cool side.."

He took another sumptuous mouthful. "Hana, it's awesome. I get why Jen's always going on about it now. Think I'll have to come visit you like every day just in case you ever feel like making me one."

Jen shook her head. "Well, Hana is hopefully going to be pretty close by.."

Drake and Bastien arrived, and Bastien shut the door behind him. "If we're all here.."