Royally Falling

~ 22 ~

"Sometimes I think I think too much
Can't stop, my thoughts come all at once
Maybe I'm crazy maybe who knows
Could've been easy all along
But sometimes I think I think too much"
i think too much - Christian French

oOoOo

The first week of January passes by quickly.

The Danish stay for a few days after the party to have some meetings.

We sent out an official press release on January 3rd, announcing that Xander and I are in a relationship. Thankfully, we didn't sign any contracts. There's still hope for Kaden and I.

I don't understand the full reason for not signing contracts. I know it had something to do with bad press and wanting to give Xander and me an out if something terrible happens. We're just going to take things slow for now and revisit the contracts in six months. It's a good enough reason for me.

Xander's parents and brothers left after the business was taken care of. He is still here. I think he is planning on sticking around until I need to leave for Boston.

At ten o'clock, Xander and I have a meeting with Juliet about our engagements for the week. Since we're in a PR relationship, we have to make public appearances and be seen together.

Five minutes before the meeting is due to start, I go to my office.

"Good morning, your Highness," Juliet greets from her desk

"Morning," I reply. I sit down at my desk and turn my computer on

I hear footsteps and turn around.

"Morning guys," Xander says.

"Hey. You can sit right there." I point to the extra swivel chair next to me.

"Now that you guys are here, let's get started," Juliet says. She pulls up my calendar and a Google Doc on her computer.

"This week you have an appearance at the Carcalles Children's Orphanage scheduled. That's on Tuesday... Wednesday, we don't have anything scheduled in public," she scrolls through the calendar and switches to the Google Doc.

"What about Thursday and Friday?"

"Thursday... you are scheduled to walk around the streets of the city with a few guards. We have already notified Amaria Weekly about this. A few of the palace photographers will be taking photos for them, so no need to worry about insane paps."

It's not often that we call the press on ourselves. The primary benefit is being able to control the narrative. We never use this for political reasons; it's just for when we want to have pictures in a magazine without worrying about embarrassing photos.

"Thursday morning before you leave, you will have a brief meeting with one of the publicists to review the do's and don'ts. He will also show you a few poses to do."

"You guys are hardcore here," Xander says in amazement.

"Well, it's better than letting random paps mob us and get terrible photos."

He shrugs.

"Moving on," Juliet continues. "So most of Thursday is blocked off for interacting with the public. Then Friday, you have a final planning meeting for your birthday ball, your Highness."

I lean forwards, trying to see her screen. "What's on the agenda for that?"

"It says here that you need to approve the decorations, cuisine, and have a final fitting for your dress." She points to specific bullets on her screen as she speaks.