Page 7 of Royally Matched
“Really, Master Beaumont, you should take this situation more seriously. The king will only tolerate so much insubordination before you push him too far.”
“I appreciate your candor, Patrick, but my relationship with my father isn’t something I need advice on.”
“Very well, your Royal Highness,” Patrick said. “I will go inform the king you will be delayed.”
Max continued down the hall towards the east wing where the royal court guests were housed. Perhaps there were a couple of pretty courtiers who could distract him while he was here. With his title, charm, and money, he knew it would be easy enough to find many young women to help him pass the time while he was stuck in Triola.
He passed through the throne room, momentarily glancing at the massive seat he would end up inhabiting one day. It made Max’s stomach clench with dread. He would do anything to avoid taking on such a daunting task. There had even been times when he had contemplated abdicating, but his father always talked him out of it, telling him he would grow used to the idea as he got older. It hadn’t happened yet, and Max wondered if it ever would.
As Max entered the next area, he heard voices speaking in hushed tones, which ended abruptly once he entered the massive hall. All eyes turned towards him, and Max resisted the urge to fidget under the scrutiny.
He recognized all the noble families immediately; having them attend royal functions over the years made them a constant presence during his childhood. What he found intriguing was that there were several of the noble families’ daughters present in their finest attire, making it clear they knew that the Crown Prince was returning to Triola.
Two of the young women rushed to his side with thickly plastered makeup and perfectly arranged hair.
“Welcome home, your Royal Highness,” the blonde one stated, placing her pristinely manicured hand on his arm. “I am Lady Matilda Blanchard, the daughter of Baron Russix, in case you don’t remember me from when we were children.”
The other brunette woman placed her own manicured hand on his other arm and said, “And I am Lady Alexa Davidson. My father is the Viscount Freymore. We also spent time here at the palace together when we were young.”
“Ladies, ladies, Max needs some space,” Georgina, Max’s ex-girlfriend from high school, stated as she came up to him and put her arm through his, pulling him away from the other two women who instantly had disappointed looks on their faces.
She leaned towards him and whispered, “Sorry about the two of them. They’ve been jabbering all day about your return and couldn’t help themselves.”
Though Max welcomed female company while he was at the palace, he didn’t want it in the form of Georgina. She had used him while they were teenagers to gain attention. She tried to convince him to take her back when he ended things because of it. Though all the women most assuredly wanted to use him to advance their position in the royal court, Georgina was deceitful about it. She had hurt him tremendously. He had no desire to go down that road with her again.
Disentangling himself from Georgina’s grip, Max stepped back from her and pointed out, “They aren’t the only ones who found the need to pounce on me.”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Max. With our history, you should know I would want to… catch up,” she said, arching her eyebrow and smiling in a knowing way.
“You might want to, but it only goes one way. And you should address me as your Royal Highness. We haven’t been on a first name basis in years.”
Georgina crossed her arms and shook her head. “I’m not sure what’s gotten into you. I’m only trying to welcome you home.”
Irritated that Georgina wouldn’t realize he wanted nothing to do with her, Max stated bluntly, “I need to take my leave. If you will excuse me, Lady Georgina.”
Without waiting for a response, he quickly exited the social hall and made his way towards the wing of guest rooms. He had no reason to be in that part of the palace, but he didn’t want to go back the way he came and risk running into Patrick. He needed a few minutes to get his anger under control before he did anything else.
As he moved down the hallway, he wondered how he would get through the next couple of weeks. The royal court was even worse than he had remembered. It had always been filled with gossips, opportunists, and vipers, but it was clear, this time they were focused on him.
Movement from the end of the hall caught Max’s attention. As the figure came into focus, Max stopped walking, rooted to the spot in shock.
Lily, the only girl he had ever loved, stood at the other end of the hallway. The air in the space was sucked out, causing Max’s chest to feel like it would explode. He had been prepared for a myriad of other circumstances, but never in his wildest dreams did he think he would end up standing across from the one woman who broke his heart.
* * *
Once Lily saw Max at the other end of the hall, she stopped in her tracks. The blood drained from her face as her eyes grew wide with surprise.
They stared at each other for several seconds without either of them speaking a word. The tension was thick, neither of them breaking the silence, which became more uncomfortable with every passing moment.
“What are you doing here?” Max asked, the question laced with an accusing tone.
Lily blinked several times, taking a moment to regain her composure. She hadn’t expected to see Max at the royal palace. Last she had read in a magazine, he was off gallivanting around with some model.
Eight years hadn’t diminished his effect on her though. She was doing her best to keep him from knowing that. He looked even more handsome than he did on the magazine covers and social media posts she happened to see occasionally.
Realizing he had asked her a question, she finally answered him, “My mother asked me to come home because my father had a heart attack.”
Max tilted his head to the side and inquired, “Is he all right?”
