She drank a glass of wine and sat on her couch. If she married Lucio, her sister would be a duchess but she’d be aprincess.
It wasn’t a bad trade off and for once in her life, her rank might be higher than perfectEvie’s.
She shouldn’t make a decision thinking like this. She wasn’t this petty, but she picked up her phone, dialed Lucio and waited. The second the phone clicked and he answered, she said, "Pick me up in the morning. I'll marryyou."
"If we leave tonight, we can be homefaster."
His deep voice sent awareness through her even over the phone. Tonight would be too soon. She shook her head. "I need to pack and go through a few things. Tomorrow at 8 in the morning, I'll be ready to be yourprincess."
"I'll be at your door." He answered. "AndAmy..."
She held her breath. Starting tomorrow, she'd have to learn to live with Lucio and to be his wife. "Yeah?"
"I'm glad. Until I met you in person, I was holding back committingmyself."
So something about her made an impression. Her heart began to race and she rested her hand on her chest. "What made you change yourmind?"
"Your inner beauty, your grace. You'll make an excellent princess who can help the people ofAvce."
Grace wasn't something anyone had ever used to describe her before and the word felt strange against her skin. She agreed to this marriage because her sister hated the idea and her parents would never leave her alone if shedidn’t.
Goodness, she’d have to find something kind to do to make up for thisdecision.
He spoke to someone in his language that was similar to Italian, and then said to her, "I will see youtomorrow."
"Goodbye." She sat on her couch and sucked in her lips the second she hung up the phone. What had she done? Tomorrow she'd let her parents and the world know that she’d be transformed into a princess. Tonight, she'd run around her flat in her underwear and pack the small trinkets that mattered toher.
Her recent assignment gave her insight into the weakness in Avce's political structure so she could set out to make first-handchanges.
Determined, she rose from the couch and went to her bedroom to find her suitcase. Starting with her jewelry box, she went through what was important. The gold was coming, but she stopped at a pendant. Her sister had the other half of the locket that read, "BE SIS" combined, they read "BEST SISTER." Amy sank to the bed and hugged the pendant to her chest. This hadn't been true in years and wasn'tnow.
Evie was vindictive. Amy knew better than anyone that her sister was going to find a way to prove that marrying Lucio was a mistake. Perhaps it was, but as Amy held onto the pendant, she also flashed to a memory where Evie told her "Lucio is like all guys. No one is interested in your skinny butt. Go, read, because no one will love you, ever." Amy let the pendant go. She'd not take it withher.
Hopefully her parents would make sure that Evie stayed far away from Amy and her new life. She picked up her phone, took a second to be calm and collected for when she told her parents, and finally, sent the text, 'Packing to marry Lucio. It's your job to ensure Evie stays in Scotland with Michael. I won't go through with this if she shows up to ruineverything.'
Her mother texted back immediately. "Your father and I will handle your sister. You're going to be a beautiful bride. Don't be jealous of her because we found you the perfect prince who needs yourexpertise."
If only that was true. She finished with her jewelry and moved to her photo cabinet. Most people kept their photos digitally, but Amy loved making a quarterly report on her life in photos that she could hold. She picked up the last book and saw a photo of her and Suzie drinking at the local bar. Their genuine smiles as they held up their beers in the small local tavern had been a great night where they’d laughed for hours. The picture was a keeper and she slipped a few of the albums in thebag.
Her sister Evie hadn't been in a picture in years, and it needed to stay that way for all theirsakes.
The night sky outside her window was dark and foggy. She slipped into her bed, knowing this was now the end and a newbeginning.
4
Lucio fixedhis tie and stepped up to the outside door of Amy’s brick apartment building, then rang the doorbell. Being in London and performing these normal actions reminded him of childhood. In Avce and most places he traveled, he'd have servants holding the doors open forhim.
A moment later, the door buzzed and he reached out to open it with a slight smile. He hadn't done anything for himself like this in years. He slipped inside and headed up the steps to the second floor, where Amylived.
He reached the landing and rasped his knuckles against number 207. Amy opened the door. "Comein."
Her dark blonde hair wasn’t touched up and her face was beautiful without much makeup at all. She had an air of innocence. When he married her, he’d at least feel he won a prize. She rushed backwards into her apartment and said, "I'm almostdone."
Lucio nodded and followed her inside her small living area. The main room was smaller than his bedroom at home, though the dark wood floor and white walls were certainly clean and tidy. The full bookcase made him smirk—he wasn’tsurprised.
The hem of Amy’s light blue dress disappeared beyond a white door partially open and he assumed it led to her bedroom. Then she came back with her wheeled bag. "Eight on the dot. I'm on time andready."
"Let me get your bag." Lucio stepped forward. She moved to the side and let him take the handle. "You look pretty thismorning."
