Cromwell Palace
Henfordshire
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the manicured lawns of Cromwell Palace. William, all gangly limbs and youthful indignation, trailed after his father like a storm cloud. His voice, still cracking with adolescence, carried his rebellion.
“Papa, this is absurd! I insist you cancel the trip. I won’t go. I refuse!” William’s words tumbled out, fueled by teenage fire.
Maximilian Cromwell, the very embodiment of aristocratic poise, halted abruptly. He turned to face his son, a hint of exasperation in his eyes. “Compose yourself, William. You’re fifteen, not five. Act like it. I haven’t sold you into servitude; I merely requested that you visit a respectable family in Windenburg. They’ve been allies to the House of Cromwell for centuries. They have two children—a polite young man with a penchant for vanishing into thin air and a rambunctious young daughter about your age with opinions to boot, all of which conflicting with her parents’ ideas. Surely you can find common ground.”
But Victoria, William’s younger sister, couldn’t resist chiming in. Her curiosity danced in her eyes. “Papa! Are you sending him to meet a potential wife? Already?!”
Maximilian raised an eyebrow. “And where, pray tell, did you suddenly materialize from with such curious ideas?”
Victoria shrugged, her expression mischievous. “I have my ways. But it’s true, isn’t it, Papa? You start introducing him to young aristocratic ladies now, so by the time he goes to college, he might be dating the right kind of girl. But you abhorred it when your parents did that to you, you didn’t like any of the ladies presented to you, and don’t you remember how you fell in love with a commoner when you were in college? And Mummy’s every bit as sophisticated and graceful and noble as those aristocratic women. Liam says true love is unmistakable, a special feeling. That’s what I want for William too. He needs to stumble into it, like, walk into a room and there she is, the one. His one and only.” Victoria sighed dreamily.
Both father and son exchanged bewildered glances. William, ever the pragmatist, interjected. “No, Victoria. I’d rather stay here at the palace, living life as I choose. I’m not even interested in dating, but thanks for trying to cast me in your romance movie plots. I’m fifteen, in case anyone here forgot. Fifteen! I don’t want to meet impoverished aristocrats in Windenburg any more than I want to stumble into a room thinking, ‘There she is,’ unless it’s someone I was actually looking for.”
Max couldn’t help but scold his children. “William, a future king doesn’t refer to himself in the third person, nor would he stumble into any rooms, he would maybe promenade into them!” he admonished, then turned his attention to Victoria. “And why are you discussing love matters with that stable boy, Victoria? Worse yet, one who shares a name with your dear grandfather and brother—confusing and ill-advised. You’re fourteen! If your already more than unsuitable fraternizing with the Hawthorne boy becomes jeopardizing to your innocence emotionally, mentally, or in any way, then no matter how much your mother may insist otherwise, I WILL ensure you and that specific Liam no longer see each other. Puppy love only leads to heartbreak. Especially in circumstances like this.”
Victoria, beet-red with embarrassment, spun on her heel and fled.
“Handled with the utmost delicacy, I learned much about diplomacy from you just now. Nice job, Papa,” William muttered, storming off as well.
Max sighed, rubbing his temples. “Teenagers—they turn your nights into chaos and days into headaches. I believe I was never like this, but if I was, I apologize to you in heaven, Mother and Father.”
But Vivienne, the youngest and most stubborn of them all, interrupted. “Daddy, may I spend the night at my other daddy’s? I promise to be back for tutoring tomorrow.”
Max winced. “What is it with my daughters appearing out of thin air?! Did you ask your mummy? If you haven’t, go ask her for permission.”
“Why?”
“It’s her turn to ruin our kids’ lives now. Apparently, I’ve already done my part with your older siblings. They’re probably sulking in their rooms, and it will require a cupcake on a stick dangling in front of their faces to get them to come down for supper.”
Vivienne, undeterred, dropped her bombshell. “Unless I have more older siblings—if you mean William and Victoria—they’ve already snuck out.”
Max’s eyes widened. “What?! Where are they going? And how would you know that, little one?!”
“I’m no oracle, Daddy. I just saw them leave as I was coming bac… I mean, as I was in the garden playing. But I suspect William’s headed to Auntie Bee and Uncle Gav’s, while Victoria’s off to Cromwell Stables. So, it’s only fair I visit my other dad’s farm. Cheerio! Love ya.” Vivienne started walking away, but Max grabbed her arm.
“Wait! I have not agreed to you spending the night at Jack’s, nor will I. How about all four children have a nice evening in at home, hm? I’ll send someone to retrieve your bratty siblings. As the King, I decide where my minor children spend their time.”
Unfazed, Vivienne shrugged free. “Hmm. Guess I’ll ask Mommy then.”
With her parting words, Vivienne left also. The king let her. What was the point, this child was the most stubborn of all four of them. Instead, he called for the Royal Steward to have the two teens retrieved and brought to their chambers.
About two hours after he received word that his two oldest had been found and returned home, enough for the young mind to simmer down, Maximilian Cromwell paced the opulent hallway, his footsteps echoing off the marble floors. The palace was a maze of secrets, and he was the reluctant keeper. As King, he juggled diplomacy, intrigue, and the occasional tantrum from his teenage offspring.
Unsurprisingly, upon entering her private quarters, guarded by two royal guards in the hallway outside her door, Max discovered Victoria had vanished into thin air, AGAIN, leaving behind a trail of her signature perfume and a cryptic note, elegantly penned:
Dearest Papa,
Gone to discuss true love with Jack. I’ve realized I have more questions about that time in all our lives—the time none of us like to think about, his time with Mama. I know you said not to, but the questions were burning holes in my mind. Don’t wait up; I’ll be fine. Jack is a true gentleman and will likely see me home.
Love you, Victoria.
Max sighed, contemplating the enigma that was his daughter. Reprimanding the guards would be futile; clearly, Victoria had unlocked secret passages unbeknownst to even him. And poor Jack—his face would be a delightful mix of confusion and flattery as Victoria, sweet and polite, interrogated him. After all, Max knew firsthand that his daughter’s romantic notions were as unpredictable as the stock market and her questioning could be relentless.
William, on the other hand, had barricaded himself in his room. The boy’s rebellion was a symphony of slammed doors and muttered curses. Max knocked gently. “William, open up. We need to discuss your impending visit to Windenburg.”
The door creaked open, revealing a disheveled prince. William’s hair, usually impeccably styled, now resembled a startled crow’s nest. “What’s there to discuss, Papa? I am not going, as I’m not some medieval pawn. I did not choose to be born an heir to the throne, and I won’t be paraded like a prize bull at the county fair. If you wish to appease them and acknowledge them, YOU go and schmooze them. WITHOUT me.”
Max raised an eyebrow. “Prize bulls don’t wear bespoke suits, my boy. Besides, the von Ahrensbergs are old allies. Their daughter, Lady Wilhemina, is—”
“Lady Wilhelmina?” William interrupted. “Sounds like a 50-year-old schoolmarm character from one of Victoria’s Jane Austen novels. Is she going to faint dramatically when you force me to kiss her hand at gunpoint? She’s probably so ugly that she has to wear a sign around her neck ‘This side up’. Bet her parents had to guilt you into trying to force me to be nice to her cos everyone else ran away from Lady Shrek and her boring tea parties and such lame nonsense. Just like all the local highborn girls everyone keeps pushing on me. One more boring than the next and all of them duller than a toddler spoon!”
Max chuckled. “Do you feel better now? I think you might find yourself surprised. I am not one to judge a young girl’s appearance, so I won’t speak to that, however, I was told she is rather strong-minded, and has a taste for unusual hobbies. She’s more likely to challenge you to a sword fight than invite you to a tea party. She’s a modern young lady about your age—sharp-witted, independent, and allergic to old traditions. Sounds like you two would have much in common. More than with her brother, I believe he is quite a bit older than you. If memory serves, the von Ahrensbergs are already of a certain again and the last of their name, they didn’t succeed in raising live heirs till late in life, first the boy and then many years later a girl.”
“Great,” William muttered. “I’ll bring my rapier and a bottle of antihistamines. Plus, a wheelchair and some Ensure for the brother. And flowers for the parents, who sound like they have one foot in the grave already. Sounds like this trip will be excitement nonstop.”
Maximilian Cromwell, King and father extraordinaire, leaned against the doorframe, his words carrying the weight of responsibility. “This alliance matters, William. Our kingdom needs it. Royalty today is mostly a facade—old families, old wealth, and strategic support from just the right ranks. We have some say in politics, but nothing like the royals of yore. I attend political meetings, keep up with events, and offer advice. You’ll do the same one day, my boy. Your uncle in Tartosa and other Lords and Ladies across the world—they navigate this delicate dance too. Some may no longer hold the old titles of their forefathers, but they wield power, and we mustn’t alienate them. Besides, Lady Wilhemina is no shrinking violet. I have on good authority that she plans to attend college for some technical engineering degree, and wishes to one day found a tech startup, she already designs her own clothes, and has a black belt in karate. I fail to call that boring, my son.”
William’s eyes widened. “Karate? Sounds painful. Now I really don’t want to go, just in case I say something she doesn’t like. Worse than Vivienne when she gets upset.”
The king let out a chuckle, wrapping one arm around his son’s shoulders.
“Oh William. Just employ your wit and disarming charms and keep an open mind. Who knows, other things may evolve. Something more relevant for our kingdom and their old family heritage.”
“Dad, nice try, but not as subtle as you may think. I know what you are trying to do and it won’t work. I am not shopping for a future mate. I won’t pick out the most strategically influential family and start courting their daughter. Luckily, those times are long gone too. I don’t know when I will date and whom, all I know is not like THAT. Let me reiterate I’m fifteen. Right now, I am only ever looking for the same as every other boys my age: Wi-Fi passwords, the latest video games, TikToks and a decent burger joint. Since you are not just my father but my king too, and I see that you just will not let this go, I will negotiate a deal with you. If you can get Victoria to go, I’ll go. I’ll even pretend to enjoy the trip and will be on my best behavior.”
Max sighed. “Fifteen or not, you’re a Cromwell. You seem to misunderstand my requests and actions as some sort of mean streak on my part. It is not, William, I am doing all this for you from a place of deep love and care and in a smaller part for the House of Cromwell as that is our future. Like you, I was born into this life without having been given a choice, and I used to pity myself secretly, until then, for a brief period, which also felt like an eternity of being utterly lost and irrelevant, I got to know a world without our titles, without our palace, all taken from us against our will, you and Victoria were still too young to realize how lost we all were we did our best to shield you from the realities of it, even your mother admits it. She too once detested the strict palace rules and many boundaries, in some cases for good reason, which is why I have tirelessly adapted as much of it as I could. We gained our titles, property and relevance back, now it is up to us to keep it that way. Fifteen is very young for having to consider such things, I agree, but time has a way of getting away from us all, suddenly you will be sixteen, then seventeen and eighteen, your focus will be on college, as it should be, but unfortunately between eighteen and early or mid-twenties most young ladies of the best heritage will already be spoken for, and you may have missed out on the cream of the crop. Dating with your heritage on both sides of the family will never be an easy task, let’s not forget your mother wasn’t just a regular commoner when I met her, she was more than famous and understands the many pitfalls. The number of ladies with ulterior motives and dubious agendas is high and were they so easy to spot, nobody would ever fall for them. They are not, especially not for inexperienced young men, whom they prey on. Ladies of the proper standing are facing the same, which is why it’s advisable to date within the already vetted ranks. And not just that, you are going to be the king after me. Duty comes before Wi-Fi passwords and juicy burgers, my son, however, I promise you, there will be much time for fun and all the lovely things life holds for us. But fine, I agree to your terms and will try to conjure up your sister, who is currently bothering poor Jack and Izzy again and see that she will come along, maybe I can recruit Jack to help sway her that way. Now, rest up, I’ll have someone sent up to pack for you. We leave first thing tomorrow.”
As Max retreated down the hallway, he wondered if he’d ever been this headstrong at fifteen. Probably not, as his parents were still very much old school about a lot of things. But then again, he’d never faced a world where strategic alliances to preserve peace among nations were replaced by data breaches and knights wielding smartphones.
Vivienne, with all the dramatic flair of a young princess, cornered her mother, Queen Aria-Grace. “Mommy, can I go to Daddy’s farm? I promise not to ride his other horses this time. Only my Fae, and only if he or Izzy said it’s okay.”
Aria-Grace raised an elegant eyebrow. “It is a school day. You can see your other daddy again this weekend.”
Vivienne sighed theatrically. “I feel like a princess in a dungeon.”
But Queen Aria-Grace’s attention shifted. Someone approached from behind her young daughter—a man, tall, rugged, strong, determined, donning the usual Stetson. It was Jack, Vivienne’s biological father. AG smiled and pointed. Vivienne followed the indicated direction, turned, squealed, then started running toward the man with her older sister Victoria linked to his arm. He released the teenage princess to catch his daughter and twirl with her, while Aria-Grace hugged Victoria, who then immediately went inside. Clearly, she hadn’t been ready to come home yet, which clearly hadn’t stopped Jack from bringing her back anyway.
“Trade ya? This daughter for that one?” Aria-Grace giggled, pointing at Victoria who just disappeared into the palace and Vivienne, her little arms wrapped around Jack’s neck.
“Oh, heaven almighty, please let’s! Don’t get me wrong, I adore Vic, I do, but I think I haven’t talked this much in weeks, what are ya feedin’ that girl, AG, she’s a regular chatterbox, ain’t she? Your daughter can talk the ears off a corn stalk, she’s got more words than a Sunday sermon. How does she even come up with half that stuff she asks about, some honest to God never even crossed mah mind once?! Oh, and she didn’t like it one lil bit when I told her I was done talkin’, cos she sure wasn’t, got a little bucky, but I told her no matter none, picked ‘er up, tossed her on my Trapper and hauled her up here, complainin’ and all. Guessin’ I fell from grace with yer daughter now. So, why ya givin’ away this little one here so readily, has she been giving ya grief again too? I told ya before, and I am stickin’ to my story, she’s got her fiery side for you, not me. My boys are sweet as pie on a summer morn’, AG. The pepper in your kids is all you, sweetheart, wasn’t me, and sure ain’t been yer husband.” Jack drawled on, before planting a kiss on the cheek of a giggling Vivienne in his arms, as he winked at AG.
“Yes,” Vivienne replied in Aria-Grace’s stead, “I have given Papa grief and mommy grief and I will until they’ll let me stay the night. But Papa said to ask mommy and she said you have to decide. Say I can, please, daddy, please!” Vivienne said, switching back from her usual Henfordian accent to the way AG grew up speaking and still did, and the way Jack spoke. Another facet of the little girl living in two different worlds. The only one of Aria-Grace’s four children who did this. The other three spoke just like their father.
Jack’s eyes met Aria-Grace’s, giving her the old jolt of lightning that shot through her entire body, causing her to gasp quietly. Jack seemed to feel it too, as he averted his gaze.
“Umm, ya know what, sure, sounds like yer mother could use a little break. I’ll have ya back here at sunrise tomorrow, and ya better get that butt out of bed the first time I tell ya to, not like last time, or I will bring ya home in yer jammies and without breakfast!” Jack kissed the little girl, then planted her on the ground.
Vivienne squealed and ran off towards the palace gates, where her father usually left his horse when he came by for brief visits, Aria-Grace smiled at him, he smiled back.
“Sorry about Victoria, Jack. She absolutely adores you and you will never fall from grace with her, she’s just upset. Max is going on a business trip, he’s taking William, and those two hate being separated, so she is extra-emotional right now. We tried to find all the secret passages, but those kids are worse than goats, it’s nearly impossible to contain them without locking them in their rooms. What did she want from you this time?”
Jack smiled a cryptic smile.
“Oh, it’s all good, I like havin’ her come around. I ain’t gonna betray that girl’s trust. She asked me stuff in confidence so whatever she asked and whatever I said is for her to know and for ya to…dot dot dot.” he winked.
“So, it was about us again?”
“Of course. Yer daughter is obsessed with our story. The more often I tell it, the more I believe what she believes, that it was fate, cos how else do ya explain it all. I found my best friend, better than any I ever had before, in Connor, because of you. In case you forgot, cos I sure did until I had to retell it a million times, I had come to yer Brindleton Bay estate, slobberknocker drunk, demandin’ we talk, ya were pregnant with Vivienne, and yer cousin Connor was there with his wife, he didn’t know me, caught me lurkin’ in yer garden and was about to knock the livin’ daylights outta me for bein’ so obnoxious. But he didn’t, he took care of my drunk rear, cleaned me up, cleaned up where I puked and made me come to the baby shower for Vivienne. Ya know, despite all the nonsense between us, that meant a lot to me. Even now, I can look back and know I didn’t miss that. We didn’t last, but the memories sure did. And I got such a great friend out of it. Without Connor, I would never have found Jackson, I wouldn’t even have known how to start lookin’, nor did I think I should. But he made me go look, he helped me find him, helped me get custody and at least for a few years I got to be Jackson’s dad until he was old enough to not need me. My boy is continuing the ranch, so I can be here, where I never thought I’d be, I get to see my little girl grow up because of you and Max, Max could have been a total ass about it, but he wasn’t, he chose to be nice to me and help me, he helped me find the best wife a man like me could ever ask for, who truly loves me, unconditionally, we have a son, and for the first time in any of my kids’ lives I got to be there from the very beginnin’. If ya think about all that, it’s hard to fault Vic for being such a dreamer. That bein’ said, if I were you and Max, I’d be keepin’ a close eye on her and that Hawthorne boy. I think that child has made up her mind to marry a commoner one day, no matter how many princes you serve up for her to pick from and I also think that Liam is jockeying for pole position for that job, and I can’t blame the boy, lookin’ at her now, she’s starting to show what a gorgeous young woman she is going to grow into, with the kindest heart. And while they are just kids now, and from what I have seen, they are just being friendly, no romancin’ and such, they won’t stay that way forever. One day soon that boy’s hormones are bound to get the best of him, us boys aren’t famous for doin’ a lot of thinkin’-things-all-the-way-through on a good day, with a hormonal circus going on inside him that boy won’t be able to and he probably don’t even mean nothin’ bad by it. And Vic ain’t gon’ be much help, she’s probably gonna wanna see what this feels like and that and such. I know I ain’t Victoria’s daddy, but I love her all the same and will definitely keep close watch where I can. Askin’ yer permission to spank some teenage bottoms, should the need arise.”
“Sure Jack, darling, spank away, you have my permission, and I am sure her daddy wouldn’t disagree. I think you are right, Victoria is still such a child at heart, but also so wrapped up in her romance novels and movies that I can see why you would think that way. Part of me wants her to be exposed to regular kids her age, so she can grow up with a solid understanding of the real world beyond palace gates, but I think we are starting to head for rough seas if I keep allowing her to spend so much time with that stable boy. Max wasn’t too keen on that idea from the get go, but I put my foot down and told him I wish her to be exposed to more than vetted aristocrats and family. But you are right, I think at this point we are asking for trouble, why tempt them with something that we could never let happen. I am not fool enough to think this could always just be a friendship, and not delusional enough to think it would ever be more. It would be nice, for both of them, but we both know better, don’t we, Jack?” Aria-Grace sighed, Jack nodded.
“Yeah, sure do. Look, the Hawthorne boy is a nice kid, I know he wouldn’t do something bad intentionally, but I ain’t gon’ take no vows of celibacy on his behalf. I was that age once, and I remember my bad choices, usually out of ignorance, not maliciousness, and even my boy Jackson isn’t thinking clearly when the heart yells louder. No offense, I love that Bri, but she ain’t no rancher girl, she ain’t never gon’ be happy livin’ with him and them not wantin’ to accept that fact is gonna drag this heartbreak out longer. She won’t ever be happy livin’ with him, no matter how many times she goes and stays with him for a little while, and my boy would never give up our ranch, and I wouldn’t let him either, cos I know him. I wish it were different, cos they sure love each other, but you and I both know firsthand, that just ain’t enough sometimes. She should have stuck with that curly haired boy she was with before Jackson, maybe she should talk to him again and reconsider givin’ him another chance. And Jackson should have been better to the McCoy girl, Taylor’s mighty pretty, also got a rich daddy and a lot goin’ for her.”
“Sorry, I don’t know that Taylor, but Bradford? Well, that would be hard to do, Jack, haven’t you heard, he got married and is a daddy now. I have met his father, and I can see why that didn’t work out, and Uncle Chase didn’t have anything good to say about that, don’t even get me started on Aunt Hailey. I still hope Bri and Jackson can accomplish what you and I couldn’t, still rooting for them. I don’t know how, they don’t know how, but maybe there is a way, one you and I didn’t see.”
“Yeah, it’s called LaLa-Land and it ain’t real, all just in their heads, that’s where.” Jack said, tapping his finger against his forehead. “I adore Bri, and I wish that could be the girl Jackson will settle down with one day, but I know it won’t be. Just ain’t fittin’ any better than we did, AG. Had there been a way, you and I would’ve found it and spares ourselves a LOT of bad times. Oh well, water down the river. Now we know we’re great as friends, we made a great baby together, but we’re nothing other than lousy as anything more. Jus’ a fact. I couldn’t hate ya if I tried, AG, and I know you feel the same, so here we are. At least we picked our spouses much better than all that, so at least we can claim we learned somethin’ here.”
Aria-Grace laughed, a mix of defeat and fondness. The bonds of family clearly sometimes supersede blood and heritage. Somehow, in a strange and crazy way, instead of being as most ex-partners are, bitter and at war with one another, they were like a patchwork family and this odd constellation of circumstances could have created chaos and despair, it hadn’t, as Jack said, maybe fate really does work in mysterious ways sometimes and maybe all this was always meant to be.
Thousands of miles away, William’s heart raced as the limousine glid through Windenburg’s cobbled streets. His father, King Maximilian, had insisted on this visit—the von Ahrensbergs, old allies, awaited them.
But Victoria’s absence gnawed at him. She had promised to come along, but instead lay in bed, felled by a stomach bug, clearly miserable, her laughter silenced. William felt bad leaving her.
At the von Ahrensberg’s palace, Schloss Falkenburg, after the usual reception parade, Princess Wilhelmina briefly greeted William—a pleasant surprise. She was around his age, not dull, nor ugly, but elusive as she was in a hurry for fencing and William didn’t get to see her again after that. Not even at the welcome dinner her parents had insisted on, which was way too much food for William who already had lost his appetite having to go on this trip. The first of many like is, as his father had informed him, as it was time to prepare the young Crown Prince for his future duties.
It was Wilhemina’s older brother, Crown Prince Alexander, who captured William’s attention the most. Alexander, about five or so years older than the Crown Prince, but worldly, quietly confident and unapologetically real.
After a long discussion about William’s dreams and expectations, all shot down by Alexander’s bits of wisdom and reality, he decided to take the young Crown Prince downtown to sightsee, as William thought, until Alexander challenged him to just talk to other young people their age, try to socialize, make friends. Donning a baseball cap as disguise, it soon became very clear that neither of them fit in. No matter how much William tried, he stood out somehow, and not just because of his Henfordian accent.
Other teens would just glare at them like oversized cockroaches, often just walk off, leaving them standing there, which was the mildest of all reactions. Others made fun of the way they talked or behaved, the way they dressed and how they just “had no clue”. Twice they almost ended up in physical altercations.
At some point Crown Prince Alexander put his arm around a very discouraged William’s shoulders and pulled him along to return to the von Ahrensberg’s palace, while telling him calmly. “Had enough reality yet? Sorry for the rough lesson, but this is what I was trying to tell you, I am older than you, I have been where you are, and I learned the hard way that you and I will NEVER be like all the other who are not born into our circles. We will never sound like them, act like them, be like them. NEVER. We have been groomed for the lives we are meant to lead one day since birth. You can try to fight the facts, argue them, but they will remain facts. You and I are here to sustain our lineage, simple as that. Better you start acclimating yourself with the truth and honestly, listen to your father. At least dip your feet in and start getting to know girls your age of the proper standing. I didn’t, categorically refused, was obnoxious about it, because I just knew better than my parents. Well, I was wrong on so many levels. All the good ladies are spoken for now, the ones who remain are not my type, so I am circling the debutants heads waiting for someone to break an engagement or stop dating whomever they are currently seeing, so I can swoop in and try again. And now here I am in college, which adds just another level of complexity. You either lie about who you are and pray you don’t ever slip up, never really let loose, and nobody finds out, which means you have to keep to yourself a lot and need a good memory. I tried to date regular girls and each time was a disaster. I am sure you saw my name all over the headlines, none of the accusations were ever true but it ruined our name all the same, until the hyenas found a new victim and forgot about us again. If all my drama was good for anything, let it be so that you and others like us don’t make the same mistakes.” Alexander sounded tired and defeated.
Deeply affected by this wake-up call, William was very quiet on the flight back home, and could not recall the last time he had been so excited to see the palace appear on the horizon, having to keep himself from kissing the ground once the limousine stopped in the driveway. His mom, Queen Aria-Grace, and William’s three sisters were all very confused about the long hugs and emotional greetings they received from the young Crown Prince.
“You must be tired, my boy. Why don’t you retire to your quarters. You can catch your sisters up tomorrow; I will talk to your mother.” King Maximilian told his oldest child.
“Thank you, Papa. Oh, and … those debutante balls you have been trying to get me to go to … let me know when the next one is, and I will be there.” William sounded defeated, as he turned on his heel and ran up the stairs, leaving behind his confused parents exchanging surprised glances.
EchoesOfLegacy 