Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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At 2:55 pm later that day, there was a knock at Keira’s door. She’d spent most of the afternoon in a state of sexual frustration that Alexei had deliberately left her in. She’d thought he would have come to see her after their encounter at breakfast, but he hadn’t, making it worse.
Every time she closed her eyes, she could feel his fingers against her, the way he’d brought her so close to the edge before pulling away. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing to her. Now she would be humming all evening, and she was not happy about that.
“Miss Warner?” Elena called from the hallway. “Are you ready to get prepared for this evening?”
Keira opened the door to find Elena waiting. “Time to transform me into princess material?”
Elena picked up Keira’s dress and shoes that she would need tonight.
“Something like that,” Elena smiled. “Come, we’ll go to the preparation room.”
“Why don’t they just come to my bedroom?” Keira asked as they walked down the corridor.
“The stylists are not part of the household staff,” Elená explained. “For safety and privacy reasons, outsiders are never allowed inside the private suites of the royal family.”
When Elena opened the door to the room where her hair and makeup would be done, Amelia was already there, seated in one of the salon chairs.
“Amelia!” Keira felt a rush of relief at seeing a friendly face. “I’m so grateful you’re here.”
“I thought you might want some moral support,” Amelia said with a warm smile. “I know first royal events can be overwhelming.”
Elena moved to the side, setting up Keira’s dress and accessories. “Miss Warner,” she said quietly, “I should warn you to be careful about what you discuss around anyone you don’t completely trust. Information has a way of finding its way to the media.”
Keira could see Amelia agreed with Elena.
Keira nodded, understanding the warning and was glad she had Amelia nad Elena to guide her.
But something had been bugging her, and she needed to get that straightened out now.
“Elena,” she said as the woman prepared to leave them with the stylists who were now just arriving, “you can call me Keira, not Miss Warner.”
Elena looked uncertain. “But you’ll be a princess soon.” she said so only she and Amelia could hear.
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“Well, I’m not yet,” Keira replied firmly. “And until that happens, I’m just Keira.”
Elena nodded and left.
After the stylists introduced themselves, they got to work setting up their working space. They checked out the outfits Keira and Amelia were planning on wearing tonight, to coordinate makeup.
and hair.
Keira leaned over to whisper to Amelia. “So have you had any more thoughts about getting away with Niko?”
Amelia’s hands stilled in her lap, her expression growing cautious as she glanced toward the stylists bustling around them. “We shouldn’t-” she whispered back.
“They’re focused on their work, and we are whispering. They would have to have listening devices.” Keira said quietly, noting how the team was absorbed in laying out makeup palettes and testing curling irons. “But if you’d rather not…” Keira stood and opened the balcony doors and stepped outside.
Amelia followed a moment later shutting the doors behind her.
“Did you talk to Niko?” Keira asked as soon as they were alone on the balcony, the late afternoon sun warming their faces.
Amelia’s expression crumpled slightly. “Not yet. Every time I try to bring it up, the words just… stick in my throat.”
“Amelia.” Keira placed a gentle hand on her arm. “You can’t keep torturing yourself like this.”
“I know, I know.” Amelia pressed her palms to her cheeks. “It’s just… what if you’re wrong? What if he does think I’m a failure?”
the
“Then at least you’ll know instead of assuming the worst.” Keira studied her face. “But I don’t think that’s what you’ll hear.”
Through the glass doors, they could see the stylists still arranging their equipment, completely absorbed in their preparations.
“The truth is,” Amelia said quietly, “I’ve been so focused on what I can’t give him that I forgot to ask what he actually wants from me!
“Exactly,” Keira squeezed her arm. “You’re making decisions for both of you based on fear, not facts.”
Amelia was quiet for a moment, staring out at the palace gardens. “He mentioned that trip again last
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Chapter 198
night. Said we could go anywhere I wanted, just the two of us and security of course.”
“That sounds perfect. Away from all this pressure, all these expectations. Every eye looking for a baby.
bump.”
“But what if we go away and I still can’t…” Amelia’s voice trailed off.
“Then you’ll face that together, as a team. But Amelia, you need to stop defining your entire worth by one biological function.” Keira’s voice grew firm. “You’re so much more than that.”
“Am 17 Because sometimes I feel like that’s all anyone sees when they look at me. The crown prince’s wife who can’t produce an heir.”
“That’s not what Niko sees when he looks at you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Keira smiled. “Amelia, think about it… If you were just an incubator to him, he would be the one asking for a divorce.”
A soft knock on the glass doors interrupted them. One of the stylists gestured that they were ready to begin.
“We should go back in,” Amelia said, but she looked marginally more hopeful than she had moments.
before.
“Promise me you’ll talk to him,” Keira insisted as they moved toward the doors. “Tell him everything including you had thought about divorcing him because of the baby issue. He needs to know how your
are feeling.”
Amelia paused, her hand on the door handle. “Are you so open with Alexei?”
Keira snorted. “On most things but the man has an ego the size of the Grand Canyon, I think he needs to earn the rest.” She loved Alexei but she was almost ready to tell him.
“Earn what exactly?” Amelia asked, her eyebrows raised with curiosity.
Keira felt heat creep up her neck. “Nothing important.”
“Keira Warner,” Amelia’s tone turned teasing. “Are you telling me you haven’t told him you love him?”
“You are the last one to talk I’m pretty sure… But no, I haven’t said those exact words, no.” Keira leaned back against the balcony railing enjoying the afternoon sun. “But actions speak louder than words, right? I’m here, aren’t I? I flew to another country to be with him. Plus, I warned that bitch
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Maria to keep her hands and eyes to herself in front of him. Progress.”
Amelia laughed in delight. “I wish I had been there to see her face.”
Keira grinned, shaking her head. “It wasn’t pretty, but she finally admitted in front of Alexei she believes herself a better match.”
“That must have been quite the revelation,” Amelia said, shaking her head. “Maria’s been harboring that fantasy for years. It was bound to come out eventually.”
“Well, it certainly did this morning,” Keira replied. “In spectacular fashion. Alexei ended up stopping her from insulting me.”
Amelia’s eyes widened. “God, I really missed the fireworks.”
“Among other things. Let’s just say breakfast got heated, and Alexei had to ban her from attending tonight’s dinner.” Keira shrugged. “Honestly, I’m relieved. One less hostile face in the crowd.”
“Good for you for standing up to her,” Amelia said firmly. “Maria needed to hear the truth, even if she didn’t want to accept it.”
Through the glass doors, one of the stylists waved them over again, clearly eager to begin their work.
“We really should go back in,” Amelia said reluctantly. “They’ll need hours to make us presentable for
the cameras.”
As they moved toward the doors, Keira caught Amelia’s arm one more time. “Hours? Are you serious? Just slap on some makeup and put my hair in a ponytail.” She had always done her own makeup and hair in the past and it had never taken hours. How bloody boring.
Amelia laughed. “Don’t worry you will get accustomed to it given time.”
“Oh joy.” But she was so glad Amelia was so lovely and from what she had researched online today the people loved her. The same could not be said about her.
The stylists worked with practiced magic, transforming Keira into someone she barely recognized. Her hair was swept into an elegant updo with intricate braiding, and her makeup was flawless but understated, which she was glad about. When they finally stepped back, she stared at her reflection in
amazement.
“You look stunning,” Amelia said softly, admiring her own reflection in a deep green gown that complemented her auburn hair. “That color is perfect on you.”
The sapphire dress hugged Keira’s curves, the beadwork catching the light with every movement. She
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touched the pendant at her throat… Alexei’s mother’s necklace.
“Ready?” Elena asked, appearing with final accessories.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Keira replied, though her stomach was doing somersaults.
“Remember,” Amelia whispered, “just be yourself. That’s what Alexei fell for.”
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