Chapter 12 – Bellamy
BELLAMY
As our private jet touches down in Switzerland, I can’t help but marvel at the breathtaking beauty before me.
The snowcapped Alps seem to stretch endlessly, their jagged peaks scraping the sky.
Below them lies the crystal-clear water of Lake Geneva, shimmering like a jewel in the fading afternoon light.
For as much traveling as my father and I did when we first came to Europe, we never made it to Switzerland, though the country is Messalina’s northern neighbor.
“Ah, Geneva,” Sebastian says through a tired sigh, standing and taking my hand to help me as we disembark the plane. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“It’s gorgeous,” I agree, my voice laced with excitement and nerves.
“Don’t tell Sebastian this, but sometimes I prefer Switzerland to Messalina,” Althea whispers conspiratorially in my ear, making me laugh lightly.
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
She gives me a wink. “Better chocolate. You’ll see.”
“Chocolate, huh? You’re about to sell me on Switzerland over Messalina and I’m here as the new queen. You do realize I’m pregnant and already have an insatiable sweet tooth, right?”
“If you keep my secret, I’ll keep yours.”
“Deal.”
It’s been a week since Sebastian’s mother came and dropped that bomb on him. Sebastian, Rowan, and Javier have been looking into the information she gave them on this Elara woman, only she never worked for the palace.
Queen Isabella referred to her as a servant, and maybe she was, but not to the royal family, which makes the search more difficult.
On a bright note, my father has been doing well.
His agitation has subsided a bit, and though his cognition isn’t improving, it also seems to be holding relatively steady, with a few moments when he’s clearer than others.
At the very least, he was well enough for me to travel with Sebastian, and once again, we’re only about an hour’s flight away if there’s an issue.
As we step off the plane, I take a deep breath, inhaling the crisp mountain air. My heart races with anticipation, not just for the events that await us, but because this is my first event where I will be introduced as Queen Bellamy while standing beside Sebastian as my husband and king.
“Welcome to Switzerland, Your Majesties,” a polite Swiss official greets us, bowing slightly.
“Thank you,” Sebastian replies, offering the man a kind smile. Well, kind for him. “We’re delighted to be here.”
“Your presence is an honor to our country,” the official says, returning the smile.
As we’re ushered toward our awaiting vehicles, my mind can’t help but wander to the potential scrutiny I will no doubt face from the other attendees.
It’s no secret that until two months ago, I was the children’s nanny. The much younger nanny.
Still, I refuse to let that affect me. I’m in freaking Switzerland at an international summit of world leaders. This sort of thing doesn’t happen every day, and I intend to make the most of it. While eating all the Swiss chocolate, of course.
I straighten my spine and lift my chin, determined to stand tall and proud and look…
regal. Something that definitely doesn’t come naturally to me.
I was actually scheduled to begin all kinds of royal lessons, including etiquette and how to handle the press.
This trip came up before those could start, so let’s just pray I don’t do something stupid or stick my foot in my mouth since I’ve been known to do both.
“Are you all right, baby?” Sebastian asks, his concern evident in his voice.
“Fantastic,” I assure him, offering a small smile, though he probably sees right through it. “Just taking in the breathtaking scenery.”
“You don’t have to be nervous.”
Damn him.
“Uh, yeah, I think I do.”
“You’ll be fine. You’ll have both Althea and me beside you the entire time, and frankly, the world doesn’t expect a whole lot from me. You forget, I already have the reputation of being somewhat of a beast.”
“See, I would have gone with asshole, but I suppose beast fits too.”
Althea barks out a small laugh but quickly stifles it.
His lips twitch. “Crass American.”
“Snooty Messalinian.”
He chuckles, his eyes twinkling with affection. “Just be yourself and I have no doubt you’ll charm these other snooty aristocrats the way you did me.”
“You mean I get to charm the pants off them?”
His eyes darken immediately with dirty promises. “Careful. I don’t have time to punish you properly before dinner this evening.”
“Mon dieu. Perhaps you should have this conversation where I can’t hear either of you.”
I throw Althea a contrite smile, but by this point, I think she’s heard it all from us.
The opulence of the hotel is evident from the moment we step foot inside its grand lobby.
Rows of chandeliers hang from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow on the marble floors and ornate furnishings.
I can’t help but marvel at the sheer elegance of it all.
It’s like stepping into another world, though by this point, I should start getting used to it.
“Welcome, Your Majesties,” the hotel manager greets us with a slight bow, his tone as polished as the brass fixtures that adorn the walls. “We are honored to have you as our guests.”
“Thank you,” Sebastian replies graciously.
“May I show you to your suites?” the manager asks, gesturing toward a private elevator.
“Please,” Sebastian murmurs, and after being escorted into a private elevator, we ascend in silence until we reach the top floor.
“Here we are,” the manager announces as he opens the door to an expansive suite, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer panoramic views of Lake Geneva.
“The royal suite. We trust this will meet your expectations.” I hold in my snicker, thanking him as he escorts us around, showing us every luxurious detail of the suite before leaving us with, “Your comfort and satisfaction are our top priority. Please do not hesitate to call upon our staff should you require anything during your stay.”
“Thank you,” I chime in, offering a smile of my own. The manager bows once more before making his exit, leaving us alone in the sumptuous suite.
“The royal suite? Really?”
Sebastian shrugs. “Althea is in a presidential suite if that makes you feel better.”
“I’m not sure how I’m feeling,” I admit, going for the luggage the staff brought in and immediately hanging up my gowns and his suits in the spacious walk-in closet.
“Overwhelmed?” He follows me in, leaning against the wall and smirking, likely because I’m unpacking when I know we have a butler who will come in and do that for us.
We have staff in the palace—a cook and maid staff—and Sebastian does have a butler of sorts who tends to his clothes and things. But it just feels less formal there. The children are there running around, and now we have a pet ferret. It feels more like a home despite the fact that it’s a palace.
“A bit. And this thing hasn’t even started yet.”
“Understandable,” he says with a gentle chuckle as he watches me stuff sweaters into drawers.
“But remember, you belong here just as much as anyone else.” He moves across the room, wrapping his arms around my chest from behind.
“You know, for how nervous you are that people will judge you over the fact that you were once my nanny, I worry this will all be too much for you at some point.”
Oh.
I spin in his arms and wrap mine around his neck. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I. So let’s remember that and let everyone else go fuck themselves.”
I laugh. “Is that your royal decree?”
“Absolutely.”
He leans down and kisses me, his words and body a soothing balm to my nerves, and I will myself to let go of the lingering doubts that have plagued me since our wedding.
“Thank you,” I whisper, resting my head on his chest.
“Always,” he murmurs, planting a tender kiss on the top of my head. “Let’s relax for a bit before we have to get ready for tonight.”
He kisses my lips again and leads me away from the closet toward the living room. The sun is dipping low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the sprawling landscape that stretches out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The room’s furnishings are as opulent as one would expect for a king and queen, with plush velvet sofas, intricately woven rugs, and walls adorned with expensive works of art.
However, what truly makes the atmosphere romantic is the subtle attention to detail—flickering candles nestled in glass holders, fresh flowers arranged in elegant vases, and the delicate scent of jasmine wafting through the air.
As I continue to absorb the enchanting scene outside, I become acutely aware of the sounds that fill the room.
The gentle crackling of the fireplace, the soft tapping of Sebastian’s feet as he moves about, and the comforting rhythm of his steady breathing.
At this moment, I feel like the entire world could fade away, leaving just Sebastian and me in our own private haven where time seems to stand still.
It’s what our honeymoon was until it was cut short, but this almost feels like a small second chance at that.
Sebastian hands me a glass of water. “You need to stay hydrated.”
I’d roll my eyes at his overbearing ways if it wasn’t sweet. I down the entire thing in five gulps, shocked by how thirsty I actually am. “Thank you. Clearly, I needed that.”
“You’re still quiet.”
“I might be tonight.”
“Bellamy, you are the most extraordinary woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,” he whispers into my ear, his words sending a thrill through my body.
“Your beauty is unparalleled, your intelligence unmatched, and your spirit…it’s like a fire that burns so brightly, I can’t help but be drawn to its flame. ”
“Sebastian…” I breathe, overcome by his intensity. My heart thuds heavily in my chest, threatening to burst from the sheer force of my emotions.
“Every day I wake up, I thank the heavens that I get to spend another day with you,” he continues, his voice soft and tender. “I am eternally grateful for your love, Bellamy. You complete me in ways I never thought possible.”
His words wash over me, forcing tears to prick at the corners of my eyes. I turn and reach up to touch his face, tracing the curve of his sharp jawline with my fingertips. “Beast or not, you have the heart of a lion. I love you,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.
“Forever and always,” he replies softly, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead before trickling kisses down my cheek until the warmth of his breath brushes against my neck, making me shudder.
Our heartbeats seem to synchronize, quickening in tandem as we stand pressed close together.
I can feel the solid muscles of his chest against mine, our bodies fitting together like pieces of a puzzle.
“Kiss me,” I plead, desperate to feel his mouth on mine.
Without hesitation, his lips crash against mine with a ferocity that steals my breath. Our mouths move together, our tongues dancing in a slow, sensual rhythm that leaves me trembling with need.
“If only I had time to fuck you against these French doors.”
“Can’t we be late?”
He chuckles. “I already promised Althea we wouldn’t be. I think she knows me too well when it comes to you.”
“Fine,” I pout. “But for the record, I’m holding you to a rain check on that.
” Just as the words leave my mouth, his phone rings with a call from Rowan, who is once again acting as regent in Sebastian’s absence.
“I’m going to shower and get changed,” I tell him as he answers.
He nods and I leave him behind, heading into the giant marble bathroom.
I shower quickly and blow out my hair until it falls in thick, soft waves and then I slip into one of the gowns I brought with me. Gowns that were purchased for me before Sebastian and I ever said I do.
In the brightly lit closet, I stand in front of the full-length mirror as I adjust the hem of my emerald gown. The fabric clings to my curves, highlighting the swell of my hips and the fullness of my breasts. It also hints at the small bump that’s growing more and more difficult to hide.
Despite that, I can’t help but feel confident and beautiful in this gown, even though it’s a far cry from anything I have ever worn before.
“Is this really me?” I whisper to my reflection.
My long, wavy brown hair cascades over my shoulders, glistening under the soft glow of the chandelier above.
I blink, and my large bright blue eyes stare back at me, brimming with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
The diamond earrings Sebastian gave me hug my ears, their facets catching every glint of light, while my diamond heart necklace stays nestled delicately against my chest just above my cleavage.
I touch the sparkling gems, their cool weight against my fingers. It feels surreal, as if I’m playing dress-up, trying on someone else’s life for size. But no, this is real. I am officially Queen Bellamy now, and tonight will be my first high society dinner as royalty.
Anxiety bubbles up within me, threatening to dampen my confidence. I shake my head, banishing the doubts, and remind myself that, as Sebastian said, I deserve to be here.
“Queen Bellamy,” I murmur to myself, practicing the name and letting it roll off my tongue. “This is who you are now.”
With one last glance in the mirror, I turn away, my gown rustling softly as it swirls around my legs, my heels making soft taps on the polished hardwood and carpeted floors.
I reach for the door handle and pause to take a deep, calming breath, willing my nerves to settle.
I have faced challenges before, and I will face them again.
This dinner is just another hurdle to overcome, but more than that, it’s a chance to prove myself to the world.
“Let’s do this,” I whisper, and with that, I step out of the sanctuary of the closet and head toward the night that awaits, sending up a silent prayer as I go.
Please don’t let me fuck this up.