8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Drew
The morning after their official appearance on the palace lawn, Drew was scared to look at his phone. It almost seemed better to live blissfully unaware of what the rest of the world had to say about their engagement. However, as the future king of Glencrest, he needed to be informed.
He pulled out his phone as he brushed his teeth, clicking on the Royal Inquisitor news app. Drew’s stomach churned as he scrolled through the headlines.
A Royal Surprise: Prince Andrew Engaged to Princess Brielle.
Shock Ripples Throughout Glencrest Following Prince Andrew’s Engagement.
Our Theories Behind the Sudden, Secretive Royal Engagement.
Drew bit the inside of his cheek as he opened the article filled with theories explaining his engagement to Bri. It listed everything from political negotiations between their parents to a suspected pregnancy. He rolled his eyes at that one. A paragraph at the end caught his eye, though.
Many citizens have thought for years that Prince Andrew would one day wed Glencrest’s very own Lady Clarissa. We can only speculate as to why he would unexpectedly announce an engagement to Princess Brielle of Westridge. What we do know for certain is that there is more to the story here than meets the eye. We will keep our devoted readers updated as we uncover more information about this sudden royal engagement.
His cheeks deflated as he slowly released a long breath. He’d thought the ball and public appearance would help satisfy everyone’s doubts. After he saw the pictures of himself and Bri together dancing at the ball and then on the lawn at their press appearance, he’d believed it himself. In so many of the pictures, Drew’s eyes were squarely focused on Bri, as if she were his whole world. The smile on her face further sold their love story.
Drew knew it wasn’t true. She didn’t love him—at least not in a romantic way. He’d said things to make her laugh in those moments, but he was still holding onto hope that one day she’d be looking at him that way because they truly were each other’s whole world.
As believable as he thought the pictures looked, he was surprised the media wasn’t fully buying the story they were selling. They needed to come up with an idea—something to show his relationship with Bri was moving forward. It might be hard to do with Bri living a few hours’ drive away, but…
That’s it. Bri can move into one of our royal cottages.
It would solve the problem of them both having to travel back and forth all the time. Plus, it would allow them to be seen together on a weekly, maybe even daily, basis. If they were truly engaged, people would expect them to be spotted together having fun and celebrating their engagement. Having her live close by would allow that to happen even more often.
Not to mention, it would give him extra opportunities to convince Bri they would make a good couple.
Drew finished getting ready for the day and headed downstairs to the informal dining room. He grabbed a plate from the sideboard and served himself bacon, scrambled eggs, and sourdough bread slathered with raspberry jam before taking a seat next to his father at the table. Immediately after sitting down, a server walked up behind him and filled his mug with steaming hot coffee. He poured in a heavy dose of cinnamon-vanilla creamer before stirring it with his spoon and taking a sip.
As he dug into his eggs, his mother cleared her throat from where she sat across the table.
“Did you see the articles this morning, by chance?” Her face was full of pity.
He nodded as he finished chewing. “The response was…unfortunate.”
“We need to do something about it,” his father said.
Drew ate a strip of bacon. “I believe I’ve come up with a solution.”
“By all means.” His mother motioned for him to share.
“What do you think about Bri moving into Hillside Cottage now instead of after we’re married? With her close by, we can attend more royal events together. I think being seen together will help solidify our engagement with the press and the citizens of Glencrest.”
His parents shared a look before beaming back at him. “I think that’s a brilliant idea,” his mother proclaimed, and his father nodded in agreement. “When?”
Drew rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, I need to ask her first, but I’m hoping sometime this week.”
“You haven’t asked her yet? Then what are you doing talking to us about it? Go talk to your fiancée.” His mother shooed him.
He quickly ate the remainder of his eggs and bacon before picking up the piece of toast as he stood. “Will you have—”
“I’ll have someone deliver coffee to your room.” His mother repeated her shooing motion.
Drew smiled at how well she knew him. “You’re the best.”
By the time he made it back to his room, he’d finished off the piece of toast, and waiting for him on his end table was a steaming cup of coffee, just the way he liked it. He grabbed the mug and walked over to his favorite seat, a gray tufted wingback chair.
After pulling out his phone, he opened his text thread with Bri. Checking the time, he noted it was two minutes until nine. It was earlier than normal for him to text her, but they needed to get everything resolved as soon as possible.
Drew : Did you know that Mars has a volcano bigger than the entire state of Hawaii?
Before he had time to exit their conversation, his phone screen lit up with an incoming call from Bri. He smiled down at her contact picture—one she wasn’t even aware he had taken of her. They had been on a mountain hike together in Westridge, and they had finally reached the peak. She’d spun around, her blonde hair swinging around her, the most genuine smile on her face. That was the exact moment he’d snapped the picture.
Every time she called him, he was taken back to that memory. He could almost smell the petrichor in the air mixed with the warm vanilla notes that always surrounded Bri. He could feel the sun beaming down on his skin, the mountain breeze ruffling his hair.
Drew hurried to answer the call before it went to voicemail. “Good morning, Bri Bear.”
“What’s wrong? Just tell it to me straight.”
“No good morning or hello from you?” he teased.
“You texted me two minutes earlier than you ever have. I know something’s wrong, so please tell me whatever it is.”
Drew sighed. “Have you seen the news headlines this morning?”
“Seeing as your text woke me up, no I haven’t.”
“Sorry.” He cringed. “I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but…”
“People aren’t buying our relationship?”
“Some do, but there are some articles out there questioning it. They think there’s more to the story and have promised to dig until they find the truth.” He took a sip of his coffee.
“I mean, there is more to the story.”
“But we can’t have them thinking that.”
“What are you suggesting we do?” Bri yawned.
He paused, unsure how she would react to his question. “How do you feel about moving into Hillside Cottage?”
“Isn’t that the cottage on your palace property where we would live if we actually got married?”
His heart sped up at the thought of living together with Bri as a married couple. Drew nodded, trying to play it cool, but then remembered she couldn’t see him. “Yes, until I ascend the throne.”
“You think it would help if I lived there?”
“People think something is up, and I think the perfect way to convince them we’re serious about each other is to have you move here. It would show we’re taking the next step in our relationship, and it would give us the chance to attend more public events together.”
After a stretch of silence, she finally responded, “A year is a long time…”
“I don’t expect you to live here the whole time, just long enough for us to attend some events to get the press off our backs. Plus, I’m sure Clarissa’s parents will find her another suitor in no time, and then we can stage our amicable split.” He sighed. Drew knew he was asking a lot of her by suggesting she move here. “If this is all too much—”
“I think I can make it work,” she interrupted him. “Just let me run the idea by my parents before I commit to anything.”
“Yeah, of course. Whatever you need.”
“I’ll call you back in a few.”
Drew tapped on the arm of the wingback chair, anxiously waiting for Bri’s picture to pop back up on his phone screen. Maybe this was a terrible idea. She loved a good adventure, but Bri also loved Westridge, and it was too much of him to ask her to leave her home.
Eight minutes later, his screen lit up again with her face, and he answered after the first ring.
“Hey, Bri. I shouldn’t have asked you to—”
“I’ll do it.”
“You will?” His eyes went wide. He’d thought for sure this would be a harder sell.
“I promised I would help you not have to be with Clarissa. If it takes me moving there for a while, so be it. I’m working on a project for a family center here that will still require some of my attention while I’m there, but otherwise, I’m all yours.”
“Have I ever told you you’re the best ever?”
“And don’t you forget it.” The sass in her tone made him smile. “Okay, but now about the real thing we need to discuss. The media we can handle. A volcano bigger than an entire state? Now, that’s terrifying.”
Bri had officially moved into Hillside Cottage at the end of the week, her bodyguard, Bastian, grumpily carrying boxes at her side. It was nice having her close by. She still slept in until nine every morning, missing breakfast, but she joined his family in the palace for lunch and dinner most days. It was the most time they’d spent together maybe ever, and Drew didn’t plan to waste this opportunity.
He intended to show her—somehow—that he was the best man for her. If, by the end of their charade, she didn’t reciprocate his feelings, he would figure out a way to let her go romantically. The thought made his heart sink in his chest and his stomach churn.
“Drew, are you ready?” Bri’s voice called out from the other side of his study door.
He walked out and joined her in the hallway, wearing a smile to hide the storm of emotions he was feeling inside. “Ready. Let’s go.”
As they made their way to the waiting car, Drew took in her outfit. She wore a light-blue skirt that hit her mid-calf, a long-sleeved white ribbed turtleneck tucked into it. The look was finished off with her favorite white platform sneakers, and her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders in perfect waves.
He helped her into the black SUV and then followed her in. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
“Thanks.” She smiled at him. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
Drew looked down at his khakis and white button-down. “This old thing?” He gestured to his outfit. “I’ve got nothing on you.”
Bri leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
They’d sat like this countless times over the years, but something felt different about the gesture today. More intimate. More romantic. Drew chided himself for the rest of the car ride. It’s all fake for her—at least for now.
Once they neared their destination, Drew sat up straighter. “We’re nearly there.”
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“I could never ruin the surprise. I know how much you love them.” He smirked at her.
When the car rolled to a stop, the driver opened the door for him. Drew stepped out into the flashing lights of cameras and offered his hand back for Bri. She grasped onto it like a lifeline as she joined him.
Her eyes lit up in pleasant surprise when she looked behind him. “Is this what I think it is?”
“If you think it’s Glencrest’s annual Spring Fling carnival, then you would be correct.”
They posed for a few photos for the press, but before they could walk into the carnival, they were bombarded with questions.
“Your Highness, is your engagement real?”
Bri’s grip on him tightened, and he gave her an encouraging smile before turning back to face the media. His bodyguard and Bastian made a move to shield them from the reporters and photographers, but he waved them off. Drew stood protectively in front of Bri.
“Our engagement is very real. We’re excited for this next step in our relationship together and for the way it will further unite our countries,” Drew gave his practiced answers.
“So it’s not a shotgun wedding?” another paparazzi yelled.
He felt Bri stiffen behind him and reached his hand back, grabbing hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I can assure you it’s not. We’re very much in love and looking forward to starting a family in the future to strengthen the line of succession for the Glencrest throne, but we would like to enjoy our engagement and then our marriage first.” The lie tasted bitter coming out of his mouth, but he hoped it would become the truth soon enough.
Yet another reporter raised their hand before asking, “Are Glencrest or Westridge experiencing financial difficulties like Findorra was? I’m sure you’re well aware of the circumstances that led to the recent wedding of Their Royal Majesties in Edgemont.”
He would never stop being astounded at the audacity of some reporters. “There is no need to fear over Glencrest’s or Westridge’s financials. Princess Brielle and I are simply two royals who fell in love and decided to spend the rest of our lives together.” He took a step back, standing with Bri. “That’s all the time we have for questions today. Thank you.”
Drew turned around, continuing to shield Bri with his arm. They followed their bodyguards into the middle of the carnival. With a few of the palace guards corralling the press back at the entrance, he felt like he could finally breathe.
“That sure was something,” he muttered.
“Your answers were perfect.” Bri pressed her lips together. “I think we need a little pick-me-up. What do you say we get a funnel cake?”
His smile grew as he looked at her. “I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do right now. Lead the way.”