CHAPTER 13 #2
The queen sighed, because while she was certain Stormy would be good for the both of them, these days she felt like anything she tried to do for her daughter was wrong.
She hated that the distance between them, now that Fredrick was gone, was even greater than before.
She felt like any connection she’d had with her daughter had been lost years ago.
It broke her heart, because there was nothing more important to her than her daughter.
And yet, she knew Ava didn’t feel the same. She had known this for a very long time.
In the early years, they had been the picture-perfect family—creating traditions, making memories. But once the paparazzi had invaded their lives, Fredrick had insisted Ava be kept out of the public eye. At first, the queen had agreed. She would do anything to protect her daughter.
She hadn’t realized it would last into Ava’s adulthood.
Over time, Ava and her father had become a team, bonded in ways that never included her. Fredrick had always reminded her that she was the queen. She had a different role to play, a country to rule, a legacy to uphold.
But all she had ever wanted was to spend time with her family.
Now that she had a second chance with Ava, she wasn’t going to let it slip away.
As for Ava marrying the duke, she knew she had to tread carefully.
She blamed herself for putting her daughter in this position.
She should have never agreed to the arranged marriage.
But at the time, it hadn’t been a promise.
It had been just something to consider for the future, despite what Ava believed.
She’d always wanted the choice to be Ava’s. If she and Henry had a spark, if they fell in love, wonderful. But she never agreed to anything that would trap her daughter into a loveless marriage.
She had fought with Fredrick about it, time and time again, but it was one of the few things she hadn’t backed down on. Little did she know that he would have such control over their daughter that Ava would do whatever it took to honor his wishes, like she was doing now.
The queen cringed thinking how Fredrick had believed marriage was a merger, a partnership, and something that should benefit the royal family. He had thought love was unpredictable, uncontrollable, and messy—something that could distract someone’s focus from what really mattered most.
He had been adamant about how duty and responsibility should reign supreme, and that nothing in their family should matter more than upholding tradition, preserving their legacy, and fulfilling their royal roles with unwavering devotion, even at the cost of personal desires.
Now that Ava was following in her father’s footsteps, the queen knew she had her work cut out for her, and time was running out. She knew how committed Ava was to making this marriage happen.
She took a deep breath and willed herself to stay calm. “How long until we’re there?” she eagerly asked her driver.
“About fifteen minutes, Your Majesty.”
“Perfect,” she said as she sat back in her seat, smiling.
? ? ?
When it came to jewelry, the queen had flawless taste, and that’s why Vallmount Luxe, one of the most sought-after jewelry boutiques in Paris, was her choice to commission something very special for Ava.
Coco Vallmount, the designer and owner of Vallmount Luxe, was a force to be reckoned with. Smart, fresh, fun, and creative, she’d infused new energy into her decades-old family business, earning the queen’s attention and respect.
From the first piece the queen had commissioned Coco to make for the royal collection, a modern take on a tennis bracelet using star-shaped diamonds, the designer had gone above and beyond to impress.
Now, as the queen settled into one of the jeweler’s elegant private rooms, she knew she’d made the right decision to trust Coco with creating this one-of-a-kind Christmas gift for Ava.
Coco entered the room like a model strutting down the runway. Her confidence made her even more beautiful, but it was the platinum jewelry box she was holding that captured the queen’s attention.
“Your Majesty, you are looking as radiant as ever,” Coco said.
The queen smiled brightly. “I was just going to say the same about you. You look stunning, as always. Thank you for making time to see me during this very busy time of the year and helping me surprise my daughter.”
“It is always an honor to work with someone who has such exquisite taste,” Coco said as she sat down next to the queen. She held out the jewelry box like it was the most precious thing in the world. “Are you ready to see it in person?”
The queen’s heart raced. “I am. The pictures you’ve sent have been stunning.”
“But they are nothing compared to what you are about to see,” Coco promised.
The queen held her breath as Coco slowly opened the jewelry box, revealing a jaw-dropping platinum watch surrounded by flawless diamond and blue sapphires.
The queen inhaled sharply, touching her heart. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. She could already envision Ava wearing it.
When Coco carefully took the watch out of its case and presented it to the queen, the gemstones caught the light and dazzled even more.
The queen was in awe. “It’s…perfection.”
“Just like your daughter,” Coco said. “We are calling it étoile Brillante—”
“Bright star,” the queen said, nodding her approval. “I love that, because Ava will always be my bright, shining star.”
Coco smiled. “And you can see how we incorporated the diamonds and sapphires from your royal collection, as you requested.”
The queen gently ran her fingers over the delicate craftsmanship. It was exactly what she had asked for—the perfect balance of tradition and modern refinement. “You have done a wonderful job. Thank you so much.”
“I’m so pleased that you’re happy,” Coco said, smiling back at the queen. “I must say, this is one of the most beautiful custom pieces I’ve ever created, and it’s an honor to know the princess will be wearing it.”
“My daughter loves to live by her schedules. She must look at her watch a hundred times a day. Now, every time she looks at this, she’ll be reminded of what’s really the most important thing in life.
” The queen handed Coco an envelope embossed with the royal crest. “This is what I’d like the engraving to say. ”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Coco said. “We will take care of this for you right away.”
“Wonderful. And please thank your entire team for making this possible in time for Christmas. I know Ava is going to be so surprised and will love it so much.”