Chapter 48

FELIX

Our drive back to Fresia was quiet, but joyful. Despite the darkness of yesterday’s encounter with Derek, the trip had been a success.

And I was returning with a fiancée.

I was still trying to figure out a way to persuade Mila to have a quick wedding, but I knew there was no point in trying to organize anything before the restaurant opened. Her mind was entirely preoccupied with how to get the business up and running, which I respected.

I just really wanted to make sure I could live to eat there.

We arrived in time for dinner with my parents. I decided I wanted to tell them the good news of our engagement in person.

As we approached the casual living area of the castle, I turned to Mila. I was pleased to see her smiling at her ring, hardly looking up.

“Are you ready?” I asked her. She grinned at me and nodded.

When we opened the doors to my family’s private chambers, I was immediately hit in the face with a confetti cannon.

“SURPRISE!” My mother and father yelled. She was the culprit of the confetti, while my father was popping open a bottle of champagne.

“Congratulations on your engagement!” my mother said, pulling Mila into a big hug. “Welcome to the family, dear!”

So much for the big announcement.

“How did you know?” I asked my father, going over to greet him. He laughed and patted me on the back.

“You can’t keep a secret in this family, son,” he said gleefully. “I’ve known since the second you retrieved your grandmother’s ring from the safe.”

Well, you could keep certain secrets, but I knew better than to bring that up now.

From across the room, Charles was scowling at us. At his side was Isabella, white as a sheet. I almost felt bad for her, but then remembered how she had treated Mila, and no longer felt any remorse.

I heard a whisper in my ear.

“Congratulations,” Esmeralda breathed. I turned around in the nick of time to see her, before she quietly vanished.

Mila was happily chatting wedding details with my mother, so I took the opportunity to speak to Charles. Someone had to extend an olive branch to amend our relationship, and it certainly wasn’t going to be him.

Charles glared up at me as I approached.

“I already said congratulations,” he mumbled. “What else could you want, dear brother?”

“I was just wondering if you could be in my wedding party,” I asked him. “A groomsman.”

Charles looked confused. “Why?”

“Because you’re my brother and I want you there,” I said firmly.

He tilted his head to the side and exchanged an unreadable glance with Isabella.

“I’ll think about it,” he said finally.

Well, I would consider it a small victory.

Dinner was full of wedding plans and Mila recounting the story of the proposal for my mother at least three times. Thankfully, Charles and Isabella had the sense to remain silent and not attempt to bully Mila. Now that we were engaged, she technically outranked both of them.

“He did a wonderful job,” Mila said, her eyes shining at me. “The proposal was stunning. I’ve never seen so many rose petals in my life.”

“I’m just glad you were able to celebrate given the gang arrest,” my father said, a little too casually. My head snapped up at him.

“You know about the gang arrest? I was going to debrief you.”

“I’m the King,” he said as a matter of responding. This was true. He knew everything.

“They’ve arrested at least twelve members of this little circle in the past 24 hours, thanks to that man you brought in. He was more than willing to squeal on his buddies instead of facing the gallows,” my father said. Mila looked at him, her face hardening at the mention of Derek.

“Is that everyone?” Charles spoke up from the other end of the table. My father stared at him, clearly surprised by my brother’s sudden interest in political matters.

“Not everyone,” my father said slowly. “They’re still tracking down a few of the more slippery members, as well as the ringleader. No one knows his name.”

“Interesting,” Charles said mildly.

My father turned back to me. “Because you and Mila were at the scene of the arrest, and due to Mila’s unfortunate past with Derek, we’re putting extra security on both of you. We can’t let anything bad happen to you, and I’m sure the gang will see you as a target now.”

“Extra security?” I asked. “How much?”

“We will have more plainclothes guards on you now,” my father said, “so that there is always someone around who doesn’t look suspicious.”

“And you need to be more careful when you’re out of the palace,” my mother interrupted, her brows creasing with concern. “I mean it. Don’t do anything foolish–or alone–for the next few weeks. Just until this blows over.”

Mila looked down at her plate.

“Is my restaurant…” her voice trailed off, as if she was afraid to finish asking her question.

“The restaurant can still open, dear, of course,” my father assured her. “Don’t you worry about that. I’m just putting some of my best men on guard duty, especially while you’re at work, if that’s alright.”

Mila nodded slowly. “Well, my new chairs are very nice. I’m fine with having someone monitor the place to make sure the chairs stay in one piece.”

“I don;t think the fear is that someone will hurt the chairs, my love,” I said gently. “We’re worried that someone may try to hurt you.”

MILA

As soon as Felix said that, I blushed. I felt foolish for underestimating my new position in the royal family. Of course I was higher priority now that Felix and I were engaged.

I had not realized that there were now safety concerns for me. I supposed that, as the prince’s fiancée, I probably was a tempting target for anyone seeking revenge for the gang’s arrests. Especially given my sticky past with Derek. I’m sure he had plenty of terrible things to say about me to his friends who were now all in prison with him.

Ivan’s face was full of kindness and understanding as he looked into my eyes.

“We are simply doubling down to make sure nothing bad will happen to you,” the King said. “We’ll all feel better once the whole gang is behind bars. Then we can pull back on the guards if you wish.”

He had a point.

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” I said. “I’m really honored that you considered my restaurant opening in the new security plans.”

“Well, we plan on being there opening night,” Rowena said casually. I smiled at her, touched beyond words.

“Mila is going to be the next big thing in cooking,” Felix stated proudly. “Mark my words.”

He was looking at me with such care and consideration in his eyes that a part of me wanted to say my vows right then and there. Was I the one being foolish for pushing for a long engagement? Maybe Felix was right in wanting to get married right away.

I just had to get through the restaurant opening. Then it could be time for happily ever after.