“Maybe. Depends.”
“Depends on what?”
“How well you’re performing.” He smirks at me and I sigh.
“Are you trying to bribe me with pancakes for sex?”
“Yes,” he says simply. “Is it working?”
I shake my head, smiling despite myself. “Almost,” I say.
“We can always go perform your wifely duties right now if you’d like.” He winks at me.
I shake my head. “No thanks. I’m full.”
“Oh, what a tease.”
“You’re the one that plied me with carbs first thing in the morning.”
“Fair point.” He leans back and sips his coffee. “What do you normally eat for breakfast?”
I frown. I don’t want to tell him that I have a pastry and coffee, since that’ll make me sound bad. “That’s personal,” I say, trying to play coy, but it only makes him laugh.
“We’re married now, remember?” he asks me.
“Yeah, speaking of that.” I hold my left hand up. “I don’t have a ring, you know.”
He raises an eyebrow. “I’m aware.”
“So I don’t think this is official.”
“We don’t always do rings here in Polovia.”
“Ah,” I say. “So I should respect local customs.”
“Right.” He picks up a piece of his pancake and carefully tears it into a tiny little circle. “But you can have this ring, if you’d like.”
I frown at it. “Might be a bit sticky.”
“You’d adapt, I’m sure.”
I laugh and shake my head. “No thanks. I’d rather have no ring at all.”
“Suit yourself, princess.” He stands up and stretches. “We have an appointment soon.”
“An appointment?” I ask.
“You’re going to meet my mother.” He grins at me as he heads over to the door that leads into his apartment. “I’ll be back in a half hour.”
“A half hour?” I ask. “That’s not enough time.”
“Get ready fast.” He grins again and waves as he disappears through the door.
“Shit,” I say to myself, but I don’t have time to be annoyed.
I rush into panic mode. I hop into the shower and clean up as fast as I can. I don’t have time to wash my hair, so I skip that. I can’t look like a slob for this little meeting.
I’ve seen the queen from afar a few times. Once, I almost stumbled into her in the hallway. She was very polite about it, and even apologized for getting in my way, which was nice of her since I was the clumsy one not paying any attention. Britta gave me so much shit for that. Otherwise, the queen is just a distant character who roams the halls as far as I’m concerned.
People here love her. I don’t know much about Queen Magritte, but everything I’ve heard and read is very positive. She has an active role in the government, and apparently she’s very well respected internationally. I keep seeing pictures of her with foreign ministers and heads of state, shaking hands and smiling. Sometimes, it makes me wonder what the king is doing, if his queen is the one going on all the diplomatic missions.
I get dressed in what I feel like is an appropriate “meet the queen” outfit. It’s a little conservative, but not overly formal, since she is my mother-in-law now as well as the queen. I don’t want to look like I’m trying to suck up but I don’t want her to think that I’m not excited to be a part of her family.
As I finish dressing with just a few minutes to spare, I wonder if I really am a part of this family. I mean, I am the Wife Consort, whatever that means. But I don’t know if I’m actually a royal now or what. His mother might see me as some American girl who’s taking her son away, and she might even hate me. I have no clue what I’m walking into, and frankly, it’s freaking me the hell out.
But just as my panic attack really sets in, Nolan comes in through the door. He’s dressed in his usual clothing, a simple white button-down and perfectly fitting slacks. He frowns when he sees me, practically hyperventilating.
He comes to my side quickly. “Hazel, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say, waving him away. “Just give me a second.”
He watches, concerned, as my panic attack slowly recedes. I take a deep breath and face him. “Sorry,” I say. “Sometimes, when I’m really nervous, I get panic attacks.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You’re nervous to meet my mother?”
“She’s the queen,” I say, as if that should be obvious.
He smiles a little. “She’ll love you. Don’t worry.” He steps closer to me and takes my hand. “I promise, don’t be nervous. She approved of this, after all.”