Prince Player(28)
I nod a little bit, feeling slightly better. “Let’s go,” I say, wanting to get it over with.
He grins and leads the way.
The queen has a really, really kind smile. I wasn’t expecting to feel comfortable right away, but Queen Magritte wastes no time.
“Please, call me Maggie,” she says.
“It’s really nice to finally meet you.” I don’t know if I should bow or curtsy or what, but Maggie steps up and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“Likewise, dear. Anybody willing to marry my son is a saint in my book.”
I laugh and Nolan makes a face. “No need for that, mother.”
She smiles at him. “Oh, calm down, dear. We all know you’re difficult.”
“He’s not so bad,” I say. “You just have to get used to him.”
She laughs and motions for us to sit. I take a seat next to her on a couch while Nolan sits on an adjacent chair. He gets to work pouring tea for everyone.
We’re sitting in the queen’s private office, which is about the size of my apartment’s living room. It’s huge and richly decorated. Pictures from the queen’s trips around the world line the walls, and I bet each picture comes with a hundred incredible stories.
“Tell me, dear,” she says to me. “Are your intentions with my son honorable?”
I hesitate. “Uh, I don’t know,” I admit.
“Mother,” Nolan says. “Be nice. She’s nervous.”
Maggie raises her eyebrows. “You’re nervous?”
“I’ve never met royalty before.”
“You’ve met me,” Nolan grumbles, and his mother smacks his knee.
“It’s okay, dear, you don’t have to worry. You’re one of us now.”
“Thank you,” I say to her. “I wasn’t sure… I mean, I barely know anything about all this.” I gesture around, feeling like an idiot.
“You come from a different world,” she says. “You don’t speak our language yet, correct?”
“Correct,” I admit. “My German is pretty good, though.”
“That can only get you so far here.” She takes out her phone and starts to tap at it. “I’m messaging my steward, he’ll get you a Polovian tutor. Is that okay, dear?”
“Yes, please,” I say. “Thank you so much.”
“Not at all. It’ll help you a lot in the coming days.” She puts her phone away and smiles at me. “How is being married to my son so far?”
“It’s perfect,” Nolan says. He hands his mother a cup of tea and then pours me one. I accept it and sip it gratefully.
“Things are going well,” I say. “I met some of his friends from when he was a kid.”
She laughs softly. “You met those degenerates?”
“They’re nobles,” Nolan points out. “Hardly degenerates.”
“They’re friends with you,” she teases. “Although I am fond of that Jessie woman. Very bright. She’s going places.”
“I like her too,” I say quickly. “She was very kind to me.”
“That speaks well of her. It’s not easy to befriend someone new, especially when you are from two different places.” Maggie looks like she’s musing slightly, and Nolan gives me a look.
“She does this sometimes, just ignore her.”
“I do get philosophical at times, but what’s the point if you’re not always thinking?” She gives her son another smack on the knee. “This one could use some more thinking, if you ask me.”
“I completely agree,” I say, trying to win points with the mother.
He rolls his eyes at me. “Suck up.”
I shrug and don’t bother to deny it.
Maggie laughs and puts her tea down. “I can see you’re handling him well already. I’m very pleased. If I can be frank, I was glad he wanted to marry, but I wasn’t so sure about you.”
I nod slowly. “I can understand. You don’t know me. And I’m foreign.”
“More that you’re foreign, no offense, dear. Polovia is a very closed place.”
“Something I want to change,” Nolan cuts in.
His mother looks at him appraisingly. “Yes, well. Maybe you’ll get your chance.”
“What has father said about this?” Nolan asks her.
Maggie glances at me. “Is this the best time to discuss that?”
“You can be honest,” I say. “I won’t be offended.”
She hesitates but sighs. “Your father is glad you’re marrying, but he still isn’t convinced.”
Nolan purses his lips. “I’m not surprised.”