Royally Kidnapped by the Prince

13

KENNEDY

“Wow! Nice apartment.” Serenity wandered around. “I mean, wow!”

“You mean how could I afford it? I told you my roommate is far richer than Donald Trump.”

“I can see that.” She slid to the stool. “Why did he choose a small apartment if he could afford the

whole building or a penthouse?”

“Good question. And who is he, by the way?” Siena grabbed her champagne that we used to toast

earlier for my upcoming assignment.

Until now, Thayer was still a mystery to me, but I would lie if I didn’t miss him since he left twenty-two

hours ago. Out of sexual frustration and how we ended, I put my vibrator to good use last night. I came

after I thought of filthy stuff we did together. After that, I felt guilty for imagining him between my thighs.

Gosh! I was so screwed up.

“Ken?” Siena nudged me. “You’re flushed. Oh, my God!”

I was startled in my seat. “What?”

“Is he your new guy?”

My face burned further. “No!”

“Liar. Remember, you deserve better than your ex, Ken. He’s an asshole. Now tell me this mystery

guy.” Siena waited patiently. “You’re gonna be late for your flight if you won’t start telling us.”

“I promise, I’m gonna tell you everything when I come back. You don’t know I might meet a hot guy ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

during my trip,” I said excitedly.

Serenity didn’t find me funny. They both knew that I was only stalling.

“Just his name, Ken. What’s so hard about it? It’s not that I would be interested in your new man.” She

rolled her eyes.

“Can I ask you guys, something?”

“About what? For sex advice? Go ahead sleep with any attractive men. Have fun. You deserve it.”

“You just came out from a nasty breakup. You deserve to have a little fun,” Serenity surprised me to

agree with Siena.

“Thanks, guys. But I have work to do. Later, I’ll enjoy sex if I get my promotion.”

“Come on. You’re almost there. What’s so bad about exploring something new? Just be careful,”

Serenity said.

“I’ll see if I have time. I still don’t know where to go, though. Alessia only told me to bring winter

clothes.”

“Oh? You might be traveling to the North Pole to interview Santa.”

I gasped. I remembered Thayer mentioned Levi. Would I be interviewing someone from Levi? I shook

that thought out of my head.

“Is it so bad of giving little details? Like what language they speak, do their men wear kaftans?” Siena

said.

“What do you know anything about Alessia?”

Siena shrugged. “Nothing much. She came from a rich family, I guess. She was featured in a business

magazine and Icon, but mostly about her jobs, achievements, but her background? Nada. Why?”

“Nothing. I feel like this task is full of mystery.”

***

I met up with Alessia at the airport for my other travel documents and my assignments. After handing

me the large manila envelope, she told me that my flight would leave in two hours. Then she left.

“Oh, my God.” I slumped my ass down the sofa in the waiting area. I just figured that my destination

was Winterbourn, Triberis Capria.

“Sir, can I ask you something?” I asked the old man occupying the seat beside me.

“Of course, dear.”

“What’s the language they speak in Winterbourn?”

The old man looked at me in shock and confusion. “You’ve never visited Winterbourn?”

“As a matter of fact, this is my first time.”

“And you have no idea where to go or what to do there?” There was this look again.

“I was on assignment.”

“Uh-huh. You’re a reporter?” He looked at me from head to toe.

I shook my head. “I work in a magazine. And I’m counting on my promotion, so I have to interview

probably a government official or someone popular in the country.”

“If what I heard is correct, the Prince, Duke of Guardion is getting engaged. That’s the best feature you

can print in your magazine.”

“What? They have a monarchy?”

“For a magazine reporter, shouldn’t you be researching before you jump into that plane?”

I chuckled. He had a point. “I’d like to surprise myself.”

“Well, good luck to you, dear.”

“Thanks. I badly need one now.” I smiled.

The old man smiled back. “I believe we just started boarding.”

“We’re on the same flight?”

“I think so, dear.”

***

I woke up to the announcement overboard, and I got a few minutes to freshen up. A few minutes later,

the plane landed.

I slept throughout the flight. I was grateful to Alessia for booking a first-class ticket for me, or I wouldn’t

be able to rest in a crowded economy class.

I kept a few notes in my head. Triberis Capria was ruled by a monarchy under constitutional laws,

meaning they also had a prime minister.

Interesting.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated until the plane is parked at the gate. Thank you for flying

with us today, and we welcome you to Angales, Winterbourn.”

I reached out for my phone. I found a message from Alessia.

Alessia: I hope you would find the answer you’ve been looking for.

My brows knitted. Cryptic much?

Then one text from Siena. The other two were from Serenity and Faith, wishing me luck and enjoying

men.

I rolled my eyes.

Then from an unknown number.

Darling, I hope you have a safe flight. I miss you.

T

“Holy crap.” My heart hammered in my chest.

I found the old man I talked to earlier. I followed him until we reached the baggage claim section.

“Hi, it’s me again. I’m Kennedy, by the way.”

“A very American woman, traveling alone. I’m Anthony.”

I shook his hand. “Do you happen to know the country code, right?”

“Of course.”

A soon as the numbers slipped my mouth, my life just turned 360.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks.” I pulled out my luggage from the carousel.

“Do you have someone to pick you up?”

“Yes. I think so.”

Outside the airport, I quickly found my name on the cardboard.

I raised my hand. “Hey!”

“You?” He was around his early thirties, wearing a huge grin on his face.

“Madam.” He slightly bowed and took my things from me.

“I can carry them.”

“I have a clear instruction, madam. Please, follow me?”

I followed him behind. It was a relief that I only have to carry my travel bag. I stopped to a halt to see a

fancy black car before me. My brow arched. Wasn’t this a bit too much, Alessia?

The driver guy was already done stuffing my things in the compartment of the car.

“Please, madam.” He opened the back door for me and gestured.

“Thank you.” I climbed into the backseat. It smelled leather and rich.

“Would you like me to play some music to you, madam?”

“I think I’m good. It’s my first time to be here. Can you enlighten me about the government, industries,

monarchy?”

“I’m sorry, madam. I’m just a driver. But maybe you should visit and see some places that play huge

significant value to the history of Capria.”

“See? You’re not just a driver. Tell me about the King?”

“Ahh. America has no monarch, yeah? The first king was King Kamrun—”

“Who?”

“King Kamrun of Braynburg?”

“Oh, and the current King?”

“He’s critically ill.” His people must love the King if he didn't rule like in that 15th-century monarchies.

“I’m sorry to hear about that.” My chest felt hollow.

“The Prince apparent is Prince Isodore, Duke of Burkhese. You should visit Burkhese. It’s a great

place, surrounded by the ocean. If you want to visit a little bit colder than Winterbourn, try Guardion.

Guardion snows one hundred days a year.”

“Wow. Isn’t it where the Prince is getting engaged?”

“Yes. The son of Prince Isodore. If the King passes away, Prince Isodore would be crowned as King.

His son would be the Prince apparent. And the first requirement is he should get married.”

“So, he’s arranged to a princess?”

“No. To Lady Kadynce Laudeau. Well, if the rumors are true.”

“He’s the only heir?”

“Prince—”

My phone vibrated. “Excuse me.”

It’s a message from Thayer.

T: How’s your flight?

How did he know exactly the time of my arrival?

I saved and dialed his number. He picked up in one ring.

“Hey.”

“Kennedy, good to hear your voice.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

The driver sang something about love. I gave him a sign to keep silent.

“How did you know that I already arrived, Thayer?”

The driver had a sudden reaction on his face.

“Thayer, do you know the driver who picked me up from the airport?”

“Darling?” Every time he called me darling, it made me giggle and feel something warm inside.

“You’re a Caprian, aren’t you? Or Triberian Caprian? Whatever.”

He laughed from the end of the line. “Triberean or Caprean, but Triberean will do.”