Charles maintains several feet of distance between us as we walk back toward the line of black cars, which I’m grateful for. I’ve drawn the lines regarding our relationship very clearly, despite Charles’s repeated suggestions he’s interested in more and the press speculating we’re already engaged.

Since my father’s illness has become public knowledge, my coronation has been set for next spring. I’ll have to be married by then, and Charles is by the far the most logical candidate. Our repeated sightings together have done nothing to discourage that conclusion. There’s no real reason why we shouldn’t already be planning our lives together, except that every time I contemplate committing to that inevitable future, a pair of gray eyes haunt me.

“Catherine asked me to invite you to her party tonight,” Charles tells me.

“How nice of her to invite me herself,” I retort.

“Apparently, I’m more approachable than you. Surprising, I know.” Charles smiles teasingly.

Charles is more than approachable. He’s an enigma in the upper echelons of the Marcedenian society circle that’s comprised the same noble families for centuries. His prolonged time at school in Germany makes his presence at Edgewood now a novelty, despite his automatic acceptance among the traditionally impenetrable horde of students whose great-grandparents gossiped about each other.

He’s wealthy, but not spoiled.

Noble, but not pretentious.

Handsome, but not devastatingly so.

Paired with his friendly charm, he’s undoubtedly become the most coveted guy on Edgewood’s small campus. Despite the lack of encouragement I’ve given him, he seems utterly devoted to me, which I find more annoying than flattering. It hasn’t done me any favors amongst the female students at Edgewood. If I weren’t untouchable, I have no doubt I would have been on the receiving end of more than one practical joke or cruel prank by now.

I contemplate the secondhand offer. Spend the night in the company of most of Edgewood, or watch the American reality show Katie got me hooked on alone in my room?

“Fine, I’ll try to overlook the fact she invited me as an afterthought.”

He smiles broadly in response, not bothering to hide his excitement that I’ve finally agreed to attend a social event outside of my royal duties.

“It starts at ten. What time should I pick you up?”

“I’ll just meet you there,” I reply, pretending not to see his disappointed expression as I climb in the car. “See you tonight!” I call before the SUV’s door is closed behind me. I attempt to infuse some enthusiasm in my tone to temper my rejection. I’m sure Charles has noticed I avoid being alone with him when we’re not in public, but he has yet to broach the topic with me directly. I certainly won’t be the one to bring it up.

As the car begins to move, I lean against the soft leather seat. With nothing to distract me, the bothersome burden of melancholy reappears.

I’ve been back home for nearly twice as long as I was a student at Lincoln University. Everything in my life has returned to how it was before I left. I had the chance to experience normalcy, and now I’m living the life I always knew I was destined to.