Richard changes the channel. Another video is playing, this time of me rushing out of the ambulance and into the hospital after Jace’s gurney. THE PLAYER AND THE PRINCESS is the headline prominently displayed beneath it. A reporter is speaking in the background.

“—Princess Vivienne was rumored to be dating the son of a duke in Marcedenian tabloids, but we now have multiple sources reporting she’s actually in a secret relationship with Jace Dawson, who was injured earlier today, that started during their time at Lincoln University together last year. Now—”

Richard flips rapidly through three more news channels, all of which are reporting on Jace and me. I rest my head in my hands, feeling nauseous.

“Vivienne Marie Elizabeth, start talking,” my mother announces. “Now.”

“We’re not in a secret relationship,” I tell my knees.

“Would you care to explain why we just spent the last couple hours in an American hospital after you rushed to his side, then? You’ve never even mentioned this boy before.”

“We were…involved when I was at Lincoln,” I admit. “It ended before I left. I still—I was just worried about him.”

“And you didn’t think there might be these sorts of consequences? Forget the American news. This will be all over the press back home. We’ve only just started to repair the damage from the media fallout after your semester in the States was revealed! This coverage is already dredging all of that up again!”

“I know. I’m sorry—I wasn’t thinking. I’ll do whatever I need to do to fix this.”

My mother huffs. “I don’t know how we’ll fix this. Accusations of a secret relationship go against everything we’ve been trying to accomplish with you and Charles.”

“Is that why you’ve been so resistant to an engagement, Vivvi? This boy?” my father asks, breaking into the conversation for the first time.

I shake my head. The true depth of my feelings toward Jace is all I have left of our private relationship now, and I have no intention of sharing them. Not even with my father. It won’t change anything. “No, like I said, things have been over between us for a while.”

Jace’s angry face flashes in my mind.

“So you haven’t been carrying on a secret relationship?” my mother asks.

“Of course not.”

“Don’t act like it’s such a ridiculous notion after what happened today.”

I don’t reply.

“How do you know his family?” she presses.

“They came to Lincoln for a game.” The lie comes easily.

The revelation of my relationship with Jace will dredge up enough questions about my time at Lincoln. Admitting to my parents I deceived my security team to spend Thanksgiving with Jace’s family in Nebraska is not something I can drop on them now.

It’s early morning by the time we arrive back at the palace, but one wouldn’t think so based upon the flurry of activity that greets us. I’m immediately whisked to the office of the head of the Royal Press Office, Anne Riley.