“Yeah, I would,” she confirms. “But you’re the one actually having to do it.”

The sound of a throat clearing interrupts our conversation. I look away from Viv for the first time since she appeared, expecting to see the butler who initially greeted me.

Instead, I see a middle-aged couple standing between the staircases who I immediately realize must be Viv’s parents. The king and queen. Her father is as distinguished looking as I expected. His eyes are the exact same shade of cornflower blue as Vivienne’s. Her mother is poised and elegant. She’s dressed formally, as though she’s on her way to an important meeting. They’re both studying me curiously, and I shift uncomfortably. I’m not sure what Viv has told her parents about me, if anything, and the fact that they’re royalty only complicates things further. I expected to be staying at a hotel and interacting with their publicists. Instead, I’m standing in a palace with Viv face to face with the king and queen without another person in sight.

I experience another dilemma when I realize I have no idea how to greet them. Desperately, I try to recall how people greet royalty. Do I bow? Use titles? No one gave me any guidance, and I didn’t expect I’d need to know.

Viv seems to sense my quandary. To my shock, she grabs my hand and walks over to the couple, who look equally surprised by our casual contact.

“Mother, Papa, this is Jace,” she tells them. “Jace, these are my parents, Robert and Evelyn.”

Her father raises his eyebrows slightly and her mother purses her lips. I glance over at Viv, unsure if she’s serious about me addressing them so informally. We have a brief silent conversation where I shoot her an “are you serious?” look she returns with a “just trust me” one. Since I do, I reach out and offer my hand to Vivienne’s father.

“It’s nice to meet you, Robert,” I say. “Sir.”

He shakes my offered hand firmly. “It’s nice to meet you as well, Jace. We really appreciate you coming all this way.”

I smile and turn to Vivienne’s mother. Her shrewd eyes are bouncing between me and Vivienne.

“You have a lovely home, Evelyn,” I compliment, since I can’t come up with anything to say about her pantsuit.

“Thank you, Jace,” she replies.

Another butler appears in the entryway, dressed just as formally as the first one. He’s picked up my abandoned suitcase and bows deeply as he approaches us.

“Your Highnesses, Your Majesty, where should I place Mr. Dawson’s belongings?” he inquires.

I flash Vivienne a look, but she just smiles sanguinely in response.

“Any of the guest suites will be fine, Joseph,” Vivienne’s mother replies. “Perhaps the Hamilton Suite?”

The butler nods and departs with my bag in hand.

“I have to head to a meeting. I’ll see you all at dinner,” the king says before heading off to the right.

“I have a few things to take care of as well,” the queen adds. “Jace, I’ll have someone show you to your accommodations so you can get settled.”