“We only have Mr. Dawson here for a limited time,” she says. “So, we’ll go ahead and get started. Cedric, you have the first question.”

“Thanks, Ms. Riley. Mr. Dawson, do you have any comment on the last-minute change that means the princess is not here with you?”

Anne leans forward with a disapproving frown. “I’ll be directing any questions about the interview format to the statement the palace released last night. Next question, please.”

“How long did your relationship with Princess Vivienne last?” the next reporter asks.

“About three months.”

“How did you meet the Princess?” another shouts.

“We ran into each other on campus and had a brief conversation.”

Anne must be thrilled. Jace is calm, cool, and collected as he fields the barrage of questions. Anne gives up on calling on reporters individually as Jace answers the questions as they’re called out.

“Is it true the Princess stayed with your family over one of Lincoln’s breaks?”

“Yes.”

“When did your relationship with the Princess end?”

“Shortly before she returned here.”

“Why did it end?”

“We made a mutual decision to end our relationship.”

“Do you have any thoughts about the royal wedding?”

“I wish Vivienne nothing but the best.”

“Have you met Princess Vivienne’s fiancé?”

There’s a brief pause. Then, “No, I haven’t.”

“Did you know the Princess would be attending your football game?”

“No, that was a complete surprise to me. I believe it was to Vivienne, as well.”

The press continues pelting Jace with questions about our past relationship, and he continues to field them easily. Finally, Anne intercedes and announces they’ll only entertain a couple more. A disgruntled-looking Cedric calls out, “Do you think Princess Vivienne shirked her responsibilities by attending college in the States under false pretenses?”

Raw emotion flashes across Jace’s face for the first time. “I think it’s awfully easy to pass judgments and incredibly difficult to shoulder the responsibilities Vivienne is taking on,” he clips, eyes flashing.

His terse response sends fresh energy through the assortment of reporters, most of whom seemed to have begun to write the interview off as a waste of time.

Anne seems to sense the same. “I’m afraid that’s all we have time for,” she says. “Mr. Dawson has a flight home to catch. Refreshments are being served in the next room. The interview with Princess Vivienne will start in two hours.” She stands and walks off the stage. Jace follows her.

I rush back to the conference room we had our interview with Anne in yesterday. The room is full of people when I arrive. Anne is there with several of her assistants, and my parents are both standing in the corner. Jace is leaning against the wall, sipping from a mug. Everyone looks over as I burst into the room. Anne and her assistants curtsy.

“Ah, Princess, wonderful. I wasn’t sure where you’d gone. I was just telling everyone how well Mr. Dawson did. I think we’re on our way to becoming a dying story.”