24. Nessa

The whirlwind of emotions makes it hard to think straight. My fingers hover over the keyboard as I try to process what just unfolded. Alexander's public declaration, so raw and heartfelt, leaves me reeling. I manage to send off a quick reply to him, my heart pounding.

Me: You realize everyone was watching, right?

BB: Let them watch. I meant every word.

Me: Are you crazy?

BB: About you? Absolutely!

His response, fearless and bold, sends another wave of emotions through me. Before I can send another message, my phone vibrates again, this time with Eva's text practically bouncing off the screen with excitement.

Eva: Seriously, Nessa, that was epic! Please say you're going to talk to him!

I'm at a loss. The part of me that's been trying to maintain distance, to protect myself from the complexities of being with Alexander, battles the undeniable love I feel for him. His declaration, made without any regard for the consequences, forces me to confront my own fears and doubts.

Taking a deep breath, I type out a response to Eva, my fingers still slightly trembling.

Me: I don't even know what to say. Did he really just do that?

Her reply comes almost immediately, full of encouragement and a touch of urgency.

Eva: Yes, he did! And it was beautiful. Nessa, he loves you. You have to give this a chance. Talk to him. Please.

Just as I'm considering my next move, a video call notification catches my eye. It's Alexander. Hesitating for only a moment, I answer the call and find myself face to face with him and that irresistibly charming smile of his.

"So, on a scale from one to I'll kick you in the balls when I see you, how mad are you?" he teases, his smile unwavering.

I can't help but roll my eyes at his audacity. "The real question is, how deep in the royal doghouse are you right now?"

He shrugs, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. "Undetermined as of yet, but honestly? It doesn't matter to me."

His candidness, that familiar blend of defiance and vulnerability, somehow makes my heart skip. "You just declared your love for me on live TV," I finally say, the reality of the situation sinking in with the surreal feeling of seeing him through the screen.

"I did," he admits without hesitation. "Because it's the truth. And I was tired of hiding it, of pretending like my feelings for you could be boxed away because it was the sensible thing to do. Actually, I'm tired of pretending that I am what I'm supposed to be. I'm me—part Liam, part Alexander, and every part of me loves you desperately."

Having him say it so openly sends my heart racing, nearly leaving me breathless. Pulling my legs closer, I hug them to myself, resting my chin on my knees as I stare at him, taking in the earnest expression on his face.

"I came to the library, and I saw your mom. I read her lips," I confess. "She said being with me would make everything harder for you."

The tenderness that sweeps over his features is almost heartbreaking. "I figured it was something like that," he responds, his face pensive. "And yes, it might make things harder, but it won't be forever. And let's be honest, it was always going to be challenging." He gives a dismissive roll of his eyes. "People will always have their opinions. I'm too young, too inexperienced…" He sighs. "They'd find something to criticize with or without you. Politics is a den of snakes."

I can't help but smirk at his comparison. "Charming imagery," I quip, even as his honesty brings a sense of reality to our conversation.

He shrugs. "It's the truth, wild rose. And the public opinion?" He lets out a laugh. "It's the most fickle thing in the world. One day, they can love you, adore you even, sing your praises up and down, and then you show a hint of humanity, a hint of a flaw, and they turn on you like that." He snaps his fingers, emphasizing the speed at which things can change.

I quirk an eyebrow. "Not exactly a glowing endorsement of royal life."

He nods, a moment of seriousness settling over his features as he runs a hand through his hair. "I need you to understand the whole picture. But what's essential is knowing that true, genuine connections—people who love you for you—are rare and beyond value. No matter the headlines or the hurdles, it's knowing I can come home to you, be my true self, crown or no crown, that matters. I suspect you'd prefer me without all the regalia anyway."

"You're right about that," I admit, my voice soft but firm. "Your crown never mattered to me."

He leans forward slightly, his gaze intense. "I know. And that's never been in question. When I thought you left because it was all too much, I realized it wasn't like you. You're not one to walk away; you face challenges head-on because you're incredibly brave and caring. If you were to leave me, it would only be because you thought it would make my life simpler."

I'm at a loss for words; his insight into my actions and motivations leaves me speechless. How did he manage to see through to the very heart of my decision?

"That's why I had to make it clear tonight, on live TV, no less. I needed to show you that walking away is the last thing I want. What I need is you, just you, by my side."

"What if you change your mind?" I can't help but ask.

"What if you do?" he challenges back.

I won'tis the first thought that pops in my head.

His smile widens, and I know I don't need to say it; he sees it—he sees me—in this deep way that only he can do.

"Exactly," he replies to my unspoken thoughts. "And don't worry, I'm not asking you to marry me and sit on the throne beside me yet. I'm just asking you to come back, study here, and give our relationship a chance."

"Yet." That's the word that sticks with me. Could I even see myself sitting on a throne? I look deep into his green eyes, wishing I could see him in real life instead of through a screen because I think there's not much I couldn't do with him by my side.

"It's a bit crazy, isn't it?" I venture, the thought hanging between us, heavy yet electrifying.

He responds with a nod, his smile never wavering. "Positively. But then, I'm crazy about you, which pretty much balances it all out."

I laugh, shaking my head at his reasoning. "You've been spending too much time with Cole. That's some Cole logic right there."

"Perhaps," he concedes, "but sometimes Cole's way of seeing things isn't too far off the mark."

The words are barely out of my mouth before I confess, "I love you, Alexander Liam."

"And I love you, my wild rose." His response is immediate, sincere.

For a moment, we're both silent, simply looking at each other through the digital divide, yet feeling as close as if no distance lies between us.

"Would it be alright if I arrange for a plane? To bring you here, to me?" His question is tentative, revealing a vulnerability I've come to cherish. "I know it's a big leap, and I promise to do everything within my power to make sure you're happy."

His words, his promise, resonate deep within me. "You already make me happy just by loving me the way you do," I admit. And then, with a conviction I didn't know I had until this moment, I say, "Yes, I'll come back."

Relief washes over his face, the tension in his shoulders dissipating. "Thank you," he breathes out, a weight visibly lifted from him. "It's late here, and though I doubt I can get everything sorted tonight—especially with Hank likely lurking in front of my door with a pitchfork—I'll have everything arranged by tomorrow. You'll have all the details when you wake up." His smile, full of love and promise, is the last thing I see before he signs off with I love you.

I mirror his sign, I love you too, and then end the call, lying back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I, Vanessa Caldwell, a deaf dancer and a college student, am about to embark on a life with the king of Denmark. It's ludicrous, a whirlwind of insanity, and yet, inexplicably, exactly what I want.

"I mean no offense because we're going to miss you like crazy, but if you said no to the man, I would have knocked you unconscious and shipped you there myself," Eva says as she helps me pack my bags while Poppy is busy packing her room.

"You know, you're starting to sound like your husband. I'm not sure it's a good thing," I tease her.

Eva pulls a face. "I know, I'm sounding more like him every day. Scary, right? But honestly, if you had said no to Alexander after that declaration, I was fully prepared to drag you there myself."

The thought brings a smile to my face despite the bittersweet undercurrent of leaving. "It was like something out of those cheesy movies we love, wasn't it?" I can't help but agree. Alexander's gesture was the epitome of romance, the kind we'd sigh over during our movie nights.

He's given me a week to organize my life here before the move, a consideration that just further proves how deeply he understands me. Meanwhile, life around here is changing too—Cole and Eva are setting up their new place, and Ethan and Poppy are taking over the house he already owns near campus. With my departure to Denmark, we're letting go of our shared space, closing a chapter that, despite its short span, feels rich and deeply meaningful.

"I'm really going to miss you guys," I confess, the weight of the impending goodbye settling in. "It's only been a year, but with everything we've gone through, the way we've healed together… it feels like a lifetime." Leaving this sanctuary we've built together is harder than I anticipated, a testament to the bonds we've formed.

Eva pulls me into a hug, and I give it back, enjoying the love my friends are giving me.

"We'll never be far! We can video call whenever, and we have planes, so we can visit each other. The relationship we have is evolving, but it doesn't have to break. We are friends, and nothing will change that—certainly not something as silly as distance."

I hug her back wordlessly. She's right, of course she is, but it really feels that I'm leaving everything I know behind.

I did it once when I came to Silverbrook. It was scary then, too, and the change brought so much positivity into my life, so much more than I had once expected.

I get a hug from behind and turn my head to see Poppy.

"You guys are hugging it out without me?"

I laugh and move a little so I can hug them both at the same time. "Never."

I pull back, and despite all three of us being happy, we have tears in our eyes. "I'll just miss you both—that is all," I say.

Poppy looks at Eva and then back to me. "Well, you know I've always wanted to know what winter looks like in Denmark, so you'll have us in a few months."

I laugh. "Yes, of course! That would be amazing."

The laughter and warmth of my final moments with Eva and Poppy linger as I step away, carrying their assurances and plans for future visits with me. Their support, an upbeat force in the sea of changes, fortifies me as I navigate through the final preparations for departure. The juxtaposition of their unconditional love with the conditional acceptance from my family starkly reminds me of the value of genuine connections.

Settled into the plush comfort of the palace's private jet, I find myself caught between the thrill of the journey ahead and the shadow of past hardships. The revelation of my relationship with Alexander to my parents has brought them unexpectedly back into my life, their sudden warmth tinged with opportunism rather than genuine affection. It's a stark reminder of how they've only begun to see my worth through my association with royalty, a realization that diminishes my respect for them further. Yet I push these thoughts aside, filing them away for another day. Neither this moment nor this flight is about them—it's about the new chapter I'm stepping into.

As the plane descends, my heart races with anticipation and a touch of nerves. The future with Alexander, filled with love and challenges, awaits, and the closer we get to landing, the more real it all feels. When the aircraft finally touches down and the door swings open, I catch sight of him—Alexander—waiting for me with open arms, his presence a beacon pulling me forward.

Without a second thought, I rush down the stairs, decorum forgotten, and launch myself into his arms. "My king," I whisper, the words a declaration of my love, my commitment, my everything to him.

"Welcome home, wild rose," he responds, pulling back, his words wrapping around me like a promise, a confirmation of belonging. Our kiss, passionate and reaffirming, seals the commitment we've made to each other to face the future together, united in love and purpose.