Chapter 19

"Here's to dodging more disasters than an action movie hero!" I said with a laugh in the billiard room, clinking bottles with Caleb, and my brothers Oliver and Theo.

"Cheers," they said before taking long swigs.

A wave of nostalgia washed over me at that moment. It was like the good old days, brothers and friends hanging out, just being guys, and planning our next moves—both on the pool table and in life.

Meanwhile, Veronica and Daphne joined Grace—Oliver's fiancée—and my sister Adriana in the tearoom next door. Their laughter, filtering through the walls now and then, infused the palace with a lively energy. Being surrounded by family and friends was exactly the homecoming I needed. It was one of those moments when life felt absolutely perfect, and that realization burst like an explosion of pure joy inside my heart.

"How's the wedding planning going, Oliver?" I asked.

"Smoothly," he replied as he chalked his cue stick. "Grace has the most amazing eye for detail and can visualize everything. I've got it easy. The only thing I have to do is agree with her or say ‘whatever you want is good for me.'"

"That's what happens when you marry an ex-wedding planner," I said with a grin.

"How did you propose?" Caleb interjected, then shot the nine ball into the side pocket. "I never heard the story."

Oliver paused, a smile spreading across his face as he thought about it. "It was during our trip to Corfu for her birthday, which was actually just a ruse for the proposal. I planned everything down to the double chocolate fudge cake—Grace's favorite."

"Unfortunately, there were a few ... distractions," I chimed in.

Oliver laughed, nodding. "That's an understatement. Right before I was about to propose, Mother announced her engagement to Sebastian. Then, not thirty seconds later, my cousin Enzo revealed he was getting married to Honey, which is an entertaining story for another time. And as if that wasn't enough, Theo here dropped the bomb about moving to the States for his degree."

Theo shrugged. "Timing has never been my strong suit."

"I thought I'd lost the moment," Oliver said. "But eventually, after a bit of a panic over the interruptions, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me." He turned to Caleb and squeezed his arm. "Whenever you're ready to propose, do yourself a favor and keep it intimate. Avoid family gatherings at all costs because they are way too stressful."

Caleb nodded. "Thanks for the advice, but I'm nowhere near proposing. I haven't even had an official first date with Daphne yet. By the looks of it, August might be next on the docket for a proposal now that he's back together with my sister. You should have seen them on the jet coming back from Egypt. I got four cavities just from the way they were looking at each other."

That made me laugh, but he was right. Being back with Veronica felt like reclaiming a part of myself that I'd lost. Now, there was a familiar warmth that filled me with a profound sense of peace.

Oliver pocketed a striped ball and straightened up. "I'm glad to hear that, August. You two always seemed right for each other."

"Thank you," I said. "I've been thinking about the proposal, but I want to do it right. I don't want it to be cliché or over the top, but I also don't want it to be boring."

"I've got a bunch of ideas," Theo said with a grin as he rubbed his hands together.

"This should be interesting since I can't even remember the last time you had an actual date," I said, then took a swig of my beer and waited for the circus to begin.

"How about skydiving?" he said. "Just jump out of an airplane with the ring in hand … literally falling for her."

"What if he drops the ring at ten thousand feet?" Caleb asked. "Plus, August is accident prone and will most likely forget to wear a parachute or will get one that malfunctions."

I sighed. "I'm not accident prone. Every mishap has a logical explanation. They're all coincidences."

"Like when you ran naked on the beach in Zanzibar and buried yourself with sand?" he asked.

"What?" Oliver said, turning to me. "I want to hear about that one."

I held up my hand. "I need at least three beers in me to talk about it, and we're not even close. I'd rather talk about proposals, but at least try to come up with something that isn't completely ridiculous. I can use some help here."

"Fine, then," Theo said, deciding to give it another shot. "How about doing the proposal underwater, inside of a shark cage? Picture this: you dive into the deep blue sea, have someone drop bloody raw steaks into the water, you're surrounded by sharks, and then pop the question!"

Oliver shook his head, laughing as he leaned against the edge of the pool table. "Bloody steaks? That is not romantic."

I laughed at the absurdity of the suggestion. "I've had enough shark encounters in my lifetime, thank you very much. And you guys are barely playing pool. Someone take a shot before they call us to dinner! If I could play, I would, and the game would be over by now. Someone give me a real proposal idea, please."

Oliver shot the six ball into the corner pocket, took a sip of his beer, then said, "I say just make it about Veronica. What do you think she would like? Then do that."

I gestured to my brother. "Thank you! That's the first sane idea I've heard."

"Oh, I wasn't done yet," Oliver added with a mischievous grin. "Make sure it's in a haunted castle at midnight, with a full orchestra hidden behind the curtains playing ‘Thriller' as you get down on one knee. I promise you, she'll never forget it."

"You mean she'll never forgive me. And you are now officially the president of Club Ridiculous," I said, shaking my head in amusement as the three of them laughed hysterically, then clinked bottles again.

Just then, the door swung open, and Veronica, Daphne, Grace, and Adriana stepped inside the billiard room, their arrival halting our conversation.

"Why the sudden silence, guys?" Veronica said, giving me a curious look.

"They all look guilty," Daphne said, a playful suspicion in her tone. "Especially August."

"Me? I have no idea what you're talking about," I said before Caleb or one of my brothers slipped up and told them we were talking about proposals. "It was just guy stuff, that's all. We don't want to bore you with the details."

Grace raised an eyebrow. "Sure, guy stuff."

My sister Adriana watched me like a hawk. "They're up to something."

Daphne wiggled her eyebrows. "I think I know what it is."

By the look on her face, I believed she did and needed to get her out of the room before she ruined my surprise.

"We need to finish the game without distractions," I huffed.

Grace eyed all the billiard balls still on the table. "Finish? It doesn't even look like you've even started! Anyway, it's time for dinner. We just wanted to let you know."

"Okay, okay… we'll be right there" I ushered them back out before any more questions or suspicions could follow. "See you in just a minute."

Once the door closed behind them, I said, "Please promise me that none of you will mention anything about proposals at dinner. I need it to be a surprise. Those women are smarter than us and will figure it out, even with the slightest hint."

They all agreed, but then Theo said, "I've got one more idea, though."

"That's unnecessary," I replied.

He ignored me and put his arm around me. "What about bungee jumping off the palace tower?"

"We are officially done here!" I said with a chuckle, already moving toward the door. "It's time for dinner and we shouldn't keep everyone waiting. Plus, I think we've had our fill of bro-time. My testosterone level is pegging in the red."

We all washed our hands in the guest restroom near the foyer and then approached the grand wooden doors leading into the dining hall. The footmen pulled the doors open, revealing the long mahogany table set with fine china and crystal glasses that sparkled under the chandelier's light.

The ladies, along with Mother and her fiancé Sebastian, were already seated, chatting softly.

As we took our seats, I chose the spot next to Veronica. Almost immediately, servers began circulating with wine, offering each of us a glass.

"How was your game of pool?" Veronica whispered, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

I chuckled, taking a sip of my wine. "Obviously, I did not get to play, and as you saw, they didn't play either. Everyone was too busy talking. It was complete nonsense, but you know what? I loved every minute."

Veronica smiled. "Sounds like our tea session, but it was absolutely lovely."

Just then, Mother tapped her glass with a spoon, the clear sound cutting through the conversations and drawing everyone's attention.

"I'd like to make a toast," she announced, her voice carrying through the room. "To August, the future king of Verdana. We're all incredibly relieved that you're back safe." She held her wineglass in the air toward me and grinned. "And you're not leaving the palace again until you become king."

Laughter echoed around the table, and we all raised our glasses in a cheerful, "Cheers!"

"Has a coronation date been set yet?" Caleb asked.

I shot him a glare, knowing well that this topic was a steppingstone to discussions about marriage and proposals.

Theo, unable to resist the temptation to stir the pot, chimed in. "Mother won't step down until August is married and has a queen. We're all eagerly awaiting the announcement of who this lucky lady will be."

My brother was as subtle as a marching band in the royal library.

The table fell silent, all eyes suddenly on Veronica.

Feeling the weight of the moment, I cleared my throat and diverted attention. "Oh, look! Appetizers!"

Right on cue, servers began placing dishes around the table. Simple, yet favorites: mini quiches, bruschetta, and stuffed mushrooms made their rounds, giving me a momentary reprieve from the probing questions.

Mother, however, was not one to let things slide.

"I'm glad to see things patched up between you two," she said, her gaze shifting between Veronica and me. "Any updates, news, things in the works?"

I felt like I was under a microscope, and to lighten the mood, I blurted out, "Yes, I'm pregnant."

The table erupted in laughter, and just as the noise settled, Adriana, always one to keep things interesting, remarked, "You know, today was supposed to be the day Veronica and Oliver got married."

The room quieted again for a moment before Veronica glanced across the table at Oliver and mimed wiping sweat from her brow. "That would have been incredibly awkward."

He nodded and also pretended to wipe sweat from his brow. "A complete disaster!"

"And I'm thrilled for you and Grace," Veronica added. "You are the perfect couple."

"We feel the same about you two," Grace said with a kind smile.

Thankfully, the conversation shifted away from weddings and proposals to other topics as we enjoyed our wine and appetizers. But then, during dinner, Mother noted Adriana's silence.

"What's the matter, dear?" she asked. "You've been very quiet this evening."

Adriana hesitated before answering. "I didn't want to bring it up with all the good news going around, but Demetrio and I broke up. His family needs him in Greece, and I couldn't see myself living there. End of story." She frowned, then took a sip of her wine.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said. "You'll find someone who deserves you."

Grace leaned in, offering a comforting smile. "I agree—he obviously wasn't the one. Give it time, and you'll find the right person when the stars are aligned. Even if you have to go all the way to Chicago to find a hunky firefighter waiting to marry you."

Sebastian chuckled. "That's oddly specific."

"Adriana's hooked on the TV show Chicago Fire," Theo said. "She's binge-watched all the episodes and has got a thing for firefighters."

Adriana perked up a little. "They put their lives on the line every day, for others, and there's something undeniably heroic about that. Plus, I would really love to try that Chicago-style pizza. It looks fantastic."

Mother shook her head, her voice tinged with amusement. "Don't be ridiculous. Adriana would never fly all the way to America to find herself a man. That would be absurd."

"Never say never, Mother." Adriana grinned, then reached for the last stuffed mushroom, popping it in her mouth.

"I'm with Adriana on that one," Theo said. "I'm tempted to fly to Chicago just to try that pizza."

"How did I end up with a palace full of royal rebels for children?" Mother said, taking a very long sip of her wine and shaking her head.

Caleb chuckled. "Royal rebels … that has a nice ring to it. Maybe we should all get matching tattoos and start riding motorcycles."

"Sorry to break the news to you, but I'm actually planning to sell my BMW motorcycle," I announced, catching everyone's attention. "I intend to donate the proceeds to the Royal Academy of Arts."

Grace, serving as the president, and Oliver, the director, had been deeply involved with the academy, which was on the verge of beginning construction.

Grace placed her hand on her chest. "That means the world to us."

"Absolutely—that's very generous of you, August. Thank you," Oliver responded appreciatively. "We are full speed ahead, by the way. The groundbreaking for the academy is scheduled right after our wedding."

"Which is right after our wedding," Mother said, glancing at Sebastian and giving him a loving smile.

"Hey—I just thought of something very cool," Theo said. "With Mother, Oliver, and Cousin Enzo all engaged, that's three engagements in the family at the same time. August, if you decide to make it four, we might just set a world record."

The comment turned every gaze at the table towards Veronica and me again. I silently wished the royal table wasn't so wide; a well-timed kick under the table to Theo's shins would have been immensely satisfying.

Feeling the weight of everyone's attention, I stood abruptly, the screech of my chair echoing off the walls.

"I mentioned to Veronica that it might be nice to take a walk under the full moon," I announced, eager to escape the speculative looks. "We'll see you all later."

"Sounds perfect," Veronica agreed, her voice calm and supportive as she rose to join me.

Escaping into the crisp evening air, Veronica and I grasped the opportunity for some solitude, our steps synchronizing as we wandered through the meticulously maintained gardens.

"The royal life certainly is odd," Veronica said with a chuckle as she stopped in front of the water fountain.

"What do you mean?" I asked, curious about her perspective.

She glanced up at the sky, where stars twinkled around the luminous full moon. "Parents are so obsessed with weddings, marrying off their children, ensuring there are descendants."

"For them, it's more important than eating," I said.

Veronica bent slightly to smell the red roses next to the fountain. "I know it was awkward tonight during dinner, with everyone pushing the engagement, because your mother wants you to have a queen. But let's not rush it, August. We'll know when the timing is right. Let's just take it slow."

"What if I don't want to take it slow?" I teased gently, closing the distance between us.

She looked up, surprise flickering across her face. "What do you mean? You're ready to get married?"

"I'm just saying, you're the love of my life, and all I want is to be with you," I confessed, pulling her closer, mindful of the soft cast on my arm. "I love you."

She smiled. "I love you, too."

I pulled her in for an embrace, then was surprised when the gentle night breeze carried the sounds of a giggle nearby. Turning slightly, we spotted Caleb and Daphne tucked away on a bench under a garden light, sharing a tender kiss.

"How did they get out here before us?" I asked.

"We shouldn't be watching this," Veronica whispered, pulling me away to a more secluded spot under the willow trees, their branches swaying softly above us. "Much better."

"I agree, but they had the right idea with the kissing," I said. "The positive chemicals will help me heal faster, and we deserve some romance time now."

"You really don't have to sell me on this," Veronica said, stepping closer and pressing her lips against mine.

I pulled her against me, needing to be closer. Our kiss deepened, fueled by the emotions swirling between us, each moment intensifying the connection that had always existed. I groaned softly as her hands moved to caress my face.

"I'm so sorry," she gasped, pulling back slightly. "I forgot about your scrapes in the dark. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I assured her, my voice low.

She reached up, her lips brushing against the skin of my cheek, her touch as light as a feather. "Hopefully that makes it feel better. Maybe we should head back inside so you can rest."

I flashed a mischievous grin. "Oh, we are far from done here." I drew her in for another kiss, this time with an intensity that said I wasn't about to stop soon.