I still had a choice, though I was about fifty percent sure it could be the wrong one in the long run.
Well, maybe not. The other fifty percent hinged on a crazed headmistress that really wanted me dead. “I’m sorry, Arthur,” I finally said. “I can’t do this today.”
“Fine,” he stated as I walked to the door. “But don’t throw away a chance of a lifetime because you are scared, Anna.”
I didn’t answer, pushing on the door and leaving before I told him that he might be right on that account.
I was scared.
**
After my brush with Arthur, I really didn’t want to see anyone. He had struck a chord deep inside me, one that was hiding the real truth from everyone else. They all saw me as this new princess, like the confidence would come out of nowhere now that I knew the truth of who I was and where I had come from.
The funny thing was, confidence didn’t just appear overnight.
My cell phone rang, and I picked it up, my concern growing to excitement as I held it up to my ear. “Sara!”
“Anna, girl, you sound far too happy right now.”
“It’s all a front,” I laughed, lying back on my pillow. “Trust me.”
She laughed, the solid warmth of her affection coming through the line. God, how I would like to be sitting in front of her at her kitchen table right now, a cup of coffee warming my hands and my heart warmed by someone who truly cared.
“Well? How is it?”
I wasn’t going to tell her the truth. I needed someone to remember me for who I was truly and not the person they all wanted me to become. “It’s different.”
“And the guys?”
“Hot,” I said slowly, deciding there was no reason to hide that fact. They were quite gorgeous and unfortunately, two out of the three were gunning for my birthright.
“How are royal people, anyway?” Sara asked, oblivious to my thoughts. “Are they like the ones you see on TV, like Will and Kate? Or more like Harry and Meghan?”
“More like Harry and Meghan,” I admitted. “Well, the ones that will talk to me anyway. The entire school knows I’m not royalty, Sara, and let’s just say that has made for an interesting couple of semesters.”
“Well, if they do not get to know you, it’s their loss, sweetie,” she stated. “You don’t need those people.”
I actually did, but I wasn’t going to relay that information either. I did need these people to like me, or at least tolerate my presence if I was going to push forward with my birthright. Wasn’t that what the kings and Johanna had been saying all along? If I was to be the empress of Rome one day, then I would have to make nice with people I really didn’t like.
Did I really want that life? I didn’t care about the money. Sure, it was a large chunk of change, more than I would see in my lifetime, but I had lived this long without it, so I wasn’t about to miss what I didn’t have.
“Guess what?”
I snapped out of my current train of thought at the sound of Sara’s voice. “What?”
“I’m getting married!” she squealed before laughing. “Sorry, I just love to say that. It’s not even surreal, to be honest.”
“Oh my God,” I breathed. “So, Ben really did it?”
“Yes,” she answered. “I will have to send you a picture of the ring. He proposed last night, and I still can’t believe it.” I smiled as I thought of the handsome physician assistant that Sara had been dating for over two years. They were the absolute perfect couple and I was insanely jealous of their relationship.
Especially now.
“The wedding will be next year, in the summer. I hope you can come. I want you to be my only bridesmaid.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I stammered, tears crowding my eyes.
“Duh, ‘yes’ will work,” Sara laughed. “Come on, Anna. You are like my only friend and I really miss our ice-cream dates.”
“Me too,” I said softly, wiping away a tear. I knew with Sara I didn’t have to be anyone but myself and right now, that went a long way. “Yes, I will be your bridesmaid, though you might have to show me the gowns via FaceTime right now.”
“We will worry about that later,” Sara said. “It’s not going to be anything fancy anyway.”
We talked for a few more minutes before Sara hung up and I placed my cell phone on the bed, letting the tears fall. I didn’t know until I had talked to her how much I missed my old life.
How uncomplicated it was.
Had I really complained about being by myself? Now I would give anything to go back to being just Anna Komita, orphan American who worked hard and had big ambitions.
Sighing, I wiped the tears from my cheeks. I couldn’t go back, not now. Even if I did, my life wouldn’t be the same. I was no longer the naïve, innocent girl that had come to Switzerland with her eyes wide open.
This place had changed me, though not all of it was for the worst.
I drew in a deep breath, dashing the remaining tears from my cheeks. Now was not the time to lament what I had. I should instead focus on what the present was giving me.
And what my future might be. Right now, all of it was still my choice. I could choose to follow in my father’s footsteps, take his will, and even forbid, marry one of the kings. With that marriage, I would have freedom to do anything I wished for, with the funds
