Prologue

The King’s Assistant

“Wake up, wake up! It’s already past 9 a.m. and the king wishes to see all of you!” I shout to three closed doors down the extravagant main hall in front of me.

“I’m already awake, and you’re loud!” a voice says from one of the doors.

An annoyed groan comes from another, and from the third, only silence.

“He demands your presence in no less than ten minutes from now!” I shout, then nod, satisfied that the king will no longer pin any of their actions on me.

I walk out into the main hall to find one of the servant girls peeking around the corner, not paying any attention to her surroundings.

“Get back to work!” I scoff at her. “You’ll get your fair look at the princes in due time, and when you do, take an eyeful. They might not be here for much longer. Or maybe they will. But with that behavior, you certainly won’t!”

She shrieks and scrambles to the far hall to continue her cleaning duties.

Probably the quickest way we lose a servant girl is when she gets too wet over the princes and forgets her duties. Or when they try their damndest to sneak into one of their beds, and they’re not always unsuccessful, mind you, but they’re promptly tossed away by them. They’re very particular men.

I make my way to the dining room where the king is taking his brunch. The spread laid out for him is impressive, with various meats, cheeses, and rare vegetables from across the world. Nobody else on the king’s island could obtain things like this.

That’s not to say the king doesn’t share; he’s quite benevolent, but in his later years, he’s become much more focused on trying to convince his adopted sons to make their own way in the world.

They, of course, have been incredibly reluctant; I don’t blame them. They have everything they could want for lifetimes over here in the palace. And it’s by no means a modest island they stand to inherit either; being the king of an entire large island in the Mediterranean comes with quite a few perks.

“Where are they?” the king growls gruffly.

“On their way, Sire,” I promise him.

After a few minutes, the three of them filter in.

Adam is a rather tall and striking blond man with an air of both confidence and manipulation that lets him get by much too easily. He takes his usual seat across the king.

Charlie enters after him. His soft, dark hair shifts around his face, attempting to distract from his striking green eyes; he’s incredibly kind, but to his own methods. Many diplomats who visit us have fallen into the trap of his care and looks.

Sam brings up the rear shortly. He brushes his brown hair out of his face and goes directly to his own chair, his nose pressed in a new textbook for the day. He’s constantly studying mathematics and has a rather impressive knack for it.

All three of them are very talented and are able to pick up things very naturally. With some hard work from them, they could be a force to be reckoned with. It’s almost a shame they live in luxury.

“Boys,” the king begins, “I’m going to get straight to the point. You’re in dire need of experience in this world. I don’t have long left, and I will not have my kingdom be a failure from inexperience and incompetence!”

The three grumble, but they’ve heard the speech time and again, and so have I. Usually the king will go on for a few more minutes, then resign to his meal, but I know for a fact this time is different.

“That’s why, starting today, you’re leaving this island!” the king says resolutely.

“What?!” all three exclaim.

“A business partner of one of my good friends has a company in America. He has some concerns his investments may be in bad hands, so I’ve gone ahead and purchased the majority share of the company. You will take the shares, integrate yourselves in the company, and make sure it’s successful at any cost. And you will not return here until you do!”

The three princes simply sit aghast at the King’s proclamation, but I can only snicker from behind them. It’ll do them some good.

“Your plane leaves at lunch time. Your bags will be packed, and you each have homes of your own waiting for you there,” the king says before beginning his meal.

They know very well not to interrupt the king while he’s eating and that once he’s started his meal, his mind will never be changed.

They sit quietly, picking at their own food as they contemplate their sudden fate.

A quick cleanup and a packing scramble later, they’re ready to board their flight.

The king shouts after them as they prepare to board their flight. “It would do you well to bring back a worthy woman to have here at home! I’m tired of having to find new servants. In fact, whoever brings back the best one is the one who gets my throne!”