I take a deep breath. I tell myself I can do this, but the level of nervousness I feel is foreign to me. It’s not the knowledge that I will step off the jet and enter an entirely different world than I am accustomed to. New things do not scare me. I went to the big apple on my own right after college. I just upped and left. Never hesitated for a second.

For some strange reason I feel almost afraid to leave this plane. My antenna is up. As if there is something dangerous waiting for me out there. Which is so weird, because in essence, we’re going to spend the weekend at his mom and dad’s place. It’s not even like they live in the middle of some warzone. They live in the most civilized place on earth. In a palace.

I squash the uneasy feeling knowing that once I step off this plane nothing will ever be the same again. “It’s just another adventure, Rosa.”

“Sorry. I didn’t catch that,” Dante says.

I smile up at him. “Nothing, just mumbling to myself.”

“Shall we?” he asks holding out his hand.

I take it and we start moving towards the door. The captain and stewardess are standing stiffly by the door.

“Good job, Captain, as always,” Dante says.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” the captain says bowing his head as we walk past.

I can’t help but notice that he’s acting differently toward Dante now that we’re in Avanti. I think Dante wasn’t completely honest with me. Looks like the people of Avanti take their royals very seriously.

The walk down the stairs to the tarmac is one I will never forget. There are cameras clicking and paparazzi moving around behind ropes jostling for a better angle calling out to Dante and, to my surprise, even me.

“Dante, Dante. When’s the wedding? Hey, Rosa, give us a smile, Rosa. What does it feel like, Rosa?”

A smartly-dressed newswoman is doing a standup in front of her cameraman. She is speaking in a rapid-fire language that sounds a bit like German, as she motions toward me and Dante.

“Welcome to the royal fishbowl,” Dante whispers as he leans his head toward me.

“Yeah, Prince Charming, you sort of left this part out,” I say, as I plaster a smile on my face.

“Don’t worry. It’s just the national press. They’re all riled up because they’ve got wind of my impending marriage and want to know if I have changed my mind about resuming my duties as Crown Prince.”

“And have you?”

“No. Finding you has made me even more determined not to carry on with that outdated system.”

A group of men dressed in colorful uniforms and wearing strangely shaped helmets—similar to those worn by the Swiss Guard at the Vatican—stand at attention while Dante and I walk past.

A man in a dark suit is holding the limo door open for us. Star is never going to believe this. Heck. I don’t even believe it myself, I think as I climb into the car. As he closes it, I see the motorcycle outriders move into position, two ahead, two on each side, and the last two behind the limo. I feel like Cinderella in her magical carriage on the way to the ball.

I thought Dante was joking when he told me there would be people lining the route to greet us, but there they are, waving flags, cheering, and shouting greetings to Dante as the royal procession of cars drives past.

Overwhelmed by all the fuss and attention, I gaze at their faces curiously. They are really excited to welcome their Prince home. We pass the city which reminds me of Prague. The roofs are all bright orange and the buildings either white or soft pastels. The balconies are filled with bright summer flowers. My first impression is of a very wealthy, well-maintained city.

“That’s our cathedral,” Dante says, pointing to a tall structure.

I lift my chin and look up at the marvelous stone building.

The limo turns a corner, and down at the end of the two-lane street, lined with beautiful trees, the palace rises up into the sky. Like something straight out of a Disney movie, except it is larger, much larger and more magnificent. Snow white with ostentatious, intricate moldings, it looks like it could have been fashioned out of ice. The summer sun falls on the hundreds of windows making them reflect light like shards of glass. I stare at the gold-domed tower and turrets with amazement. This is exactly how I imagined a palace would look when I was a child.

Tearing my eyes away from all that splendor I glance across the seat at Dante. “Just an ordinary family sitting around watching TV, huh?”

He shrugs and smiles. “Can you blame me? I was trying to calm my bride’s jittery nerves. Though I might not have been totally forthcoming, quite frankly, watching TV in a five hundred room palace is no different than watching it in a three bedroom house.” He actually looks serious.

As the vehicle pulls around the huge fountain with water spouting all around a massive copper statue of a knight mounted on a horse, I see livered staff standing in line waiting for our arrival. Hell, it is like a scene from a movie.

I glance at Dante, and feel the stirrings of apprehension. Will I be good enough for his parents?

He squeezes my hand. “I realize it is all new to you, but trust me, you’ll get used to it in no time.”

Both our doors are opened at the same time. I get out and glance over the top of the car at Dante for guidance of what I should do next. He winks at me. At that moment a middle-aged woman in a dark blue dress steps out of the line. To my surprise, Dante strides up to her and envelopes her in a bear hug.

“Matilda,” he says, stepping back. “You don’t look a day over thirty.”

“It’s time you came back,” she says softly. I can see tears in her eyes.

Dante frowns. “I’m not back. I’m just here for the weekend.”

A look of sorrow passes her face.

Dante beckons me to join him so I walk around to him.

“Matilda, this is Rosa. My fiancée. Rosa, this is my nanny, Matilda Olsenberg.”

Matilda turns her head and looks at me. I smile at her and she bows her head respectfully. Then she turns back to Dante and smiles. There is real happiness flashing in her eyes.

“Sometimes our fates are mapped out for us before we are born. You will be King of Avanti one day, Prince Nils.” As soon as she finishes talking she drops into a deep curtsy.

Dante looks at me and shrugs.

A man at our side clears his throat. “Her Majesty has placed Miss Winchester in the Redwood suite. Of course, your rooms have been aired and are ready for you.”

Dante’s arm comes around my waist. “Thank you, Viggo. Those sleeping arrangements will be perfect.”

Viggo nods politely.

“Where is my father?”

“He is in the South garden, Your Highness. He will meet you in the music room once you have settled in.”

“Very good. Tell him I’ll see him in half-an-hour.”

“Certainly, Your Highness.”

“Miss Winchester,” a uniformed maid says as she steps forward. “If you would like to follow me. I’ll show you to your rooms.”

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I’ll take my fiancée to her quarters myself,” Dante says smoothly.

“What about my luggage?” I ask.

“One of the staff will fetch it to your quarters,” Viggo says quietly.

I thank him and Dante exerts a little pressure on the small of my back. We start walking towards the entrance.

“Looks like we’ll be sleeping in different parts of the palace,” I say as I follow him across the lawn to the entrance of the palace.

Dante looks down at me, his face amused. “Don’t worry. It’s walking distance.”

Two guards, also dressed in colorful uniforms, stare straight ahead, and don’t change expressions as we walk past.

“My God. It feels so strange to completely ignore them like that.”

“Again, you’ll get use to the royal guards. Unfortunately, it’s another one of the stupid traditions I detest.”

“I don’t like it either,” I reply as we step into the palace entrance. My mouth drops open. “Wow! This is so very beautiful.”

“I guess it is very beautiful, you forget after some time.”

“I still can’t believe you said your mother and father sit around watching television like normal families,” I say as I try hard not to gawk at the vast spaces, the rich decorations, the massive portraits and ancient tapestries decorating the walls. After only a few turns I’m lost.

“God, Dante, I’ll never be able to find my way back to my room once I leave it. This place is like a maze.”

“It can be confusing at first, but you’ll catch on quickly. It’s not as complicated as it appears.”

“Uh huh,” I mock. “Maybe it’s not confusing to you because you grew up crawling the halls in diapers. To me it’s a maze.”

“You’ve met Matilda. Can you see her letting me crawl around like some street urchin?” Dante asks cheerfully.

Dante stops in front of elaborate teakwood doors with the family coats of arms carved on the front. “The Redwood suite,” he says, and pushes open the double doors.