Alix was led away from Duncan by the firm hand of her father on her arm. He took her to a cool, interior room, away from the heat of the sun. The lavishly decorated lounge right off the veranda was full of beautiful sculptures and paintings by local Prynesse artists.

“I just wanted to tell you how pleased your mother and I are that you decided to come home for the summer, rather than stay in New York,” he began.

Alix smiled in response but didn’t really consider Prynesse home, not when she’d spent so much of her life in Manhattan. Coming back for most of the Christmas holidays meant that she did feel a certain connection with the place. And, as she’d reminded the prince the previous night, she had been born here, and was Prynesse nobility, even if she only spoke one of the three official languages. She thought briefly of asking him to switch into Prynessian, so she could practice, but decided against it. She wouldn’t let some offhand remark from the prince make her uncomfortable in her own country of birth.

“I do like seeing you both more,” she replied honestly. While her parents had been working in New York through most of her childhood, by the time she started boarding school, they’d taken on more responsibilities of the various noble charities they were involved in. For the past 10 years, they’d only visit the States for a month or two at a time.

“I am sorry about the apartment renovation,” he said. “And that our duties at the manor take so much time. I feel like we’ve barely gotten to see you since you’ve been home. But you seem to be making friends here at the palace.”

His eyes gleamed with excitement. Of course he’d think that one conversation with Duncan meant they were a couple. Alix enjoyed being an only child, but since her return, she was suddenly very conscious of the fact that all of her parents’ hopes for a good marriage and babies rested on her shoulders.

Alix smiled without commenting.

“Well, I don’t want to keep you long, but I did want to tell you that your mother and I discussed your plan to help the queen with her charities this year, but we don’t think that’s the best use of her time.”

“What?” Alix was surprised. Her parents were the ones who had set it all up, excited to have a reason to see the queen more often. Alix was happy to help her family, and to have a distraction from her nervous waiting. She’d secretly applied for an internship with the Refugee Medical Alliance, and was expecting a response any day now.

“Well, you did so well at school, it seemed a shame for you not to continue studying a bit while you’re here,” he went on. “The University of Prynesse has one of the best medical departments in Europe. We spoke with the Dean about giving you a place for this year.”

A huge smile lit Alix’s face. The thought of continuing her studies was exciting – she loved research and time in the lab. She almost sighed in relief. If the RMA program didn’t accept her, she would have been without a plan, stuck doing charity work not just this year, but her whole life, until someone decided to marry her.

Then, her stomach began to churn.

“What do you mean ‘giving me a place’?” she asked her father, trying to keep her tone even. “Don’t I have to apply like everyone else?”

“Sweetie, this isn’t New York,” he told her, putting a gentle arm around her shoulders. “You don’t need things like that here. You worked hard, we all know it, so now you can do whatever you want.”

This sat uneasily with Alix, but she didn’t say anything. It was nice being here with her parents, after so many years of seeing them off and on. She didn’t want to upset her father when he was so clearly pleased with his idea to help her, even if it wasn’t what exactly what she had planned.

If the RMA internship came through, she’d be able to leave Prynesse for good, and start her real life with a real career, trying to make a real difference. She didn’t believe what Duncan had said, that all of this charity stuff made a difference. He was just looking for an easy life, like what her father thought she wanted, too. This was why she needed to get away. No one here really understood her. She just had to get through the summer, and then she would either be off to school again or to the RMA program.

Finally, she smiled at her father.

“Thanks, Papa,” she said, hugging him.

“Of course, my dear,” he replied, holding her close.

“Oh,” he said in surprise, taking her hand as they pulled out of the embrace. “Where’s that lovely bangle I gave you?”

Damn Duncan! Why couldn’t he have sent someone to return it this morning? It was her favorite piece, something to keep her parents close to her whenever they were away. She’d need it again soon.

“It didn’t match this dress,” she said simply.

He nodded, accepting this.

They headed back onto the veranda, but Duncan was nowhere to be seen. Now she’d have to seek him out to get it back, as she suspected had been his intention from the start.