Everly

One Year Later

Life in the royal family has been nothing like I expected. It took a few months to get everything figured out and our home in place. King William set up a place for us to stay; making sure our marriage was seen in the utmost light when it came to everything, including our lodging.

Thankfully, he had nothing to do with our permanent home. Sage didn’t want to live in the palace, and since his father is still fairly young, we were able to build a place not far from theirs that’s more to our liking.

It’s perfect actually.

The palace is absurd in terms of size so we were able to scale ours down, stating we didn’t need all the elegance because events would always be held at the palace. We didn’t want to take away from the historical aspect of the royal family, but still add our own stamp to the kingdom.

Sage has stuck to his word about becoming a king for the people. Even though his father isn’t happy about it, he’s starting to come around to the ideas Sage puts forward.

My favorite one was a campaign he started called Be the Change.

He wants to be the inspiration for everyone in Canterbury and personify Gandhi’s words: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Hashtags, Facebook groups, and even a weekly television show have led the campaign.

To start it, he invited people to submit their wish for what they wanted to be changed in Canterbury. He challenged people to think deeper, to send us ideas that weren’t just superficial.

I think even King William was surprised by some of the submissions. The entire program was anonymous, so after a few weeks of suggestions that tested the water, things started to get more meaningful, more significant to the everyday life for the people of Canterbury.

Within the year we have created over one thousand jobs, which in turn has boosted the economy and wellbeing of people tremendously. Everything from restaurants to contractors have seen better income and Canterbury is once again a bustling community where people have money to go out and enjoy life.

Today we make the biggest impact we’ve been able to accomplish. When someone submitted an idea for a place where kids could learn outside the box, where they could play and explore the world around them, Sage took the notion and ran with it.

As a young boy growing up in the palace, he always loved things he read about science and experiments he could do, but his tutors kept him to the standard tests of learning and never veered.

Now, he wants to veer in the best way.

He wants to give kids a place where they can learn outside of books and classrooms. His goal is to show them learning can be fun, and I think he hit this one out of the park.

His first order as king-in-training was to rearrange some funds to get the project off the ground. Once we had the council’s approval, Sage started to raise funds by asking the community to contribute while he applied for grants.

Of course, the money could have come directly from the government, but Sage has more ideas he wants to make happen, and he couldn’t put all of his eggs in one basket. But he also wanted the people of Canterbury to feel like this was their place.

He invited the Boys and Girls Club to help paint the walls, and schools to take on a project, building a display as a team, showing pride in what they could accomplish together.

It’s taken a ton of work on his part, coordinating every piece, but today is the day. Canterbury’s Science Center will finally open, and even his father said he’d be there for the unveiling.

He came by a few days ago, and I saw the smile he couldn’t hide on his face when Sage explained one of the exhibits. He’s proud of his son and even told him so.

This was also our way of making good about the fire. Taking the torched land and building the center there was actually King William’s idea. He didn’t like the design of the logo containing fireworks, but Sage and I wouldn’t budge.

That’s how we started, and this will be our legacy together.

We take the final walkthrough, making sure every piece is set up and all the employees are in place before we open the doors.

Sage stands at the door, knowing hundreds of people are on the opposite end of the twenty thousand square foot building. “Thank you,” he says to me before opening them.

“For what?”

“For this. For allowing me to fulfill my dreams and what I wanted for this country.”

I lean over to kiss him. “I should be thanking you for choosing me to be by your side.”

He chuckles and opens the doors to cheers all around. The executive director we hired to run the center, as well as his parents and sister, all exit behind us, standing on the threshold to the place we built.

Sage walks up to a microphone. “I want to thank everyone for joining us today.” He reaches for my hand, bringing me to his side. “Everly and I have worked very hard to make this happen, but it wasn’t just us. It was you. All of you. We had over three hundred volunteers come together to make this happen. We can’t thank everyone enough. This place is yours. And one day, we hope all you kids out there will bring your kids here. We hope you enjoy everything it has to offer, and always remember to be the change,” he yells into the microphone and everyone cheers along with him.

I wrap my arms around his waist as he holds me close to him, taking in our amazing accomplishment.

* * *

The day couldn’t have gone better. Seeing both parents and kids alike enjoying the museum was the best feeling. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen Sage and as I walk the hallway heading toward the office, my text dings an incoming message:

Bloodlines may have brought us together

Who would have thought you’d be my forever

There’s one more thing for us to do

I thought it was about time you knew

Our first adventure didn’t end so right

But I’m glad I didn’t give up the fight

My life is exactly what I wanted

It was something I never could have plotted

I think it’s time, let me give you a hint

Someone who will leave a tiny footprint

Someone who will create their own life

And choose who they want as their wife.

All you need to do is find me

I’ll be waiting where only you’ll know I’ll be

No song to guide you this time

Just know it’s where the stars shine.

I’m smiling so hard my cheeks are starting to hurt. He’s so crazy but he knows how crazy I am about him. Now I just need to solve his little puzzle.

I read it again and butterflies swarm at the mention of tiny footprints. People have asked us when we were going to have kids, but we were so busy with this project we hadn’t really talked about it.

Of course we’ve said we both want kids, but thinking of him holding his child melts my heart more than I’ve ever imagined. He’s given me so much and I love the thought that this is the only gift that no one can give him but me.

It’s not until I reread the last part, where the stars shine, that memories of making love to him under the stars flood my head and send chills down my spine.

I don’t even bother to grab my stuff. Instead I rush out the side door, hoping to find the royal limo waiting for me. To my surprise, Sage’s BMW is parked with Sam, one of the limo drivers, with the door wide open and holding out the keys to me.

“He’s really thought of everything, hasn’t he?” I tease as I approach him.

“Of course he has.” He smiles as he hands me the keys. “I take it you know where you’re going, Mrs. Everly?”

I give him a cheesy grin. “I have a pretty good clue.”

“Very well. Have a safe drive.”

I thank him before I crank the engine and head out to my husband. The man who keeps me on my toes and is constantly showing me more love than I ever thought imagined.

As I turn onto the mountain road where he took me almost a year ago, I can’t help but reflect on the last year of my life. How much has changed yet how much I am still me. I may be a princess, but I am still working on my documentary and have even teamed up with one of the local news stations who plans to air it once I’ve finished.

My mom was right. Being a princess has allowed me to help people more than I ever thought it would. I get to live my life, the way I wanted with someone I love more than anything.

The sound of a waterfall cascading down a cliff takes me from my memories. One more corner and I’m blessed with the man himself, standing with a single rose waiting for me.

I open the door and close it behind me, not walking to him yet. We stare at each other, drinking the other one in until I let out a small laugh and run toward him, jumping in to his arms.

“I have one stipulation…” I say looking up into his eyes.

“What’s that?” He gives me a shit-eating grin.

“Maybe our ancestors weren’t so off on this whole bloodline thing.” I kiss his lips softly. “He can marry who he wants, but we should at least introduce him to his options.”

His laugh solidifies my love and I’m instantly lost in my husband, my prince, my king.