Arthur was waiting for her at the top of the staircase, sitting beneath the portrait of Charlotte the First.
“What’s the matter? Had a bad day?”
Carly glared at him. “Arthur, I am not in the mood.”
“It’s stressful, isn’t it? Draining. All those people watching you, demanding that you put on a good show. You don’t like putting on a show, do you, Charlotte? You prefer substance. And you’ll never find that here. Maybe you should follow your father’s example.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Arthur raised his eyebrows dramatically. “He renounced his claim to the throne. Gave up his place in the line of succession. Because he didn’t have what it takes to fill the role. And he knew it. He would’ve taken you out of the running too, if that had been allowed.”
“That’s a lie!” The words came out as a shout. She couldn’t force herself to sound calm and collected and mature anymore. “You’re lying. I’ve researched the family history. I saw all the headlines about my dad marrying my mom, about them living in the States, about his death. I would’ve known if he’d given up his place in the line of succession.”
Arthur let out a short, bitter laugh. “No, you wouldn’t, because the press never knew. The public never knew. He did it right before he died. Literally turned in the paperwork and keeled over from the heart attack.”
Carly clenched her fists. “Don’t talk about that like it’s a joke.”
“Your father was a joke. He was pathetic. Weak. Just like you.”
For the first time, Carly understood why someone would want to punch another person in the face.
It was so tempting. But she also knew in the back of her mind that this was what he wanted. To provoke her. To bring her down to his level.
So she didn’t punch him.
But she did pin him against the wall so fast and so forcefully that she heard the breath wheeze out of him. His eyes got huge and round. His mouth opened and closed like a fish’s.
“Don’t. You. Ever. Insult my family. Again.”
He managed a tiny nod. She let him go and backed off.
“Why do you keep baiting me?” she demanded. “Why do you want my life? Because I can’t imagine why you would, if you think it’s so smothering and miserable.”
Arthur’s face twisted. “I’d be better at it than you. My father would’ve been a wonderful king, if he’d had a chance. If he hadn’t been the younger son. Or if your father had died before you were born, my father would’ve been Frederick’s heir instead of you. He deserved it. He deserved to be king. Everything would’ve been different.” He drew in a breath, steadying himself. “And if people actually had to take me seriously, I’d be the best king this country’s ever seen!”
Carly felt the sharpest edges of her anger fade. She could almost pity her cousin. He so obviously felt cheated out of something important—and he had been. He was just wrong about what it was. “Maybe if you tried being a decent person first, people would choose to take you seriously. Ever thought about that?”
She turned and left without waiting for him to respond.
***
Seton caught up to her as she charged down the hallway. He’d been right behind her on the stairs, like always. He must’ve seen the whole thing happen.
“Good thing you’re not Arthur’s bodyguard, huh?” she said to him through clenched teeth.
“A very good thing, your highness,” Seton responded quietly.
Carly reached the door that led to her rooms. “I’m gonna be in here for a while, okay?” she said as she opened the door. “Can you tell my grandfather that I’m not feeling well and I can’t make it to dinner?”
“I’ll tell him, your highness. And I’ll be waiting out here in case you change your mind.”
“Thanks.” Carly closed the door in his face.
Then she called her mom.
“Hey, sweetie! How are—”
“Why didn’t you tell me about my dad?” Carly’s voice was ragged. She was finally crying, after weeks of wanting to. “Why didn’t you tell me that he gave up his place in the line of succession?”
“I—Oh, honey. Who told you about that?”
“It doesn’t matter who told me! You should’ve told me! You should’ve told me he wasn’t actually a prince, he chose not to be a prince, and I don’t have to be a princess!”
“Carly, what’s going on? I thought you were excited for this opportunity. That’s why I didn’t object to you going over there. What’s changed?”
“Everything!” Carly hated how melodramatic she sounded, but she couldn’t help it. She’d been holding everything in for too long. “I thought I was following in my dad’s footsteps. I thought he’d be proud of me for doing this. But he didn’t want this! For himself or for me! And neither do I!”
Before her mom could respond, she ended the call and flung her phone onto her bed.
***
It wasn’t actually that hard to give Seton the slip. First Carly changed into jeans and a T-shirt and grabbed her wallet. Then all she had to do was turn on some music at full blast, climb down the trellis beside her balcony, and walk through the estate’s front gate.
As she set off on the road to town, she actually wished it was farther away. She wished she could keep walking forever.