Page 37 of Back to Claim His Crown
‘Are you going to do that in Monrayne?’
She hesitated and this time she didn’t look for Lucian’s reaction.
‘No. This is a stepping stone until the media storm blows over.’
It felt amazingly good to say it. She literally felt lighter. No more princess. It was a powerfully liberating thought.
‘What about us—the family, your country? Your duty to them both?’
‘You don’t actually need me. I’ve tried to do everything they wanted or what I thought they wanted and it didn’t work out. Now I want to do something just for me.’
Ana sounded shocked. ‘What aboutmoney?’
‘I’ll earn it,’ she answered. ‘Plenty of people do, you know.’ And honestly it would be easier without the ‘Princess’ title. ‘For now I’m going to have a holiday here, hiding away from the total humiliation. I’ll be in touch again once I’m settled overseas.’
Zara avoided looking at Lucian long as she lowered the laptop screen. She still felt liberated but there was a moment of sadness. It was her family she was walking away from. But she needed the separation—at least while she recalibrated her own role within it and while she created a full life for herself.
‘No more Princess?’ Lucian said calmly.
‘No.’ She smiled. ‘You know it’s only an honorific anyway. Frankly, it’s been more hindrance than help.’
‘Do you know where you’re going to go?’
She swallowed. ‘I think England. There’s lots of old historic homes that need administrators...’
‘You want to do that?’
‘I think I could, yes. I actually like the antiques and the art that tend to come with old country piles and I like the skill in the craft and the ancient architecture and making sure it survives.’
‘Okay.’ He nodded. ‘But you think this is aholidayfor you?’
She gave him a wan smile. ‘I’m trying to make the best of a bad situation.’
He moved closer, his gaze almost tender. ‘Then maybe we should make it even better.’
Her heart skipped. But he didn’t pull her into his arms.
‘Perhaps you should see some ofMonrayne’sancient architecture before you go,’ he said.
She shook her head, struggling to mask her disappointment. ‘I don’t want to be seen in public yet. Definitely not here.’
‘Why, Zara—’ he raised his scarred eyebrow at her ‘—are you not aware that I am a master of disguise?’
She giggled. ‘Sunglasses aren’t going to cut it in this case, Lucian.’
Lucian wished he was wearing his sunglasses right now. The luminescence of her hurt his eyes and maintaining an emotionless expression in the face of what he’d just heard was impossible.
She was leaving. Renouncing her title. Refusing her royal status. Ms All-or-Nothing was in action. And though he shouldn’t be shocked by her decision, though he respected it, that old anger returned. Only it wasn’t cold, it was hot, purefrustration. He knew she couldn’t stay yet he didn’t want her to leave. And how was she going to get to England? Who would she apply to for work—did she want a letter of introduction or support? Was she going to ask him to help her? He would in a heartbeat, of course.
But it was going to hurt like hell to do so.
So he turned his attention to something else—snatching at a weak idea while he settled the roiling emotion inside.
‘You haven’t seen some of the most beautiful parts of Monrayne. Some of our most stunning buildings. We’ll get Victor to arrange it. You must at least go to the thermal springs.’
She flushed. ‘Are you going to come with me?’
The invitation in her eyes bit deep. ‘I can’t, Zara.’
