A castle this size had to have a large staff. She would flag someone down and ask how to contact Mare.
Izzy poked her head out of her room. The wide hallway was empty. Waiting for someone to appear, she shoved her hands into the deep pockets of the robe. No one came.
“Is anyone out there?” she half whispered.
No reply.
Come on. Izzy grew impatient. This was a castle for goodness’ sake. Maids and butlers should be running around. She would have to find someone herself.
She tightened the belt of her robe
Stepping into the hallway, Izzy left the door to her room open. She wanted to remember which room was hers.
The farther she moved away from her room, the more antsy Izzy became. Walking around with wet hair, barefoot and wearing nothing but a robe was not exactly princesslike. A castle probably had rules. Ones she would know. Maybe she should go back.
She was about to turn around when a white-haired man exited a room. The older gentleman was tall, wore a nice suit and walked with a slight limp. On closer look, she noticed he had a prosthetic leg.
No matter what side you were on, we are all marked in some way by the conflict. Some scars are visible. Others are not.
Niko hadn’t been kidding. Izzy couldn’t believe an old man had to fight in the war. Maybe he’d been a soldier at the beginning. Unless he’d just been a casualty. Thinking about what these people had endured made her heart ache.
He headed in a different direction.
She ran up to him. “Excuse me.”
The man stopped. His eyes widened when he saw her.
“Do you work here?” she asked.
He blinked. “I do.”
“Finally.”
He studied her with probing green eyes. “Who might you be?”
“I’m Izzy. I arrived this morning from the United States.”
“Welcome, Izzy.” His smile deepened the lines on his face. “I’m Dee.”
“Nice to meet you, Dee.” In spite of all the wrinkles, he was still attractive. He must have been really handsome when he was younger. She couldn’t help but think of Niko. “I’m in a bind. My bag with my clothing has disappeared. I searched the room, but can’t find it.”
“Oh, dear, that is quite a predicament.”
She nodded. “I don’t imagine trickster ghosts haunt this place?”
“No, though we do have our share of skeletons in the closet.”
“That’s what I figured.” She felt more comfortable with the staff than royalty. One more reason she wasn’t cut out to be a princess. “I’m sure you have work to do, but would you please tell me how I might locate Mare? She was assigned to help me, and I’m wondering if she knows where my bag might be.”
“Part of my job is making sure everything runs the way it is supposed to around here.”
“Oh, you’re the castle manager.”
“Something like that.” He sounded amused. “I don’t know where Mare is, but I know where we can find your clothes.”
“Great.”
Dee extended his arm. “Allow me to escort you.”
She took his arm. “Thanks.”
He walked with a steady stride. His leg didn’t slow him down. “What do you think of Vernonia so far, Izzy?”
“I didn’t see much during the drive from the airport, but this castle—” she looked up at a fresco painted on the ceiling “—it’s straight out of a fairy tale.”
“I hope the accommodations are to your liking.”
“They are lovely. Thank you,” she said. “I wanted to stay at a hotel, but Prince Niko wanted me to stay here. He said I would be more comfortable.”
“I hope you are comfortable.”
“I’ve only been here a few hours, but I’ve already had a nice nap and a wonderful shower.”
“An excellent start,” Dee said.
Izzy nodded. She wondered if Niko would agree. Earlier he couldn’t wait to get away from her. No doubt he wanted her visit to be a short one. At least they agreed on something.
“I believe what you seek is inside here.” Dee stopped in front of a pair of wide double doors and opened one of them. “These ballroom doors are heavier than they look.”
She peered inside and gasped. This wasn’t a ballroom. This was a clothing store.
Mannequins, decked out in elaborate outfits with matching accessories, fought for space on the parquet floor between racks of clothing and shoes. Stylishly dressed women bustled about in short skirts and high heels, carrying purses, lingerie and shoes. A mix of perfumes lingered in the air.
The room looked to be a pumped up, steroid-version of What Not to Wear. This was so not the kind of shopping Izzy had in mind. She struggled to breathe.
Some women might tingle with excitement at the thought of being let loose among all these clothes and shoes, but the sight filled Izzy with dread. Fashion didn’t interest her in the slightest. She was into comfort, not style. Worse, these women had gone to all this trouble for her. Niko and Jovan, too.
Near a three-paneled mirror, she noticed a man who looked out of place among all the feminine finery.
Not just a man. Niko.
He’d showered, shaved and changed suits. He looked like he had at the garage—hot. She wasn’t the only one who thought so. A few of the other women kept stealing glances.
Niko didn’t seem to notice. He was engaged in a conversation with a gorgeous blonde supermodel. Feeling more out of place than before, Izzy crossed her arms over her stomach.
Dee cleared his throat.
Conversations stopped. Women froze in place. Heads bowed. Eyes lowered.
“What’s happening?” she whispered and moved closer to Dee.
“Do not worry.” He smiled down at her. “Everything is fine, Izzy.”
Niko stared intently at her, making her question the fine part. “What are you—”
“Izzy’s bag with her clothing disappeared from her room,” Dee said, rather bravely Izzy thought considering the fierce expression on Niko’s face. “I offered her my assistance.”
“The women needed her sizes so they borrowed her bag, Father.”
Realization hit Izzy between the eyes. She inhaled sharply. “Dee as in Dmitar.”
“Yes, my dear,” Dee said.
“Oh, no.” Her cheeks burned. She pulled the robe tighter as if she could somehow disappear into its folds. “You’re the king, the one who emailed me about the box, and I’m an idiot.”
“Father—”
King Dmitar held up his hand the way Niko had done with Jovan.
Niko remained silent. Izzy had forgotten about that trick, but made a note to remember it for later.
“You’re not an idiot, Izzy,” King Dmitar said kindly. “You are delightful. I see the best of your parents in you.”
Emotion tightened her throat. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“As