Royal S.O.B. (A Bad Boy Romance) by Kaitlyn Kevette Page B

her from
around the world.

 
    Strangely,
though it was her golden hour, she felt no animosity towards the prince. That
was then, this was now; that was how royalty behaved, this was how commoners
(or commoners-turned-royalty) responded. She felt at peace, and walked to
collect her shield full of positivity.

 
    The
prince was gentility personified as she approached. She curtseyed as before,
and he responded with a nod and a bow this time. The shield was passed on to
the prince by the dean, and in his turn, the prince handed it over to Addie –
amidst more applause and the media going crazy.

 
    The
award given, the prince extended his arm for the customary handshake. A moment
– would she take it, would she not – and she reached forward to take it. The
prince shook it with warmth, and the moment was over.

 
    She
walked back, with the same humility in her gait as always. The applause had not
died down, the cameras were still purring away. Shutting it all out from her
ears and from her head, she went quietly and sat down in her chair next to
Cate. Her best friend was thumping her back, smiling a million watts, as the
media cameras were still trained on them, showing two friends in celebration.

 
    The
ceremony over, everyone started dispersing. Even as the cameras were being
dismantled, they were covering her and Cate, as much as they were also hounding
the prince, who was still on stage.

Suddenly, someone came over and whispered something in Addie's ear.

 
    "Oh?"
she said as she looked towards the stage.

 
    The
prince smiled, and waved back at her. He wanted a minute of her time, and she
had to oblige.

 
    "I'll
be back in a minute," she announced, thrusting the shield into Cate's lap.

 
    She
waded through the crowd and reached the stage. The prince was waiting to the
side, his aides standing a little distance away. Cameras came alive as if by
magic, trailing her throughout, till she reached the prince; then they started
covering both of them.

 
    "Hello,
Princess Adelaide," said Kenrick, a distinct change in his manner from
last time.

 
    "Hello,
Prince Kenrick," Addie answered, taking care not to miss any of the
critical words as required by royal protocol.

 
    "What
about my invite?" His voice was down to a whisper.

 
    "Which
invite?"

 
    She
could not place what he was saying – for an instant.

 
    "And
there, ladies and gentlemen, the two royal siblings having a word with each
other!"

 
    This
was the voice of a live announcer for one of the television channels.

 
    "His
Highness Prince Kenrick is seen here congratulating Her Highness Princess
Adelaide on being the most talented student in the university… This, ladies and
gentleman, is a display of brotherly affection for his dear younger sister…
Yes, loyal listeners, the royals are as much human as the rest of us… And
here's a brilliant testimony to that fact…"

 
    The
cameras focused on this stepbrother and stepsister displaying sibling
affection.

 
    "You're
fascinating," whispered Prince Kenrick.  

Chapter Twenty-Four

 
 
    Kenrick
was not sure if it was love.
    He found her fascinating, that was true. He also had a tender feeling for her.
But then again, he found a butterfly fascinating, too. And on a good day, he
could feel something tender for an alley cat. Neither of these meant he was in
love with such subjects.

 
    His
wild attraction for her was a fact. And it was reinforced when he saw her that
evening at the university event. That was the first time he had seen her after
his infamous visit to her chambers; it was less than a week since then, but it
had felt like ages to Kenrick.

 
    Another
thing. Though he met her that day in her chambers, it seemed to him that he had
not 'seen' her properly. It somehow appeared like an out of focus picture in
his mind. Only yesterday on the dais had he seen her up close. Her face was
inches away from his as he was whispering to her.

 
    It
was there he