Page 106 of Royally Matched

His features relax. “I don't know quite what to say. You are very gracious, Sofia.”

“Not gracious. Just happy that one of us is getting what we want.”

He raises a brow in question.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I say, feeling the sudden need for air.

There really is a certain irony in being dumped bysomeone you’re not even in a relationship with in the middle of a wedding reception.

I weave my way through the guests, spying an exit. I dash through it, out into a wide hallway, lined with mirrors. It’s impossible not to look at my reflection. My red Chanel skirt suit is tailored perfectly for me, my usual string of pearls in place where it always is, my hair pinned up neatly at the nape of my neck.

So very different from that cornflower blue dress I wore in Monteluce with my hair flying free, happy.

Without overthinking it, I grab the pins at the nape of my neck and yank them out, tousling my hair with my fingers. When I look back at my reflection, I see a hint of the woman I was in Monteluce—not Princess Sofia. Not the tightly controlled, poised woman who follows all the rules. But a woman on a grand adventure. A woman in love.

That’s who I want to be. That’s who Ineedto be.

Voices pierce my thoughts, and I jerk my attention to the door at the end of the hallway as it swings open. In sweeps an exuberant Alex and Maddie, the very picture of love.

“Is that you, Sofe?” Alex says as they move down the hallway toward me.

“Are you okay?” Maddie asks.

“I’m fine,” I bluff, plastering on a smile.

“Your hair looks… different,” Alex observes and immediately, I smooth it down with my hands, pushing it behind my shoulders.

“Don’t. It looks pretty,” Maddie says. She adjusts my hair over one shoulder. “Beautiful Sofia. You should always wear your hair like this.”

My throat tightens before I shake my head. “What am I thinking? Congratulations, you two. You make the moststunning couple and I’m so happy for you.” I clasp both their hands in mine, planting kisses on their cheeks.

“We are kinda hot today,” Maddie agrees, grinning at her new husband.

“The hottest,” Alex agrees, and to my horror, tears threaten my eyes. I try my best to blink them away.

Alex shoots me a concerned look before he whispers something to Maddie.

“Silly me. I forgot something in the carriage. You two catch up. I’ll be back in five,” she says, and with a sweep of her lace dress, she dashes down the hallway, leaving Alex and me alone.

“Okay. Level with me. What’s going on?” he asks.

“Nothing. I’m fine,” I choke out.

“Convincing.”

I sniff and he pulls a freshly pressed white handkerchief from his pocket and hands it to me. “You always were the gentleman,” I say as I blow my nose.

“You can keep that one,” he says with a light laugh. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on? Because I’ve kind of got a thing of my own going on right now,” he says softly, and suddenly I don’t want to keep it all in, allowing my feelings to fester. I want to tell someone what I’ve been through, how I feel.

“I’ve fallen in love,” I tell him simply, echoing the very words Enzo just told me.

Is that ironic? I think it is.

He clutches my hands in his. “But that’s a good thing, no?”

“It should be, but it’s not,” I croak.

“He might not be the person I would choose for you, but I’m sure Enzo is a good enough bloke under all the pomp and superiority.”