Hand-Me-Down Princess by Carol Moncado Read Free Book Online

overlooking Erres, belong to William, though he’s not moved in just yet. My sister will take either the apartment below ours or the one below William’s. When William’s heir comes of age, as long as William is already king, he or she will move into what is currently my parents’ apartment unless William and his wife choose to. Basically, the two floor apartments belong to the monarch and the Crown Prince or Princess, but it’s not specific to either one.”
    “Got it.” Maybe.
    “If there’s a location that needs a security code and you’re not certain if you’re allowed in the area, punch in the passcode you’ll set. If the door opens, you’re welcome. If not, it’s an area that’s off limits for some reason. And if you ever don’t have your phone or tablet with you, you can use the touch pad to call the security office, and they’ll either direct you to where you need to go or send someone for you. I grew up there, often exploring the unoccupied apartments and the offices and so on, and sometimes I still need to think a minute about where I need to go. It will take you some time to figure it out, and anyone will be happy to help you.”
    She ran her fingers over the sleek screen. “So if I wanted to visit with your great-grandmother, how would I do that?” He walked her setting a starting point since they weren’t at the palace, then through finding the correct name, and the app gave her three options. One took her outside since the shortest way was to cut across the courtyard and the other two took her through different sections of the palace.
    By the time he finished showing her as much as he could while driving, they were in the mountains. Jessabelle could practically feel the tension radiating off of him as they wound up the partially ice-covered road.
    “This road’s a lot more fun when I can open it up a bit. We’ll come back in the summer sometime when the roads are clear, and we can go faster.”
    Jessabelle simply nodded. She wasn’t sure she’d like taking the hairpin curves at a much higher rate of speed. She watched the landscape pass until they rolled to a stop behind the sedan as it waited for the wrought iron gates to open. The long tree-lined drive gave way to a view of an enormous rock house, a mini-castle, Jessabelle supposed. Much smaller than the palace, but definitely very castle-like.
    “What do you think?” Prince Malachi leaned towards her, grinning as he pulled to a stop at the front.
    “It’s nice.” Really she just wanted to get out of the corset and garters. It made sitting incredibly uncomfortable and was nothing she would have chosen to wear. But everything she wore for the wedding had been chosen for her. She prayed there would be some nice lady who she could ask to take pity on her and help with the closures in the back.
    Prince Malachi exited the vehicle while she reached down to put the phone and tablet back in her bag. By the time she finished, he had opened her door and held out a hand. Jessabelle gave him a small smile as she took it. “Thank you,” she whispered.
    He leaned closer, closing the door behind her. “My pleasure.”
    Her hand remained nestled in his as he led the way up to a side door. They didn’t see anyone as they walked through the hallways and up two flights of stairs. So much for hoping she could find help getting out of the uncomfortable clothing. Would she, at some point, have to ask Prince Malachi for assistance? Her face colored as he opened a heavy wooden door.
    “Our home away from home for the next two weeks.” Prince Malachi turned and grinned at her.
    Rather than the formal atmosphere the apartment in the palace, this suite was far more relaxed. More informal. Plush couches and chairs inhabited a living area dominated by a stone fireplace and flanked by gigantic windows looking at the snow-covered Alps of northern Mevendia. One of the far slopes contained skiers winding their way down the fresh snow. Flames licked at the