Chapter 7 - The Palace at Valencia
The Kingdom of Valencia was a breathtaking coastal country nestled between steep limestone cliffs and the crystal-clear azure waters of the Mediterranean.
When the royal jet landed in the capital city of Solaria, the streets were lined with thousands of citizens waving both Valencian and American flags. News of the Navy Commander who had saved Prince Julian years ago—and subsequently saved Prince Alexander from a fraudulent marriage—had made me a folk hero among the populace.
I was escorted to the Royal Palace, a magnificent sixteenth-century stone fortress built on a cliffside overlooking the sea.
My father accompanied me, wearing a brand-new, custom-tailored dark suit that Alexander had personally arranged for him. He walked through the marble halls with his head held high, his hands resting comfortably in his pockets, no longer feeling like an outsider.
That evening, a grand state dinner was held in the Mirror Gallery of the palace.
I sat at the head table directly between King George and Prince Alexander. Across from us sat Prince Julian—the man I had pulled out of the stormy ocean ten years ago—now a healthy thirty-four-year-old naval captain himself, raising his glass to me in a silent toast of lifelong gratitude.
"To Commander Emily Carter," King George announced, standing up with his crystal glass raised. "A woman of honor, courage, and unyielding integrity. May her courage inspire our nation for generations to come!"
"To Commander Carter!" hundreds of voices echoed through the hall.
Later that night, after the banquet had ended and the music had softened into a gentle violin melody, Alexander led me out onto the private terrace overlooking the sea. The moon was full, casting a silver pathway across the quiet water.
"It's a long way from Virginia, isn't it?" Alexander asked, leaning against the stone balustrade beside me.
"It's breathtaking," I admitted, looking at the distant lights of the fishing boats anchored in the harbor. "I used to think my sister's dream of this place was ridiculous. But now that I’m here... I understand why someone would want to be part of it."
"Rachel wanted the fortress, Emily," Alexander said softly, turning to face me. "She wanted the walls, the titles, and the armor to hide behind. But a kingdom isn't made of stone. It's made of the people who protect it."
He reached out, his hand gently covering mine on the cold stone rail. His touch was warm and steady.
"When I first saw you stepping out of that SUV in your uniform," Alexander whispered, "I didn't see a military officer enforcing protocol. I saw the most authentic, grounded person I had ever met in my life. And every day since then, I have found myself falling deeper in love with your strength."
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My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. "Alexander... I’m a naval commander. My life is in Norfolk, on ships, in command rooms."
"And my life is here," he replied, a small, hopeful smile appearing on his lips. "But oceans are meant to be crossed, Emily. And if a storm comes... I know there is no pilot in the world I would rather trust my heart to than you."
