Page 110 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
Father froze, looking from the wine bottle to Milton. “Perhaps you have a point, Milton.” He released the bottle and stood, clearing his throat even as he wobbled on his feet. “We will depart for the hunting grounds at eight a.m. promptly tomorrow morning.”
I nodded.
“Your Majesty, Sir Chester will escort you to your room.” Milton handed my father over to one of the knights.
“Yes, yes, thank you.” Father stopped and turned, grinning widely at Alicia. “Goodnight, dear daughter!”
Alicia blushed. “Goodnight, Your Majesty.”
“Say it! Call me Father!”
She pressed her hands to her red cheeks and closed her eyes. “Goodnight, Father-in-Law.”
“Aha! I accept! Did you hear that, Chester? I finally have a daughter!”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Sir Chester said flatly, taking his arm. “I’m very happy for you.”
“Isn’t she lovely?”
“Quite so, sire. Prince Kalon is very lucky.”
“She called me father-in-law!”
I buried my face in my hands as his chattering petered out the further away from us that he got. “I have no words.”
Milton sniffed. “You know better than to allow him to drink so much, Your Highness.”
“He’s the Emperor. You’re the only one who can stop him, Milton,” I replied, sitting up straight and looking across at Alicia.
Her hands were flat against her red cheeks, but she was giggling. “I can’t believe I just called theEmperorthat!”
“I daresay you’ve made his day, darling,” I said, getting up. “But we should follow my father’s lead and return to Rose Palace. You’ve had quite a lot of wine.”
She gripped my arm and gazed up at me with pleading eyes. “Can we take the rest of that wine? It would be a shame to waste it.”
“Are you proposing we drink together?”
“I will share it with Bella!”
I stared flatly at her. “Absolutely not.”
“Fine, we can share.” She pouted. “You can’t say not to that can you,honey?”
Honey.
She called me honey.
Fuck.
I coughed into my hand as my cheeks heated up. “Very well.”
“I will arrange to have it sent over to Rose Palace,” Milton said, clearing his throat. “My lady, please allow His Highness to escort you back to your quarters.”
“You’re so nice, Milton. Just like Caldwell and Ark.” Alicia sighed as she got up. “And you’re so handsome for an older man, too.”
“That’s enough of that.” I bent my knees and swept her into my arms. “Put your arms around my neck.”
“Teehee. Princess carry! I thought this only happened in books.” She touched her fingers to my mouth. “Oh! I forgot this is a book!”
