Divorce ME, Then Regret Me

Chapter Three

The Princess Behind the Mask

Aurora had a problem.

She couldn't stop thinking about Lorenzo De Luca.

Three days had passed since their encounter beneath the oak tree, and yet his face kept appearing in her mind at the most inconvenient moments.

The worst part?

She wasn't even sure why.

The man was arrogant.

Annoying.

And apparently believed he owned trees.

Yet every time she remembered the look on his face when she'd asked if he'd bought the oak tree, she found herself smiling.

"You're doing it again."

Aurora blinked.

Across the table, Lily narrowed her eyes.

"Doing what?"

"Smiling at absolutely nothing."

Aurora looked down at her textbook.

"I wasn't smiling."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

"You absolutely were."

A laugh escaped Aurora before she could stop it.

Lily immediately pointed at her.

"There! You just did it again."

Aurora shook her head.

"You need a hobby."

"I have one."

"What?"

"Investigating suspicious behavior."

Aurora groaned.

"Please don't."

"It's too late."

Lily leaned forward dramatically.

"Who is he?"

"No one."

"Aurora."

"No one."

"The answer came too quickly."

Aurora threw a pen at her friend.

Lily caught it with a grin.

"I knew it."

"You know nothing."

"I know you're smiling like a woman with a secret."

Aurora opened her mouth to argue.

Then her phone vibrated.

The screen lit up.

Grandfather.

The smile immediately disappeared from her face.

Lily noticed.

"You okay?"

Aurora nodded.

"Yeah."

But the truth wasn't that simple.

Because one phone call was enough to remind her of who she really was.

And what she could never escape.

Aurora stepped outside before answering.

"Hello, Grandfather."

"Aurora."

His deep voice carried the same authority it always had.

Even through a phone.

"How are your studies?"

She smiled.

"Is that your way of asking why I haven't visited?"

A pause.

"Perhaps."

Aurora laughed softly.

King Alexander Kingsley ruled a kingdom.

Yet somehow he was incapable of hiding concern for his granddaughter.

"I'm fine."

"You always say that."

"Because it's true."

Another pause.

Then:

"When are you coming home?"

Aurora looked around the university courtyard.

Students rushed between classes.

Friends laughed together.

Someone was playing music near the fountain.

Nobody bowed when she walked past.

Nobody called her "Your Highness."

Nobody expected perfection.

Here, she could simply exist.

And she loved it.

"I'll come this weekend."

"You promised that last week."

"I mean it this time."

"I'll believe it when I see you."

Aurora smiled.

"Fair enough."

After ending the call, she stared at her reflection in the dark phone screen.

For a moment, she looked like any other student.

But appearances could be deceiving.

Sunday arrived too quickly.

By afternoon, Aurora found herself standing before the enormous gates of Kingsley Palace.

The sight never failed to leave her conflicted.

It was beautiful.

The palace stood proudly against the skyline, its towers rising above perfectly manicured gardens.

To outsiders, it looked like a fairytale.

To Aurora, it felt like a reminder.

A reminder of responsibilities.

Of expectations.

Of a future she wasn't sure she wanted.

The moment she stepped inside, the familiar routine began.

Staff members bowed.

"Welcome home, Your Highness."

Aurora forced a polite smile.

"Thank you."

A servant took her coat.

Another offered tea.

A third informed her that the king was waiting.

Nothing had changed.

Nothing ever did.

By the time she reached her grandfather's private study, she already felt exhausted.

The large wooden doors opened.

King Alexander looked up from his desk.

Immediately, his stern expression softened.

"There you are."

Aurora smiled.

"There I am."

The king stood and pulled her into a brief hug.

It was one of the few moments when he felt less like a king and more like a grandfather.

"Have you eaten?" he asked.

Aurora laughed.

"Hello to you too."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

He studied her carefully.

"You look happy."

The observation caught her off guard.

"Do I?"

"You do."

Aurora looked away.

For some reason, an image of Lorenzo flashed through her mind.

The oak tree.

The argument.

The unexpected laugh.

Her grandfather noticed the change immediately.

His eyes narrowed.

"Interesting."

Aurora froze.

"What?"

"I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking something."

The king smiled knowingly.

Aurora groaned.

"I walked right into that one."

A laugh rumbled from his chest.

Then, gradually, the amusement disappeared.

His expression became serious.

Too serious.

Aurora immediately noticed.

The room suddenly felt different.

"What is it?"

Without answering, the king opened a drawer.

He removed a file and placed it on the desk between them.

Aurora frowned.

"What's that?"

"A problem."

The king's voice was calm.

Too calm.

Slowly, Aurora reached for the file.

When she opened it, her breath caught.

A photograph stared back at her.

Dark hair.

Cold gray eyes.

Tailored black suit.

Lorenzo De Luca.

Aurora looked up sharply.

Her grandfather's expression was unreadable.

"Why do you have a file on him?"

The king folded his hands.

"Because, Aurora..."

His gaze settled on the photograph.

"...the De Luca family is about to become involved in something far more dangerous than they realize."

Aurora felt a chill run down her spine.

And for the first time, she wondered if meeting Lorenzo beneath that oak tree had been an accident at all.