Chapter 426

"Good lord, my love. It seemed like a year went by. I'm so glad to have you back." Christian said, embracing Nora.

"Are you sure it's ok that I brought all this stuff? It feels so real now, us living together." Nora said, smiling shyly.

"Yes. Of course it is. I want you here and I don't want another two weeks or even two days to pass without seeing you."' Christian said. "And soon, we will be married and being together will become even more easy on us both."

Nora smiled but it seemed like there was something behind it.

"I have the press interview lined up for this Tuesday." Christian said. "I cannot wait to introduce you to the world as my future wife."

He hugged her and she excused herself to her room to unpack. They decided they would have separate spaces for their personal belongings for now. And with the heaviness of the transition, Christian insisted Nora have a private space of her own to decompress.

"I'll see you at dinner." Christian said, leaving her and heading to his office. Erik was waiting for him when he arrived there.

"Your majesty." Erik said, greeting him.

"Hello cousin." Christian said without a glance. He could see Erik stiffen.

"Yes, um yes. Well, nice to see you. What is on the agenda today?" Erik asked.

Christian motioned him to sit. "I need some information."

"Alright." Erik said, inquisitively.

"How many royals have had private weddings?" Christian asked.

"Private?" Erik asked, obviously wanting more elaboration.

"Yes. A non-public wedding." Christian clarified.

"Your mother and myself, for one." He said quietly.

"What? What do you mean? I was told you have a large, televised wedding." Christian said.

"We did, yes. But it wasn't the first ceremony. We had a private wedding. At a medieval era church in the middle of a field in Scotland. I wanted your mother to feel what we had was something sacred. Something just for us." Erik explained, looking off in the distance nostalgically.

"I had no idea." Christian said. "I am interested in doing something similar, with Nora."

Erik's eyes lit up. "I would be honored, honored greatly to be the one to assist you with the planning if that's what you desire to do." Erik said, smiling.

"Perfect. Please look into some options." Christian said. "Oh, and please keep this between us."

"Of course." Erik said. He stood up and bowed, leaving the room. Christian smiled. This was what he needed to do. This would bring them back to where they were in the beginning. Before it all went public. When it was just himself and his Nora.

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"You're late." Nora said, kissing Christian's cheek.

"You're luminous." Christian said, twirling her and admiring her little black dress.

"You're forgiven." She said, smiling radiantly.

"Shall we?" He asked, extending his arm.

"Yes." She said. He escorted her to the private dining room adjacent to the palace garden. There were candles and flowers adorning the table.

"Christian, this is beautiful." She said.

"I wanted to make your first night back something special." He said. A man carrying a violin walked in and began to play "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik".

Christian pulled out her chair and poured her wine. "Wow. This is incredible." Nora said.

They dined and talked and laughed. Sharing stories about their time apart. Christian was working on getting her new salon established in London.

After dinner, he took her hand and walked her back to his bedroom.

"I've missed you, my Nora." He whispered as he unzipped her dress.

"Yours." She said with a shudder as he ran his hands along her spine, kissing her neck.

They made love and spent the rest of the night in each other's arms, silently sharing the bed and the world.