Helen pursed her lips in a smile. "That Babur would probably explode if he knew Max wasn''t marrying Lily. After all the scheming he''s done."


    "What''s his endgame?"


    I suddenly couldn''t figure out what Babur was after. He had watched Garrett''s rule for years, saw it as inadequate, and stepped in to help govern, but he never tried to seize the throne.


    "He''s after your mother''s ashes. To be buried with him."


    Helen''s sudden serious expression made me want to facepalm. I was speechless.


    "The man''s a little crazy."


    "Isn''t he? And isn''t Mr. Hilton crazy too? What hasn''t he done for you?" Helen deliberately teased me, and I could only cover my face in embarrassment.


    The idea of Babur wanting my mother''s ashes for a joint burial was truly insane.


    "Master, you''ve arrived?" The servant''s voice pulled me back to reality. I looked toward the door and saw Max dressed in the royal family''s formal tailcoat. I realized his regal bearing came from the fact that he was born to inherit a throne.


    He walked in with his hands behind his back, a smile ying on his lips. I knew this must be his happiest day.


    “What is it?” He saw me staring and knelt down, cing a hand on my knee.


    Helen and the servant quickly scurried out, closing the door behind them.


    “I was just thinking how handsome you are. So noble, almost untouchable."


    He squeezed my hand. "I am yours, ire Floyd, in life and in death."


    I squeezed his hand back. “How did you get Babur to leave? Didn''t he want to confirm my identity?"


    "To him, it doesn''t matter if it''s you or Lily. Now that Richard is the Emperor of Bravend and you''re his sister, something he figured out long ago, he''s just looking for leverage. He only ever held power to wait for my return, to threaten me into giving him your mother''s ashes. That''s why in both our lifetimes, I''ve been the one safeguarding them because someone has always been plotting."


    Max seemed a little proud of his wless n.


    "So what about now? What did you promise Babur to make him leave?"


    “I promised him a chance to be buried with her when he dies. He believed me. He''s easily fooled when ites to anything rted to your mother.”


    He was killing Babur by using my mother as the de.


    "So he definitely won''t start a coup now?"


    "He won''t. But... others might..." As Max spoke, his eyes lowered, and an unsettling coldness emanated from him.


    He wasn''t going to tell me more.


    I decided to change the subject; asking would be useless since I couldn''t help anyway.


    "I picked out ss slippers for you, but Helen said only Cindere wears those so I got these instead." Max pulled a stroebox out of Helen case. Inside was a pair of white


    high-top sneakers.


    I couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    "Helen is messing with you."


    "I had an embroidery master stitch these wedding shoes. Every line of the pattern


    has our names in it."


    I looked closely and saw an embroidered pattern made from our initials.


    "High heels get tiring. I also prepared these."


    He Ped a pair of light blue sparkling diamonds that were el


    stiletto heels, covered in fine,


    perfect match for my gown


    "Max, I want to wear the heels. They match my dress."


    He agreed with a smile. "I also think my taste is better."


    Ha-ha.


    I couldn''t help butugh.


    “But the engagement ceremony will be long. Wear the heels for a little while, then


    change into the ts."


    "I''ll carry them for you, then."


    I watched as he packed everything


    would I


    all himself, and even knelt down to


    eed into a case, organize et


    put my shoes on for me. >


    He didn''t act like royalty at all. A true romantic, it ran in the family.