Luc POV
The shining city spread out before his motorcade as if opening its arms to welcome him home. The conquering hero. The spires of the palace reached up to the sky,. a beacon in the distance. His destination.
He gripped Irina's hand, leaning close to the window to look out at the passing Mediterranean-style city that blended the elegance of Greek and Italian architecture with Eastern European sensibilities, and also looked modern. He saw the city with fresh eyes. A king's eyes.
He would be the king now. His parents had ruled long enough. Decades on the throne. t was now his turn to wear the crown. Of course, he'd let his parents out of the dungeon, first thing, and give them a role at court. They could be advisors. Yes, that was it. They'd be superb advisors, helping him learn the ropes and navigate the demands of ruling a kingdom.
"I love this city," he professed. "It's so much more beautiful than, say, Paris."
