“I think that's reason enough,” she said, with a chuckle. “A boy like you needs to be checked in upon, as I'm not certain you can take care of yourself.”
Marco cleared his throat, and took a seat in a wooden chair at the corner of the living room. The memory of the dream he had had the day before flashed into his mind, where Magdalena's snarling face had shown up in the clouds. He could see it now, imagining her in the same form as she spoke.
“You've accomplished what you needed to then,” Marco said. “You've checked in on me and I've told you that I will most certainly be at the ball. If that's all you wanted, then I must let you go. I've things to do and places to see and don't have a moment to spare.”
“I certainly wouldn't want to interrupt your vacation more than I already have,” she said, sarcastically. “I'll go and tell your sick father that you're having fun while he's in bed. I'm sure that's exactly what he wants to hear.”
“Tell him whatever you want, stepmother,” Marco said. “I'm sure by now he knows that most of what you say is a lie anyhow.”
“You sound more like a commoner every day you're away,” she replied.
“Good day, Magdalena,” he said.
Without giving her a chance to respond, he hung up the phone and tossed it onto the couch nearby. He let out an agitated sigh as he kicked his feet up onto the coffee table in the center of the living room. His hands were clenched in anger.
Sometimes I wonder what happened in that woman's life that turned her into such a horrible human being, he thought.
His attention moved toward the bedroom, when he saw Sabrina standing in the doorway. Her hair was a mess and she let out a yawn, at the same time rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hands.
Oh no, I must have woken her, he thought. I was speaking so loudly.
“Good morning,” he said. “Did I wake you?”
Sabrina nodded as she took a seat on the couch across from Marco.
“I've been awake for a little bit. Your phone woke me a few minutes ago,” she said. “Sorry to be nosey, but I heard your phone conversation.”
Marco swallowed, realizing that most of his conversation with Magdalena would be sure to raise questions for Sabrina.
“My stepmother is a witch,” Marco
said with a smile, in an attempt to lift his mood.
“It sounded like you don't get along very well with her,” Sabrina said. “Did I hear you say something about a ball?”
“You did,” Marco said.
“A ball is being held at your home?” she asked, covering her mouth as she yawned. “That sounds rather fancy.”
Marco sighed and nodded his head. “Sabrina, I need to tell you some things that you don't know about me. I've hidden a lot from you and I think it's time to lay everything out on the table.”
Sabrina sat up on the edge of the couch and leaned forward, bringing her elbows to her knees. Her eyebrows rose and she seemed extremely eager to hear what Marco had to say.
“I couldn't agree more,” she said. “I know that I already agreed to move with you to your home, but I need to know more about you before I can say for sure that it's what I want to do.”
“I understand,” he said. “But before I tell you, please realize that the only reason I haven't given you this information until now is because I had no clue that I'd fall for you so hard. If you had stayed as just my employee, this all would have remained a secret.”
“I know,” she said, with a comforting smile. “The only reason I haven't looked it up is because I was your employee, but I think I should know what I'm getting myself into.”
Marco's heart beat rapidly in his chest. This girl who sat across from him deserved to know who he was, but he feared that it would be shocking to her. He hoped that news of his royal blood would not be something that would sway her from wanting to be with him.
“Do you remember yesterday, when I told you where I came from?” he asked.
Sabrina nodded. “Of course. You said Orsino Island.”
“Yes,” he said. “But that's not the whole story. Orsino Island is not only where I reside, but is also the country that my family rules.”
She stayed silent, her eyes sharpening as Marco spoke.