The king pulled my seat out for me as I gently sat on the fine wooden chair at the left-hand side of the king, while the queen sat at his right hand and the princess beside her mother. The princess was just two years younger than the prince and had a very charming but intimidating appearance that screamed royalty from afar.

Simon had also joined us at the table, sitting beside the princess; I noticed a red flush on her face the moment he sat beside her and assumed they were ...