Royal Mistake #6 Read online

  I stiffen. “You know I can’t grant you that.”

  “You must be willing to compromise somewhere,” he says. “I want that valley. It rightfully belongs to my country. You might humiliate my daughter and go back on your word, but I will never stop fighting for what is rightfully mine.”

  “I can’t give you land any more than I can give you the scepter,” I say. “My father still controls—”

  “Your father is in a hospital bed,” he says. “He may very well be taking his last breaths as we speak. You could be king in a matter of days, and when that happens, I will have what is mine.” He rises from his seat. “You publicly defy me. You refuse to pay your debts. And rather than show any shame for such behavior, you parade your little harlot in front of me when I am a guest in your country. I will not stand for this.” He’s no longer looking at me. Instead, his sharp gaze is locked on Victoria. “I will not be insulted in this manner. If that means going to war, then I am prepared to do so. And I’m prepared to drag you and your little whore down with me.”

  Victoria

  This has gone too far. I don’t know how many times I have to say it to myself to actually start believing it.

  The man sitting across from us is threatening war. War. Because of the choices Andrew has made and continues to make. I don’t know why he can’t see the same thing I do—this whole situation can be fixed with one very simple solution.

  He needs to marry Justine.

  How many times in history have people had to give up the person they love for the betterment of a country? Or the world? I can only imagine the number is staggering, and it doesn’t seem too far-fetched that we need to add our relationship to the nameless mix.

  It seems like such an easy solution—it’s the one Andrew should have chosen as soon as it became apparent he wasn’t going to win this political battle for the royal scepter. He made a mistake that night in Prague—a huge one. And I get that he doesn’t feel like he should have to continue to pay for it for the rest of his life, but sometimes… Sometimes that’s exactly what has to happen.

  Sort of like how I’m going to be paying for his mistake for the rest of my life. Something about the way my stomach is twisting around on itself—the way my heart is doing the exact same thing—tells me I’m never going to get over this. Over Andrew. But I can’t allow a war to start over me. I realize the issues between King Edmund and King Maximilian go beyond my relationship with Andrew, but having him parade me in front of King Max, making his public proclamation on television… It isn’t helping the political situation at all. If anything, it’s made it about a million times worse.

  My gaze is fixed on the glass of brandy Andrew set in front of me a few minutes ago. There’s no way I’m allowing myself to take even a sip—I don’t need alcohol to cloud my judgment on this issue. I know exactly what I need to do.

  I clear my throat. “King Maximilian, would you consider—”

  Andrew’s hand tightens almost painfully on my thigh and he shoots me a sidelong glare. “King Maximilian, I’ll not have you disrespecting a member of my family in such a manner—”

  “Ha,” King Maximilian interrupts. “She’s hardly a member of your family. Nor is she royal or even of noble blood. And don’t think for a moment I haven’t noticed her lack of grace.” He sneers in my direction without actually looking at me. “You could have at least—”

  “Enough.” I grab Andrew by the wrist and remove his hand from my leg. “I…I’ve heard enough.” I stand, smoothing down my dress. “I don’t care if it’s rude for me to address you, King Maximilian. I’m going to do it, anyway. I—”

  “Victoria.” Andrew’s voice is almost a growl. “Sit.”

  My brow rises in response and I shoot him my own glare. “I might be uncultured. Not noble or royal. But I’m hardly a dog, Andrew.”

  King Max snickers.

  I turn my glare to the king. “I’m backing out. Of…of…” I motion toward Andrew. “Of all of it.” I turn my gaze back to Andrew. “I love you. I’ll always love you. But I’m not going to allow you to go to war over this. Over me.”

  Andrew shakes his head. “It’s hardly a matter of only the two of us, Victoria. Our political situation with Maximilian’s country has been simmering for some time. This is merely—”

  “Let the girl speak.” King Max interrupts with a flourishing wave of his arm in my direction. “She’s made more sense in the last sixty seconds than Montovia has in the past sixty years.”

  I press my lips together, looking between the two men. “As I was trying to ask, King Maximilian…” I clear my throat and turn my gaze to the older man. “Would you consider putting this entire issue to rest if Andrew were to marry Princess Justine?”

  “She deserves a far better man than this putrid excuse for a prince.” He glares at Andrew for a second before flicking his gaze to me for the briefest moment. He looks back over at Andrew and sneers. “But yes, to avoid sending my citizens to war, I would consider it. And as a token of my appreciation, I would release my family’s interest in the scepter, as previously agreed. But because you have…inconvenienced me and my daughter…” His lip curls up into an even bigger sneer. “As a token of Montovia’s appreciation, you will release your interest in the Amhurst Valley.”

  Andrew’s mouth has fallen open and he’s shaking his head. “First of all, as I said, the rights to the Amhurst Valley are not mine to negotiate. It would take an act by the King of Montovia to enact that into law. It would also only be fair to the citizens that it at least be put to a fair and democratic vote—”

  “I would be amenable to a vote.” King Max’s lips curl into the first genuine smile I’ve seen. “As I’m sure you’re aware, the citizens of the Amhurst Valley have been dissatisfied with their citizenship status in Montovia for the past century. If your country were actually fair—”

  “You…you didn’t allow me to finish.” Andrew almost sounds out of breath. His hand is curled so tightly around his brandy it looks like the glass might shatter at any moment. “I have already asked for Victoria’s hand in marriage. And she has accepted—”

  “I see no ring. There has been no official announcement.” King Max’s smile grows impossibly wide. “So it should be little matter for the two of you to amicably part with little fanfare. I know you made an ass of yourself on television this morning, but that, too, can be easily rectified.”

  Andrew’s head is shaking—almost violently. “No. No, I won’t allow my future to be dictated—”

  “No one is dictating your future, Prince Andrew. You chose your own future when you went to Prague and participated in your little game with my son. A game I’m told you were not invited to. Your brother was the one who had initially been invited.”

  Andrew’s face falls and he squeezes his eyes closed for a moment. “I will not allow you or my father to decide my fate—”

  The king’s hand balls into a fist. “No one has decided your fate but you, Prince Andrew. And the fact that you refuse to acknowledge that—”

  “He’s right.” My voice doesn’t even sound like my own. For as meek and small as I’ve felt since I entered this room a little while ago, my voice sounds strong, almost ferocious. “You did this, Andrew. It was your mistake. And I…” Tears well in my eyes for a moment, but I force them back. “I don’t want to be dragged into the middle of it. Not when the fix is so easy.”

  King Max nods. “It is simple, isn’t it?” He turns his gaze back to Andrew. “Pity she isn’t a royal. I might have liked to introduce her to my son.”

  Andrew finally opens his eyes. “I will not be forced into a marriage with your daughter—”

  “You’re hardly being forced.” King Max’s gaze narrows a bit. “If you have another solution, I’m prepared to hear it.”

  “We’ll go to war.” Andrew’s jaw tightens. “If that is what must happen, then that is what must happen.”

  King Max shakes his head. “You will be hated as a ruler. Hated. Abhorred. You
would actually consider sending your own citizens to die in a war of your own making? One where there is an obvious political solution where no innocent civilians need be harmed? Because Andrew…” The king splays his hands on the table. “Innocents will be harmed. Could you really live with that on your conscience?”

  “I love Victoria.” Andrew stands, taking a step over to pull my hand into his. “We can come to a solution where no one need be harmed. One where—”

  “There is no other solution, Andrew.” I pull my hand away from his, turning to look into his eyes. “Don’t you see? If there was another way—”

  “We’ll find another way. We have to.” He presses his lips together—it looks like he’s trying to keep the emotions from playing across his face. “We have to.”

  King Max laughs and leans back in his chair. “Do you want to know what’s funny about this?”

  Andrew’s head snaps around and he glares at the king. “There is nothing funny about this.”

  The king’s smile widens. “What is funny about this is that I was in an almost identical situation years ago. Of course, I hadn’t behaved nearly as immaturely as you have—I never would have gambled away a national treasure the way you did. But I, too, was once in love with a commoner. And my father showed me why it would never work. Why my country would be better for a more appropriate marriage.”

  Andrew’s teeth almost gnash together. “My mother was a commoner. And she has served Montovia better than anyone—”

  “Ah, and your father was also a fool for marrying a commoner. You think your country has been better for his choices, but it is only because you are too close to the situation to see otherwise. To the rest of the world, it was a mockery. It was—”

  Andrew’s hands ball into fists. “You are in my home. In my mother’s home. And I’ll not have you speaking of her…of Victoria…of anyone—”

  The king stands behind the table, his hands curling to match Andrew’s. “I’ll speak in any manner I choose, Prince Andrew, as I am the one holding all the cards at the moment. You remember cards, do you not?”

  Andrew is stiff, almost shaking. “You’ll leave at once. I’ll call the Royal Military to the borders as soon as you are escorted from the premises—”

  “Andrew.” I reach for his forearm, squeezing it for a moment. My voice lowers to an almost soothing tone. “I don’t think threatening war is the answer. I know it isn’t the answer.”

  He turns his gaze to mine, looking into my eyes as he takes a few deep breaths.

  I nod at him before turning back to King Max. “I think your terms are more than fair. And you’re right—there’s been no ring exchanged. No announcement made—”

  “Only because…because it’s so…so recent.” Andrew shakes his head, lowering his voice to something above a whisper. “Victoria, please. This is not the answer.”

  “And war is?” I turn back to face him. “You might be able to live with the consequences of war on your conscience, but I’m not. I cannot… I will not. It isn’t worth it, Andrew. None of this is worth it. For either of us.”

  Andrew’s jaw tightens and he turns his gaze back to Max. “I’ll be presenting Victoria with a ring tonight. The formal announcement will be made tonight. All the arrangements for our immediate nuptials will be made tonight.”

  “No.” I shake my head. “They won’t. We’re not getting married tonight, Andrew. Your father is in the hospital. He might not make it through the day—”

  “Victoria.” There’s a warning in Andrew’s voice I haven’t heard before.

  But it doesn’t stop me. “I want a plane readied for my immediate departure. And…and if it will help…” I flick my gaze to Max before turning it back to Andrew. “You can have me banned from Montovia.”

  Andrew shakes his head. “Then we’ll be married tonight in your country. We can have the plane readied to go to Las Vegas. I’m sure we can find some members of the paparazzi willing to cover the ceremony.”

  “No. No, Andrew.” I close my eyes for a moment. This is the right thing to do. And not just to prevent a war. This sort of thing is sure to happen over and over if Andrew chooses to marry anyone but Justine. When I think about it, I have no choice but to admit to myself the one thing I’ve feared all along.

  I’m not good enough for him.

  Opening my eyes, I turn my gaze up to meet Andrew’s. “I love you. I always will. But I’m not going to marry you.”

  Andrew

  This can’t be happening. Everything is falling apart.

  Victoria is the only thing in my life that is right. The only thing keeping me together. She can’t be sincere when she says this is over.

  But as I look into her eyes, I realize how determined she truly is. And worse—I realize she’s right. As much as I love her, am I truly willing to risk bringing war to Montovia for my own selfish desires? Victoria is the other half of me, but we can’t let our love be used to destroy Montovia. I was born to serve this country, and serve it I must.

  Victoria’s eyes are dark with emotion. This isn’t even her country, and yet she’s willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the good of its people—and for me. She is the strongest, most selfless person I have ever known—and God, she would have made a wonderful queen. She would still make a wonderful queen, if only I can find us a way out of this.

  I must. I must find us a solution.

  “It’s the only way,” she says softly, her eyes never leaving mine. “You know this is right, Andrew.”

  It’s not right. It can never be right. But right now, it’s our only option.

  “I love you,” I tell her, not even caring how raw my voice sounds right now.

  “I love you, too,” she says.

  “This is all very touching,” comes King Maximilian’s voice, “but if you two are done behaving like emotional little fools, we have some business to attend to.”

  Victoria’s eyes flutter slightly, but she straightens her shoulders. “I think that’s my cue to go.” I start to protest, but she cuts me off. “I know this is important, Andrew. And since we’re no longer engaged, I’m only in the way here. I’ve already overstayed my welcome.”

  “Promise me you won’t leave the palace grounds,” I say.

  “Andrew—”

  “Promise me. Swear you won’t sneak off without telling me.”

  I can see the indecision in her eyes, but I can’t bear the thought of emerging from this meeting to find her gone. If she leaves now, I’m afraid I’ll never see her again.

  “Fine,” she says after a moment. “I promise.”

  The relief that rushes through me is almost as intense as the pain I feel right now.

  “I’ll come and find you after,” I tell her.

  She nods. “I should go now.” She throws a final glance over at King Maximilian, who’s staring at both of us as if we’re the scum beneath his feet.

  I feel emptier after she’s gone. I wanted her by my side for this. Needed her. But while her strength is gone, it’s been replaced by something just as powerful—anger. King Maximilian has destroyed our chance at happiness. He’s trying to manipulate and blackmail me into giving him exactly what he wants.

  And I refuse to play into his hands.

  I have no idea what I’m going to do or say. I’m not sure I’m politically experienced enough to match wits with this ruthless man. But I’m not going to let him beat me. I refuse.

  I stride back over to the table and stare him right in the eyes.

  “Are you ready to discuss business?” he asks me, condescension dripping from his tone.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Then let me begin by laying out my expectations.”

  He’s underestimating me already. It’s frustrating, but on the other hand, I know I can use his attitude to my advantage. He doesn’t realize how much I love Victoria. He can’t even imagine how hard I will fight for her.

  I still have no idea what I’m going to say. No clue how I’m going to resolve th
is. But I won’t stop fighting.

  I’ll never stop fighting. No matter what it costs me.

  Three hours later, I’m not sure whether or not I’ve succeeded.

  I’ve spent all afternoon arguing with King Maximilian. Every time I thought I’d gained some ground with him, he’d shift his tactics and try a different angle. He’s used to dealing with my father, not me, and it’s clear he thinks I’m a fool. But I won’t let him take advantage of me or Montovia.

  Finally, my head pounding, I told him we would have to resume our negotiations the following day. After all, with my father incapacitated, I have extra business to attend to. Maximilian must have been getting tired, too, or I’m not sure he would have agreed to stop.

  I rub my forehead. I’m going to be king someday—maybe sooner than expected—and such negotiations will be a part of my life. I’m not sure I’m ready. Three hours of discussions and I’m not sure either King Maximilian or I are even close to being satisfied.

  I want to go see Victoria. To pull her into my arms and kiss her and pretend that nothing could tear us apart, even though we both now know that’s not true. But I’m also afraid I’ll fall apart at the first sight of her, that the stress of the day will all come to a head in her presence.

  Instead, I find myself wandering toward the treasury. I don’t know what takes me there—some desire to torture myself, I suppose.

  To think—only a few hours ago, I thought I would be coming here in triumph and joy. Taking my great-grandmother’s ring from its case. Bringing it to Victoria and sliding it onto her long, beautiful finger, giving her a symbol of our unshakeable love.

  Unshakeable, ha. It hasn’t even been a day since I proposed to her, and circumstances have already torn us apart.

  The treasury, for all that it holds our country’s greatest treasures, is a relatively plain room. As I enter, my eyes flick to the display holding the royal scepter, and it glints in the low lights, taunting me.