The Billionaire’s Royal Challenge (Devotion and Dynasty Trilogy #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

ELENA

E lena wrinkled her nose as her father spoke from the opposite side of his desk, though she tried her hardest to keep her face neutral.

She hadn’t succeeded based on the look settling on her father’s features.

“Have I said something…odd?” he questioned.

“Of course not,” she answered, forcing her features back to pleasant neutrality.

He heaved a sigh as he rose and paced behind the heavy mahogany desk. “Elena, need I remind you that–“

“That my engagement to Nathan Kingsley has not yet been approved. No, you need not remind me of that, Father.”

“Good,” he answered, centering his fatherly gaze on her again.

She fidgeted under his scrutiny, her lips tugging into a slight frown.

“Do not fidget and do not frown. Heavens, Elena, such habits you have picked up from your time in the States.”

“I have not picked up any such habits. I only…” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

“No, please,” he said with a wave of his hand. “By all means, enlighten me.”

She shifted in her seat again. “There is nothing to say on the matter.”

“Which means you have plenty to say.”

She flicked her gaze to him before her features melted and she spat out her thoughts. “But, Father, why can we not simply announce the engagement? It’s rather silly, don’t you agree?”

“I do not which is why I have said as much.”

Her shoulders slumped, and she frowned again. “But, Father, I am an adult. If I was a normal girl, I would have made my choice and that would be that.”

“You are not a normal girl, Elena. You are a princess. One day, you will be queen. And on that day, it is vital that your king consort has the wherewithal to stand by your side and support you in overseeing a country.” He sighed as he clasped his hands behind his back. “Really, Elena, we have been over this. And to be quite frank, I am unimpressed with these latest outbursts. I am convinced they are a result of your time in the States.”

“They are not. I simply…” She paused to gather her scrambled thoughts. “I simply worry that this exercise is one in futility for Nathan and I.”

“And what exactly does that mean?”

“It means that you have no intention of accepting him or our engagement, and that this is merely a formality by which you seek to cancel our relationship.”

He pressed his lips together, his frustration obvious. “I will not continue to defend myself against these accusations. You have the same chance with him that you would have with anyone. No, that is wrong. You have more of a chance. You were intended to marry Prince Eric.”

“Who arrives in less than two weeks. Why?”

“That is a planned state visit, and you know it.”

She shot him a fiery glance. “Is it? It just so happens that planned state visit is the one where we were to announce our engagement. Have you informed the royal family of Corinthia that we will not be doing any such thing?”

Her father lifted his chin as he stalked to the nearby window and gazed out.

“So, you haven’t,” she answered.

He twisted to face her. “No, I have not. But it is not for the reason you think.”

“Then what reason?” she demanded.

His jaw flexed as he crossed back to the desk, his fingers tracing the polished wood. “Because I wish you to keep your options open. Perhaps you will find that you cannot tolerate Nathan once you are no longer in the throws of a new relationship. When reality sets in, Elena, you may find you prefer Prince Eric.”

“Prefer Prince Eric? Over the man I love.”

“Love will only take you so far. And I suspect this is more infatuation than love.”

Her features crinkled as her jaw fell open, insulted at his suggestion that she did not know her own heart.

“Before you berate me over the comment, remember I was young once, too. Love is not flowers and chocolates, romance and fireworks, you know? It’s the daily things. You will not feel the way you did in six months, one year, ten years, thirty years.”

“You do not know that.”

“I do. And I only wish to spare you any pain. You must know that.”

Elena’s lips formed a pout as she stared at her lap.

“Oh, Elena, I am your father. I do not wish you any pain. I am not insisting on this caution to hurt you, quite the opposite. I very much wish for you to make the best match you can.”

He hadn’t wished for her to make the best match, she reminded herself. It had taken quite the effort to convince him to give Nathan Kingsley a chance. Her mind reverted to those painful moments when he’d ripped her away from him moments after their engagement.

The veiled threat he’d made had been enough to make certain that she’d followed him, dutifully slid into the royal convoy’s car, and left the man she loved behind for what she assumed would be an eternity.

The argument that had ensued had been epic. Lucky the royal family had rented the entire floor at the hotel, lest any neighbors may have gotten an earful. She’d fought for her relationship, but he hadn’t given in, even then.

She recalled her ladies’ maid, Caroline, had soothed her when she’d flung herself on her bed in tears. Her thumb caressed the emerald engagement ring Nathan had given her when he’d asked her to marry him.

"I have it on good authority that your mother might share your opinion, at least to some extent." Caroline said as she stroked Elena’s hair.

“Mother?” Elena wiped at her tears as she sat up.

Caroline gave her a hopeful smile. “Yes. It seems your mother may not be entirely happy with your engagement to Prince Eric.”

“Let us hope she succeeds. I wonder if you’ve managed to grab hold of my phone.”

Caroline shook her head. “No, but I have sent a message to Nathan already if that is your aim.”

She wrapped her arms around Caroline’s neck and squeezed. “You are a darling, Caroline. That is very much what I wanted to do. He must be so devastated.”

The tears flowed freely again. “I don’t even know if he’s angry or upset or–“

“There, there, Your Highness. Remember, he did the very same to you. He should understand.”

“Yes, but…to find out the way he did. I should have told him sooner.”

“You did the best you could, darling. If he truly loves you, it will not matter.”

Elena’s features fell, her lower lip jutting out. “If he truly loves me, it may not matter at all. If Father has his way, we will never see each other again. I will wed Prince Eric, and life will move on.

“Except my life will end today.”

“Oh, my dear, your life will not end. It is painful now, yes, but it won’t always be. However, let us wait to see the results of your parents’ discussion, shall we?”

In the end, her soft-spoken mother had prevailed, convincing her father that Elena deserved the chance to explore her own options for marriage despite the promises that had been made at her birth.

“But Mother had to convince you. If she had not, I would be welcoming Prince Eric as my fiancé.”

Her father wrinkled his nose at the words. “I cannot always be right. Occasionally, I must be proven wrong so my head does not become too large for the crown.”

He grinned at her though she failed to return the favor, concern over his motives still roiling inside her.

“I am joking, Elena. Even kings joke.”

“But do fathers?”

He skirted the desk and perched on the edge, gently lifting her chin to face him. “Elena, I wish for you to be happy. Truly, I do. And I have seen the error of my ways with insisting that you accept Prince Eric. I will give your Mr. Kingsley as fair a shot as possible.”

“Will you? Please, Father, do not make his life impossible just to drive him away.”

“I will do no such thing, I promise.”

She grinned at him, her smile finally breaking through her gloomy mood. She rose from her seat and flung her arms around him. “Thank you, Father. Now, I must be off.”

“Is your afternoon schedule very full?”

“Yes,” she said with a nod. “I plan to make the final arrangements for the Kingsleys’ arrival tomorrow. Along with a few other…things.”

“Talking to Mr. Kingsley among them, no doubt.”

“I must prepare him for what is expected. I do want him to make a strong impression on you.”

Her father settled into his chair again as he studied her. “Elena, please keep your head about you during this. As open as you would like my mind to be, I ask that yours remain open, also.”

She frowned at the words before she nodded and slipped into the hall of the royal palace.

Caroline awaited her, leather journal in hand to assist her with her remaining tasks for the day. “And how did things go with His Majesty?”

Elena lifted a shoulder in response as she made her way down the hall toward the staircase. “As well as they could have, I suppose. I remain unconvinced that he will give Nathan a fair shot, but I suppose I must take him at his word.”

“You believe he wishes you to accept Prince Eric. But do you think he will really make it difficult on Mr. Kingsley?”

Her features fell as she studied the thick runner under her feet. “I sincerely hope not. And to make certain Nathan has the best chance possible, we should go over the events again so that we may prepare him and all of the Kingsleys.”

“Yes, of course, Your Highness. I have everything listed here.”

She pushed into her room and crossed to her writing desk, retrieving her phone. A grin spread across her features as she stared at the message beaming from her screen.

“I’m assuming there is a message from Mr. Kingsley?” Caroline asked.

“There is,” she answered as she read the text.

Just finished my packing. I can’t wait to see you. Any last-minute advice before I arrive?

Her face lit up with an excited grin. I can’t wait for you to be with me. Everything will be fine, my love.

She set the phone down and spun to face Caroline. “I just told Nathan everything will be fine, but we must make certain it is. There is no margin for error.”

“I understand, Your Highness,” Caroline said with a nod. “I have already reminded them several times that when they arrive and are greeted by any member of the royal family, yourself included, that they should bow or curtsy, and I will make every effort to intercept them before they are presented to ensure those gestures are up to snuff.”

“Thank you,” Elena said, resting her chin on her phone. “We must ensure the Kingsleys, particularly Nathan, are viewed as royal material.”

“I am certain they will be.”

“I am not,” Elena said, her voice a bit shrill. “I am still concerned my father is only allowing this to prove to me that Nathan and I will not work.”

“Because?”

Elena sucked in a breath, her mind recalling the details that had still bothered her. “He asked me to keep as open a mind as he when he allowed the Kingsleys to come for vetting. He hasn't told Prince Eric’s parents that we won't be announcing our engagement, and he says he prefers I keep my options open.”

“And you believe this means he hopes you will accept Prince Eric.”

Elena nodded. “Exactly. And I expect he will do something to make me see the light.”

Caroline raised her eyebrows toward her hairline. “Really? You don’t actually expect His Majesty would…sabotage your relationship, do you?”

Elena stalked to the French doors, gazing out over her balcony overlooking the sprawling gardens that transitioned into the lush valley that housed the city of Cresthaven. The bustle of the small capital city was a stark contrast to the rigid schedule of her gilded cage. “Yes, actually, Caroline. I do.”

Her mind assessed their conversation again, deciding that she had to be vigilant. Her father may have agreed to allow the Kingsleys to visit, but she still did not believe he’d allow their engagement to stand.

And she had to change his mind. Or she had to do something drastic.