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

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

ELENA

E lena’s fingers curled into fists as she pinched her eyebrows together, staring at her father in disbelief. Her heart sank at the news. She had expected something different. Of course, she’d share a dance with the visiting royal, but she hadn’t expected to be obliged to share the first.

She’d wanted that honor to go to Nate, the man who would soon be her fiancé.

Was this deliberately drawn line in the sand more evidence that he never would be?

“What do you mean?” she demanded, her voice sharper than even she’d expected.

Her father, ever the calm diplomat, didn’t bat an eyelash as he responded. “You know full well a visiting prince is entitled to be shown the highest courtesy.”

Her jaw clenched at the words. “Let Isabelle dance with him. ”

“That is inappropriate. Mr. Kingsley will be matched with your cousin to join in after the dance has begun.”

“Father!” Elena protested. Beyond the one exclamation, though, words didn’t come. The pairing was wrong on so many levels, not to mention that Isabelle had just planted a kiss on Nate’s lips in an attempt to ruin both their relationship and his image.

“Elena,” he answered, his voice calm and measured, “the matter is decided. There will be other dances.”

“Yes, but not the first.”

“How are you finding the style?” King Frederick asked Nate. “I recall it being somewhat challenging as a young man. My arms went every which way.”

Next to Elena, Nate cleared his throat, his eyes darting back and forth between them. “Yes, uh, it’s…a challenge. But practicing with Ellie has made it a little easier. I’ll be ready for the ball, I think.”

“Excellent. Well, we will let you get back to your practicing and hope to be regaled with tales of how you’ve mastered it over our dinner.” King Frederick offered him a fleeting smile before he spun on his heel to cross the room with his wife.

Elena tightened her fists at her sides, heat rising into her cheeks as her father left her behind.

“Ellie, should we practice more?”

She barely heard his voice as anger coursed through her, and she glared across the ballroom.

“Ellie? We can share the second dance or whatever. It’s okay,” Nate tried.

“No, it isn’t.” She stormed after her father, slipping out of the ballroom and into the hall. “Father, we must speak.”

King Frederick twisted to eye her. “I have many things to attend to, Elena. If this is concerning the first dance–”

“It is,” she answered, her jaw setting.

“Then there is nothing to discuss. You, of all people, understand the nature of state visits. You realize how important cordiality is.”

“Is it unimportant to be cordial to the Kingsleys?” she asked.

With a sigh, he forced his features to remain neutral as his jaw betrayed his annoyance with her question. “I am quite surprised, Elena, that you have forgotten everything you have learned after your excursion to the States. You know exactly how these events play out.”

“I know that you could dance with Queen Elisabeth as a gesture of our hospitality, yet you are choosing not to do so. Instead, you are foisting the diplomacy onto me, likely in the hopes that one dance will send me into such a tizzy that I will fall madly in love with Prince Eric and wish to marry him.”

King Frederick sighed. “I do not expect you to fall head over heels for the man in one twirl around the floor. But I also do not expect you to be so clingy with your beau. He is being given the opportunity to prove himself.”

“Yet you are doing your best to see that he can’t.”

“Elena, a dance with the visiting prince is hardly a detriment to the man. In fact, quite the opposite. He will not be on display, and therefore, subject to less scrutiny. I am attempting to make this easier for you.”

“You are also misleading the Corinthian royal family. They believe we will announce our engagement, and this first dance is a signal that they should not alter their expectations.”

His nostrils flared as he angled his chin down, his eyes burning. “Elena, I have warned you already about your attitude. I had expected that to be enough to correct your behavior.”

Heat entered her voice as she refused to back down. “ Perhaps you should have been given a warning to correct yours!”

His eyes went wide, and he tugged his chin back, startled by her harsh words. In seconds, his features turned stony. “My decision is final, and you will abide by it. And if you continue to carry on like this, I will no longer allow your relaxed schedule whilst the Kingsleys visit. I had provided you time to spend with them, particularly Mr. Kingsley, however, if you continue behaving like a child, I will be forced to make you learn as one.”

“Father!” she cried, ready to protest, when he bobbed his head.

“The matter is closed. Good day.”

He spun on his heel and strode away, leaving her behind, a mix of anger and frustration brewing within her. A warm hand slid around her forearm, drawing her attention.

She glanced down at it before she raised her eyes to her mother’s face, her own features pinching. “Mother…”

“Darling, may we talk?”

“Of course.”

“Let’s walk so that we have privacy.”

Elena nodded, allowing her mother to slide her arm around her elbow and pull her down the hall.

“You are having a difficult time since you’ve returned.”

“Because Father is being unfair!”

“Darling, life isn’t always fair. And as royals, at times, we must grin and bear it.”

Elena’s lips tugged into a pout. She understood bearing things for the sake of her crown, but this was too much.

Her mother led her into a quiet sitting room and eased her into a chair. “Is there something else, Elena?”

“Just Father’s unfairness. I feel as though I will be forced to marry Prince Eric no matter what. As if this entire visit with the Kingsleys is a charade.”

“It is not. Mr. Kingsley has every ability to prove himself worthy of your hand. Your father’s mind is open to the possibility.”

“Then why hasn’t he told the royal family that I will not be accepting Prince Eric in marriage?”

Sophia heaved a sigh as she perched on the edge of her chair. “Darling, other than simply not liking being told what to do, is there a reason why you are so off put by the idea?”

Elena’s eyes went wide. “You must be joking. You too?”

“Do not accuse, Elena. I am not suggesting you accept him. I am merely asking why you are so adamant about not accepting him.”

“I barely know the man, and what I’ve heard is…not something I’m keen on.”

“How can you know?” Sophia asked.

Elena’s shoulders slumped as she fought her way through the turmoil raging inside her. “But, Mother…”

“Elena,” her mother said, her voice smooth and even, “I understand how you feel about Mr. Kingsley. And, darling, I do hope it works out if he is the best man for you.”

Elena turned her tear-filled eyes to her mother. “But you do not believe him to be.”

“I did not say that. He has his good points. And he has some bad. Just as Prince Eric does and every other suitor.”

Elena chewed her lip as she listened to her mother’s words.

“You do not wish to hear this, I know. It was a difficult subject before you left. And is even more difficult now that your heart belongs to another man.”

“If you know my heart belongs to him, why must we continue with this nonsense?”

“Elena, it is not nonsense.” The firmness in her mother’s voice told her she meant the words she spoke. “Your role as queen is important. And your father and I want to ensure you are supported in it. The last thing you need on the day you will ascend to the throne and the many that will follow is to worry that your spouse does not support you.”

“But Nathan–”

“Says he will, I know. But saying it and meaning it or doing it are two very different things, darling. When you must appear at six different places and it happens to fall on his birthday, will he understand?”

Elena opened her mouth to answer with an affirmative, but the words would not come. Her mind flitted back to their conversation yesterday. While he’d made it clear he hadn’t meant it, it still had been said. Perhaps he would not understand. Would their relationship fall apart over her royal duties?

Sophia gently rubbed Elena’s arm. “I’m glad you did not answer immediately, or I would have worried you had not given it sufficient thought.”

Elena’s features pinched as she glanced at her mother. “Truthfully, I worry he will not understand.”

Tears spilled onto her cheeks as she said the words, doubt twisting her stomach into a tight knot.

“Oh, dear,” her mother said, tightening her grip on her daughter’s hands. “Has something happened?”

Elena frowned at her mother as she shook her head before she let her gaze fall to their clasped hands. “He mentioned…”

“Yes?” Sophia asked, ducking her head to catch her daughter’s eye.

“He mentioned the option for me to abdicate.”

Her mother clicked her tongue, though her expression remained stoic.

“Please don’t tell Father. He said he did not mean it. He apologized several times.”

“This will stay between us, but, Elena, he has said it. And it has bothered you.”

She pressed her lips into a thin line as she nodded. “Yes. Even if he did not mean it, his gut reaction to my lifestyle was negative. Will that change?”

“It could. Perhaps he was overwhelmed, but this, darling, is why Father is so insistent that you not hurry down the aisle with Mr. Kingsley.”

“No, but he wishes to drag me down it with Prince Eric.”

“Prince Eric is well-versed in what is expected. He would not ask you to give up your royal duties to suit his lifestyle.”

“But I do not love him.”

Her mother smiled at her. “This is a very difficult decision, darling. Do allow yourself the time to think about it carefully and make a sound decision.”

Her heart ached at her mother’s words, though she could not deny them. Despite her strong feelings for Nate, worry had begun to creep in, upsetting her peace.

When they were together, her heart soared. But when they were apart, her parents’ opposition worried her. Would she be condemning herself to a miserable life if she chose to follow her heart?

She sniffled as her mother offered her a handkerchief. Elena waved it away, withdrawing her own tissue. “Thank you, but I am always prepared. My mother taught me that.”

Sophia rose and kissed Elena on the forehead. “Your mother also taught you to be level-headed and make smart choices. If that means marrying Mr. Kingsley, so be it. But if your short temper of late is because you are seeing cracks in the facade, please, darling, do your due diligence and consider them carefully. That is all your father and I are asking.”

Elena licked her lips and nodded as her mother offered her a tight-lipped smile. “Now, I will leave you to your thoughts.”

After another kiss on the head, her mother departed, pulling the door closed behind her. Elena heaved in a deep breath as quietness reigned around her.

Why had she confessed to her mother? She was certain despite her promise, she would say something to her father.

Perhaps she had done it because of the unease creeping through her every muscle since Nate’s suggestion. It had blindsided her.

She’d never expected him to say it, but his initial reaction to her lifestyle had been unaccepting. Perhaps he wasn’t the perfect match for her.

She leaned back in the chair, her finger rubbing her lips as she reflected. Her behavior of late had been terrible. While she’d always been fiery and defiant, questioning everything and insisting on knowing the reasons behind decisions, her recent antics had been more like a petulant child.

She’d demanded, accused, hollered, stopping just short of stamping her feet. It was behavior unfitting of a princess, to say the least.

And she had done it all because she had been uncertain of her own future. While she still believed Prince Eric was not a good match, she owed it to her parents to consider their advice before she ended up in a mess she could not escape. Or heartbroken.

She pulled herself from the chair, crossing to a silver tray and using it to check her reflection before she left the room behind.

With her fingers tightly clutching the tissue, she wandered through the halls to find her father’s office.

After a light knock, she waited to be told to enter, eyeing her father through the slightly ajar door. He poured over something on his desk. Without glancing up, he answered, “Come in.”

She pushed through the door, closing it behind her with a soft click. He finished making a note before he glanced up, his eyebrows tugging together.

“Elena.”

“Father, may we speak?”

“If this is about–”

“It is, but not what you think,” she answered as she hurried forward to the desk, her fingers squeezing around the damp fabric in her hand.

He sucked in a breath as he motioned to a chair across from him. “Please, sit.”

She sank into the chair, perching on the edge. “I feel an apology is necessary.”

His eyebrows shot up at her words.

Elena sucked in a breath, raising her chin. “My behavior has been…poor of late. And for that I am sorry. Mother made me realize that I am behaving as a child.”

Her father’s features softened. “I appreciate your coming to me with your apology. It shows maturity.”

“Something I have been lacking lately,” she lamented.

One corner of his lips curled into a half-smile. “You have been afraid. Afraid to face an important decision. But it is one you must make. I only hope to help you make the right choice.”

“Yes, I know. Mother explained to me your thoughts. I have been too stubborn to listen, but I promise to keep an open mind.”

“That is all I ask.”

She glanced up sharply at him. “Though I will be clear, I love Nathan.”

“I understand. And I understand that weighs heavily on your decision. But please do not allow it to cloud your judgement into making a foolish call. Love is often not enough to carry us through the hardest times.”

She nodded at the words, unwilling to be as vulnerable as she had been with her mother.

“For what it is worth, Mr. Kingsley seems…eager to please. I have not made my final decision yet, but I rather like the boy.”

The words brought a slight smile to her face.

“Then we shall both move forward with our minds open.”

“An excellent decision, Elena.” He rose from his chair and skirted the desk, leaning forward to kiss her forehead in a rare moment of fatherly affection.

“And I have some news for you that you may be delighted to hear.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“I have come to a different decision on the first dance of the ball. You will not share it with Mr. Kingsley, but…you will not share it with Prince Eric either. Instead, you will share it with me. In that way, we avoid insulting the royal family, but you are not subject to the diplomacy. No one can deny a father a dance with his daughter.”

She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Father.”

He returned her gesture as she rose. “See you at dinner.”

She bobbed her head as she stepped away from him, leaving the office behind. She checked the time, seeing that she could still make the last few minutes of the dance lesson if she hurried.

Despite her misgivings, she desperately wanted to spend time with Nate.

As she rounded the corner, though, her heart skipped a beat. Standing between her and the doors to the ballroom, a smirking Isabelle stopped her from making progress.

She heaved a sigh. With the turmoil reigning in her, she had no desire to speak with her cousin. “Go away.”

“I’d love to, but I thought I could join the dance lesson. After all, I believe I’m paired with Nate Kingsley. And I would like to practice with him so we are in sync.”

Elena wrinkled her nose at the statement, knowing her cousin was deliberately pushing her buttons. “It is an inappropriate pairing. I will speak with my father about changing it.”

“It will do little good, Elena. His mind is made up.”

“Is it?” Elena asked, lifting her chin. “The pairings must change as Father has decided that he and I will share the first dance together. Therefore, someone will need to be paired with Prince Eric.”

The confusion that showed on Isabelle’s features for even a second made Elena smile. She pushed past her cousin as she stepped toward the ballroom, pleased with herself.

“Oh, Elena?”

Elena twisted to eye her cousin, her hand hovering on the doorknob.

“Don’t get too comfortable. Mr. Kingsley’s ring is not on your finger yet.”

The word stung, reminding her of the precarious nature of their relationship, and how love may not conquer all.