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

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

ELENA

E lena smoothed her dress over her legs for the umpteenth time as they awaited the arrival of the royal family of Corinthia. Butterflies flitted in her stomach despite the regularity with which she greeted foreign dignitaries.

But greeting one she was supposed to be betrothed to by the end of the visit seemed particularly taxing. Especially when she had no intention of announcing her engagement to him.

To her knowledge, her father had not yet informed the royal family of the change in plans, likely because he had not yet approved her relationship with Nate Kingsley.

She wondered if he would ever. Her mind regressed to the conversations she’d had with her parents yesterday.

Things since Nate’s arrival had been tense. He’d been nervous about impressing her parents and had even gone so far as to suggest she not ascend to the throne .

Despite his apology, the comment still stuck with her. Her parents had a point about royals innately understanding the duties to which they were born.

She’d promised to keep an open mind, but as the motorcade of cars bringing the royal family snaked closer to the palace, she found herself desperately clinging to Nate’s proposal prior to her return to Eldoria.

Was she being foolish for continuing along a path that could lead to heartache?

She shoved the thoughts aside as the cars finally came to a stop. The last time she’d seen Prince Eric, she had been seven, and he had been eight.

He was a rail of a boy with a mop of dirty blonde hair on top of his head and a spray of freckles across his nose.

She hadn’t paid much attention to any news on him since, deliberately avoiding it as though it would change her circumstances. She wondered if he looked the same after all the years. An image formed in her mind before the car’s door was opened of a skinny, gawky boy with stringy hair.

Her father stepped forward as the door swung open, his hands clasped behind his back as King Henry stepped out and offered him a slight smile. “Frederick.”

“Henry,” her father answered with a nod. “Welcome to Eldoria. I trust your flight was pleasant.”

“As pleasant as these sorts of things can be. The real devil of it was waiting for Eric to arrive. The inconvenience of traveling separately due to the line of succession can be most irritating.”

Frederick grinned at him. “Yes, I know. At least Elisabeth traveled with you. When Elena was younger, Sophia traveled with her, so I had to manage it alone.”

“Tough break,” the man said before he greeted Elena’s mother.

As he approached Elena, she curtsied. “ Your Majesty.”

“Hello, my dear. You are looking lovely. You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman.”

“Thank you,” Elena said with a nod before she prepared to greet the queen.

“Isn’t she lovely, Elisabeth?” King Henry asked.

“Oh, yes, quite. You have your mother’s eyes, dear,” Elisabeth said.

Sophia wrapped an arm around Elena. “They are quite similar, yes. Other than that, she takes after her father, I think.”

“Oh, yes, the dark hair is most becoming with the fair skin.”

The weight of their gaze bore down on Elena, and she wondered if they were mentally calculating what her children with their son may look like. It took all in her not to wrinkle her nose.

“I think you’ll find Eric has grown quite a bit from what you may remember,” Queen Elisabeth said with a wide grin.

Elena resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she flicked her gaze to the car where the man emerged. Her eyebrows tugged together tightly as she drew her chin back to her chest.

Now easily over six feet tall, Prince Eric straightened, standing higher than her father with broad shoulders that filled out his suit jacket, a chiseled jaw, and sandy blonde hair, a curl of which framed his sparkling blue eyes.

“Eric, the last time I saw you, you were only this high,” her father said with a laugh.

“Not quite so small anymore, Your Majesty,” the man answered, his voice a rich timber. “And Queen Sophia, I remember meeting you as a small boy and thinking how beautiful you were. You still are.”

“Oh, thank you,” Sophia answered. “And you may not remember Elena. The last time you saw her– “

Eric grinned, showing off a dimple in his right cheek. “She slapped me across the face. I remember it well. I do hope to avoid that this time.”

Elena offered him a nervous chuckle as she nodded. “Yes. That tale is still a source of laughs among us. But you seem to be no worse for wear.”

“No, I’m quite fine. Only my ego was bruised.” An assistant hurried toward him with a bouquet of roses. Eric lifted them from the man’s arms and thrust them toward Elena. “For you.”

“Oh,” she answered, a hint of surprise in her voice. “They are lovely. Thank you.”

“I wanted to make a better impression than our first meeting. I hope these help.”

Elena offered him a polite smile as she handed the flowers to Caroline. “Please put these in water and position them where I may see them in my bedroom.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Caroline answered with a nod as she collected them.

“Shall we go inside?” King Frederick asked as he motioned to the door.

They shuffled into the palace, heading for the sitting room for tea.

Elena eased onto the loveseat as her mother poured the steaming liquid into cups. Eric settled next to her, much to her chagrin. She’d hoped he kept his distance, but he seemed intent on showing interest in her.

“And how’s your travel?” she asked before she lifted her teacup to her lips for a sip.

“Quite uneventful which I suppose is a good thing.” He flashed his dimples at her again, then accepted the teacup from Sophia.

“Yes, I would say so.”

“And how was yours? I heard you were in the States recently. How did you find it?”

“Oh, it was lovely. Very charming.”

“Hmm, I have never cared for it. People seem to rush about there all the time.”

She shifted her weight, keeping the smile plastered on her features. “I did not find them very rushed.”

“Well, I am pleased you enjoyed it.”

“Yes, very much so. Mother tells me you are a painter.”

He chuckled as he pulled a finger sandwich from the tray. “Not much of one, I’m afraid, though I do find it relaxing.”

“I agree,” Elena answered. “I am not very good either. I’m afraid I may be too much like an American, rushing to finish.”

“I don’t rush, I just haven’t any talent for it despite lessons.”

Her smile relaxed, shifting from forced to more genuine at the comment. “And what have you a talent for?”

“Mmm, Mother says playing piano. Do you play?”

“Yes,” Elena answered with a nod.

“Perhaps we could play a duet sometime, then.”

“Of course,” she answered. “That sounds lovely.”

“Planning a piano duet? Perhaps during cocktails before dinner,” Queen Elisabeth suggested.

“Oh,” Elena protested when Eric nodded in agreement.

“Yes, Mother, that would be lovely. Elena, are you up for it?”

Elena shot a questioning glance at her mother who nodded. “Yes. Let us plan for that.”

Tea continued with light conversation before the event broke up with the two kings leaving to discuss state affairs along with Eric, and the women retreating to their rooms.

Elena huffed out a breath as she pushed into her bedroom. The roses sat on her bedside table, a reminder of Eric’s thoughtful gesture.

She wrinkled her nose at them.

Caroline emerged from her closet with a pair of shoes for the evening. “Well, it seems Prince Eric is eager to please.”

“Do not remind me, Caroline.”

“Soured on him still, are we?”

Elena slumped onto the bed, twisting away from the flowers. “I’m not soured. I am merely…uninterested.”

Caroline sucked in a breath as she smoothed the fabric on Elena’s dinner dress. “Despite his…change in looks.”

Elena heaved a sigh as she traced a line of gold thread decorating her burgundy bedspread. “So, you noticed, did you?”

“I noticed he is no longer a gangly, awkward boy, yes. I’m surprised you didn’t. You are normally quite perceptive, Your Highness.”

“Haha, Caroline,” Elena said as she propped her head in her palm, lounging across the bed. “Just because he is no longer a gangly boy does not mean I wish to marry him.”

“No, but it does make the prospect more appealing, doesn’t it?”

“I am in love with Nathan Kingsley. It is he who I wish to marry, despite Eric’s…handsome features.”

“So, you admit they are handsome.”

“So are Nathan’s. Nathan’s may be more handsome.” Elena lifted her chin.

Caroline’s features twisted with amusement. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”

“I have nothing to convince myself of! I am quite in love with Nathan Kingsley. I am not fickle, Caroline. There will always be handsome men in the world. I do not mean to fall madly in love with each of them.”

“No, but…”

“But what?” Elena asked.

“But you were intended to marry him. Is it of any more interest to you now that you have met and spoken with him?”

Elena refused to meet her gaze, focusing on her duvet again. “No.”

“My, we sound definite.”

“We are,” Elena said, finally flicking her gaze to her ladies’ maid. “I’m not the type to go bouncing around from man to man. I’ve made my choice.”

“It’s a large choice, Your Highness. It’s perfectly all right if you are still thinking.”

Elena’s shoulders slumped. “Why does everyone assume that I cannot possibly have made up my own mind about this? That I will sway to another man?”

“No one thinks you are swaying or that you have not made up your mind, but…”

Elena’s eyes went wide as she prompted her ladies’ maid to continue.

“Your role in life is unique. You must choose a spouse who both understands and supports it.”

Elena chewed her lower lip as she shifted her weight, her eyes catching sight of the flowers on her nightstand. Her mind flitted back to the conversation she’d had with her mother yesterday at the country estate.

“Can we please change the subject?” she asked.

“Of course. I have many questions about your preferred jewelry for the evening. Let’s discuss that.”

After Elena made her selections, she eased onto the stool at the vanity, ready for Caroline to begin her hair for the evening.

With a half-up, half-down style complete, she changed into her dinner clothes, donned her shoes and jewelry, and pulled on her gloves .

She made her way downstairs for cocktails, finding her parents already awaiting her, but no one else.

“Good evening, darling, you look lovely,” her mother said with a kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you, Mother.”

“The roses from Prince Eric were beautiful. I hope you thanked him properly for them.”

“I did,” Elena answered, annoyance already creeping up at the conversation. Her parents clearly still hoped she’d find some redeeming quality in the foreign prince.

The arrival of her cousins and their parents followed by the Kingsleys interrupted any further conversation between them, thankfully. Elena greeted Nate before she chatted with her aunt and uncle before she moved to speak with Victoria and Maddie.

The other royal family entered the room and introductions were made where needed.

Queen Elisabeth took a sip of her sherry as she settled into an armchair. “Well, I believe we were promised a concert, were we not?”

“Yes, Mother,” Eric answered as he set his drink aside and offered his arm to Elena. “My dear.’

Elena offered Nate an apologetic smile as she accepted it and allowed him to lead her to the piano. They settled onto the bench, agreed upon a song, and began to play.

Elena’s gloved fingers danced across the keys as his deftly added to her melody. His touch was quite good, she thought, offering him a grin. He matched her expression as they finished their song and applause rang out.

Eric rose from his seat, taking Elena’s hand to assist her to stand before he bowed and waved a hand her way, implying she was the real master.

“You’re quite good,” he answered as chatter overtook the room again.

“Thank you, you aren’t so bad yourself.”

Before their conversation could continue, Nate approached them. “That was lovely, Ellie.”

“Ellie?” Eric asked, his eyelashes fluttering.

“A nickname from my time in the States,” she explained.

“Oh, do you very much prefer it?”

She shrugged. “No, I’m quite used to both.”

“I see. And, uh, you are Nate Kingsley of the Sterling City Kingsleys. The ones involved in biotech?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Nate said, inching a little closer to Elena.

She smiled at him, sensing his apprehension. He was well aware that Eric was meant to be her husband, and he seemed determined to stop the man from claiming her.

“How interesting. And you met at a gala, I assume?” Eric flicked his gaze between the two of them.

“Actually, we met at a coffee shop. Nathan smashed into me and spilled my coffee all over me.”

“Oh, no,” Eric said with a laugh. “A happy accident, though, to run into a such a lovely woman.”

“Yes,” Nate answered. “I thought so.”

The dinner announcement broke up their terse conversation. The group proceeded to the dining room, taking their seats for their first dinner together. Elena found herself seated next to Eric, but kept apart from Nate.

She eyed him across the table, upset but unsurprised at the seating arrangement.

Conversation remained light through dinner, and the party broke up shortly after. Elena excused herself shortly after the Kingsleys, intent on seeking out Nate for a private discussion.

She hurried through the halls to his room, knocking as she fidgeted on her feet outside his door.

It opened a moment later, and she grinned. “Hello. ”

“Hi,” he answered. “I’m glad you’re here. I really wanted to talk to you.”

“And I wanted to speak with you, too.” She stepped into his room, offering him a kiss.

“I’m glad. I feel like we haven’t had enough time together and…” He bit his lower lip and glanced at his feet.

“Yes?”

“I’m…a little…” He shifted his weight and shrugged. “Jealous and…nervous after meeting Prince Eric.”

She arched an eyebrow. Did he think she’d fallen for the hunky prince in the span of one tea? “Jealous?”

“He’s…very…princely,” Nate answered with a shrug. “And he’s perfect at everything. And he plays piano, and you did that duet. And then he sat with you at dinner. And you smiled a lot.”

“I smiled a lot with you, too.” She inched closer to him and slid her arms around his neck.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” He slipped his arms around her waist.

“I still smile a lot with you. You make me happy. And he is a lovely piano player. I’m certain we could be great friends. But I am not in love with him.”

He rubbed her arm, his lips tugging up at the corners a little. “So you’re still in love with me?”

“Madly,” she answered.

“Do you think your parents will come around to me? It kind of seems like they are pushing you to spend time with Eric.”

“I think they will, yes. I had a long conversation with my mother yesterday, and I am convinced they will see everything I see in you.”

“I’m not sure I see what you see in me,” Nate said with a laugh.

“Don’t you? Let me outline them. You are…handsome, smart, brave, funny. And…you see beyond my crown. You fell in love with me as a person, not as a princess. I love all of those things about you and more.”

He puckered his lips, narrowing his eyes in amusement. “Prince Eric is pretty handsome.”

“Mmm, I hadn’t noticed,” she said as she stole a kiss from him. “There was a terribly handsome American across the table from me.”

“Was his name Stephen?”

She playfully smacked his chest and shook her head. “No. And he’s a married man, anyway. I’m no home wrecker.”

Nate stiffened at the words.

“I’m sorry, darling. I hadn’t meant to remind you of what happened with Chloe.”

Nate shook his head, squeezing her hand. “No, it’s not that…it’s just that something happened yesterday. I didn’t have a chance to tell you.”

“What?” Elena asked.

“I…ummm…I took a wrong turn on the way to dinner last night. I wound up in the hall Prince Julian was staying in, and uhhh…I saw Chloe…she was coming out of his room, kissing him.”

Elena’s eyes went wide. “What?”

“Yeah,” Nate answered. “I haven’t told anyone yet. I didn’t know what to do.”

“Oh, Nathan.” Elena shook her head at the news. “Well, you must tell someone. You cannot allow your brother to be hurt.”

“I’m not sure he’ll believe me. I think he’ll think I’m just saying it to get back at him for what happened when we were engaged.”

“What about telling your parents? Someone should know.”

“Do you think you could talk to Julian? ”

She shrugged. “I could, but it would do little good. He will not change because of anything I said.”

Nate heaved a sigh as he let his head fall between his shoulder blades. “I see. I guess I’ll have to tell someone. I knew Chloe was trouble.”

“It’s a shame your brother will be hurt. But your instincts about her were correct.”

“Yeah. Stephen and I used to be close until she showed up. But I didn’t want this to happen.”

“Of course not, darling.” Elena shook her head as she caressed his cheek. “Perhaps sleep on it.”

“Yes. I think I will.” He sucked in a deep breath. “And I guess on that note, I should let you go get some sleep before your big day tomorrow.”

“I’ll wave to you from the parade.”

“I look forward to it.”

She pressed her lips against his, enjoying the warmth of his embrace before she pulled back with a smile. “See you tomorrow.”

She left his room behind, already missing him as she stepped into the hall. After only a few steps, Eric rounded the corner.

“Eric,” she said as she stopped short.

“Hello, Elena. Visiting with Nate Kingsley?”

Elena licked her lips as she considered her answer. “Yes,” she answered as she decided honesty was the best course.

Eric nodded as he pressed his lips together. “I see. I had heard a rumor that you were…interested in him despite the unofficial betrothal between us.”

“Eric…” Elena began with a long sigh, prepared to inform him of her disinterested in the arrangement and hoping to appeal to his sense of preferring his own relationship.

“I understand, Elena.”

She drew her chin back, surprised he was taking it so well. Perhaps she had misjudged him.

“Really, I do. You went to the States. You met Mr. Kingsley. He seemed a fine man. And we had only met when we were children.”

She smiled at him and nodded.

Eric took a step closer to her, reaching to caress her cheek. “There is only one issue.”

“What?” she asked.

“I want you.” He pressed closer as she furrowed her brows. “I want you as my wife. We are perfectly matched. And I intend to win you, Elena. Whatever it takes. You will forget who Nate Kingsley is.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist before he planted a kiss on her lips as she stood stunned.