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

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

NATE

N ate shoved away the thoughts gnawing at him as Elena scurried from the room to go about her business before this afternoon’s parade. The loss of her comforting sent his stomach twisting into knots again.

The situation with Chloe’s cheating was bad enough, but the recent visit from Prince Eric had left him questioning everything again.

He’d just settled his mind that he could potentially be a good partner for Elena and then the Prince had knocked him down twelve pegs on the confidence ladder.

Would he even have the chance to have a relationship with Elena or would that be taken from him when her father sided with Prince Eric?

Had his entire trip to Eldoria been a waste? Merely a desperate grasp for a woman he could never attain?

He sank into his chair, letting his forehead fall against his clasped hands. Elena seemed to think they would be perfectly fine, but he couldn’t see it.

The affable Prince Eric seemed like he fit right into the family. And why wouldn’t he? He’d been brought up to live this life. He didn’t muff up the titles or nearly fall off a runaway horse. He wasn’t a commoner.

The words stung, especially because of how true they rang. He’d mentioned it before to his sister, but hearing Prince Julian say the words with such disdain when referring to Chloe had churned up the old sentiment.

The royals really did look down their noses at commoners. Elena didn’t seem to, but the others certainly did. He would never be able to impress them as much as Prince Eric. And King Frederick would likely consider him the less desirable choice.

Elena would be forced to make a decision that she likely did not wish to make. Would she choose him if it meant abandoning her crown?

He shook his head as he rose and paced the floor. With a deep breath in and out, he decided to worry about that problem later. All it was doing now was providing a distraction from what he needed to do.

He’d decided to speak to his parents about Chloe. At the moment, though, the idea seemed far less appealing.

Despite the overwhelming weight of uncertainty, Nate squared his shoulders, determined to face the truth head-on. This moment marked a turning point–a testament to the sense of responsibility he now felt.

He grabbed his phone and toggled to his message with Elena. The audio recording of Prince Julian sat at the bottom. He wished a message of encouragement would pop up, too, but he knew she was busy.

He tapped the play button, and Julian’s voice droned on admitting his affair with Chloe, but that it would go no further because of her status. He tightened his jaw again as the words from the audio recording gnawed at his conscience, the disdain in Prince Julian’s voice like a dagger to his heart.

With the audio paused, he forced himself to leave his room behind. Every step down the hall to his parents’ room weighed heavier on him. He nearly turned around twice, certain the words wouldn’t come.

He worried he’d sound like the bitter jilted lover, intent on making things hard for his ex. He tried to tell himself he was protecting his brother, but even he questioned his own motives.

His parents would, too. And if the information came up when they told Stephen, it would lead to an issue.

With a shaky breath, he found himself standing in front of his parents’ door, ready to knock but unable to smack his knuckles against the wood. After a moment, he finally rapped against the door.

A second later, his mother, still in her robe, pulled the door open. “Nate. Hi, honey. We were enjoying a leisurely morning with a cup of tea on the veranda. Come in.”

“If I’m interrupting something–“ he began, hoping it was true, and he could leave the conversation for another time.

“No. Not at all. You’re up early. I thought you may sleep in with all the festivities today.”

Nate shoved his hands into his pockets as he stepped into their room and shrugged. “I’ll just be sitting through most of it.”

Victoria led him across the room to the open French doors that led to the balcony. “Not at the ball. How are you feeling about dancing with the Queen? Oh, I came up with some topics of conversation if you’re still stuck or haven’t asked Caroline yet.”

“Uh, yeah, great,” Nate said as he stepped outside.

“Nate, good morning,” his father said as he perused the local paper. “Interesting people, these Eldorians. Their news is…fascinating.”

Victoria picked up a paper as she settled into her chair. “You could ask about the weather in Eldoria, you know, show an interest in the country. You could also ask about her family, where she came from, that sort of thing.”

Nate’s mind whirled at the upcoming event, but he couldn’t deal with that now. He had to get the information off his chest about Chloe.

“Mom,” he said, his voice shaky as he stared at his feet.

Victoria’s features crinkled, and she set down her paper, rising to slip an arm around him. “What is it, honey?”

“There’s something I have to tell you.”

Victoria eased him into a chair before she retook her seat, perching on the edge as she kept hold of his hand.

“What is it, son?” Charles asked, folding his paper and setting it aside.

“I don’t know how to start…”

Victoria squeezed his hand. “Nate, if this is about any reactions to all the pressure you’ve been under–“

“I’m not drinking,” he answered reflexively, bristling at the delicate insinuation.

“No one’s accusing you, Nate,” Charles chimed in, “but you have been under a tremendous amount of pressure. It’s understandable if you’re struggling.”

For once, he wasn’t. He hadn’t thought of drowning his sorrows in alcohol once during his trip to Eldoria. Maybe if he lost Elena things would be different, but for now, her support and love had kept him on the right track despite all of the pressure.

“I’m not. I’m…really not. I haven’t had even a thought of it.”

“Okay,” Victoria said with a nod. “But something’s obviously upsetting you. Is it the ball? Or did something happen with Ellie?”

“No, nothing happened with Ellie except good things. She keeps insisting I’ll win her father over, although…”

Victoria cocked her head to prod him to continue.

Nate heaved a sigh as the conversation from earlier flitted through his mind. “Prince Eric paid me a visit this morning.”

Victoria’s eyes widened, and she shot a glance at Charles. “For?”

Nate shook his head. “He told me that he wants Ellie, and, as a gentleman, he wanted to warn me of his intentions to pursue her.”

Victoria clicked her tongue.

“Well, Ellie’s a beautiful girl,” Charles admitted. “You can’t fault the man for trying.”

“You don’t think she’s interested, do you?” Victoria asked.

“No. She said she wasn’t. We talked about it this morning. She told me he told her the same thing last night.”

“At least you’re both on the same page. That’ll make this easier.” Victoria narrowed her eyes at him. “But you’re worried the king will prefer Prince Eric.”

“I am, but that’s not what’s bothering me nor what I came to talk about.”

“All right,” Victoria said, “but if you want to talk about that, we’re here for you.”

“Thanks, Mom. Although you may have your hands full with someone else.” He wrinkled his nose.

Victoria raised her eyes to the sunny skies above. “If you’re meaning Maddie and the crush she has on Prince Alexander…“

A chuckle escaped Nate’s lips. “No, but she does have a major crush. I think she actually thinks he could fall in love with her.”

“He’s a little old for her.”

“I told her that. She doesn’t agree. But that’s not it either.”

“Well, that only leaves Stephen,” Charles said with a sigh. “Did you two get into it again?”

“No, but…” Nate squeezed his eyes closed for a second before he opened them, his gaze traveling between his parents. “When we were at the country estate, I saw something that I wasn’t meant to see.”

Victoria squashed her eyebrows together.

“I saw Chloe with Prince Julian.”

“Talking or…” Victoria leaned forward as she waited for the answer.

“Kissing…after they’d come out of his bedroom.”

A knowing expression crossed Victoria’s features, and she snapped her gaze to Charles with sighed as he shifted in his seat.

“Are you sure?” Victoria asked.

“I’m more than sure,” Nate said, tugging his phone from his pocket. “I told Elena what I’d seen, and she spoke with Julian.”

He played the audio clip of Julian detailing his affair with Chloe along with his intention to keep it only to a playful romp.

Victoria let her gaze fall to her lap as she sighed and shook her head. “Have you said anything to Stephen?”

Nate pressed his lips together as he shook his head. “No. I…struggled with what to do about this. I didn’t think I should be the one to tell him. He’ll take it badly coming from me. He’ll think this is all sour grapes.”

“You’re right,” Victoria said. “And thank you for thinking of your brother’s feelings in this. He needs to know, but you telling him is the worst possible scenario.”

“I know that. And for a while, I wondered if I should tell anyone. I just…felt like I was doing it for selfish reasons. I do n’t like Chloe. And I don’t want her being part of this family.”

“None of us are fond of her, Nate. But your brother didn’t ask anyone’s advice or opinion when he married her.”

Nate sighed as he shook his head. “I didn’t listen about her either, so I guess I can’t blame him.”

Victoria sucked in a breath. “Well, after the trouble she caused you’d think he’d have been a little more cautious, but it’s like it spurred him on to accept her.”

“I raised you two boys to be too competitive. You’re brothers first, though,” Charles said. “Well, you know that. You came to us instead of throwing this in your brother’s face, which would have been an easy thing to do, Nate.”

“I don’t want him hurt, but…he’s going to keep getting hurt if he stays married to her.”

“You’re a good brother.” Victoria patted his hand. “In the midst of everything going on with you, you took the time to think this through so you didn’t hurt him.”

“I miss the days when Stephen and I weren’t at each other’s throats.”

“Well, if this marriage ends, you may get them back. She’s the problem,” Victoria answered. “Can I ask for a favor?”

Nate nodded.

“Can you send me that recording? I know we’re going to hear flak about it from Stephen when we talk to him. I’d like to have the proof in my pocket.”

“Sure,” Nate answered as he tapped on his phone to forward it along.

“And can you do me another favor?” Victoria asked as she rose.

“Yeah,” he answered, standing and feeling as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

“Can you make sure Maddie’s okay? We’ re going to have our hands full this morning, I think. And I don’t need another lovesick baby getting into trouble.”

Nate laughed as he nodded. “Sure. Although, I think Alexander is a pretty standup guy, so I doubt he’d do anything like Julian.”

“I don’t think so either,” Victoria said, “but that doesn’t mean Maddie won’t get a crazy idea in her head. She’s a teenager. She’s got all those raging hormones. I don’t want an international incident.”

“I’ll go check in with her now. Hey, I’m sorry to be the one to throw your morning into a tailspin.”

“It’s okay. Better that we know than have this come out at the worst possible moment.”

“Oh,” Nate said as his eyes fell to the table. “Mind if I take your conversation list? I need to practice so I can dance and talk at the same time.”

Victoria grinned at him and handed the topic list over. “You’ll be fine. You were always good at wooing clients.”

“Yeah, I’m not selling her face cream, Mom, I’m trying to make her like me so I can marry her daughter.”

Victoria pinched his cheeks. “It’s impossible not to love you.”

“Says my mom. Okay, I’m going to talk to Maddie. She loves to remind me that this is all going to work out because Ellie and I are meant to be.”

“Have fun. We’ll see you for the parade.”

With a kiss to his mother’s cheek, Nate left his parents behind and continued down the hall. Knocking on his sister’s door was a far easier task than the one he’d already faced, at least.

She answered it within a few seconds, her features tugging into a frown.

“What’s that look for? ”

“I thought maybe you’d be Alexander coming to ask me to go to the parade with him.”

Nate rolled his eyes at her. “I’m not going to the parade with Ellie, and I’m way closer to her than you are to him.”

She wrinkled her nose. “But still…”

“Come on, what do you say we go for a walk? It’s really pretty outside. Let’s enjoy it.”

She nodded as she grinned at him. “Okay. Let me grab my hoodie.”

When she reappeared at the door, she said, “Maybe we’ll run into Alexander.”

“Oh, Maddie…”

“What?” she asked as they meandered down the hall.

“Nothing. Maybe we will. And then I’ll probably end up walking through the gardens alone while you hang all over him.”

They stepped into the bright sunshine outside and headed for the garden.

“What do you think the town’s like?” Maddie asked.

“We should check it out.”

“Yeah, especially if you’re going to be living here,” Maddie answered.

He gnawed his lower lip, wondering if he would be or if he’d lose Elena’s hand to Prince Eric.

“You okay?” Maddie asked.

“Yeah, I just…” He heaved a sigh. “Prince Eric wants to marry Elena.”

Maddie’s features registered shock and dismay. “Really? How do you know that?”

“He told me this morning. Fair warning that we’re battling for her hand.”

“Aw, Nate,” Maddie said, sliding a hand onto his shoulder. “You’ll win. Ellie loves you so much.”

Nate offered her a tight-lipped smile as he patted her hand, grateful for her unwavering support. In that brief moment of connection, he felt a surge of affection for his sister, realizing how much her encouragement bolstered him. “Thanks, Maddie. I know she does. I have to keep believing that everything is going to be okay.”

“It will be. I know it. You two are perfect together.”

“You always know how to make me feel better.”

She grinned at him. “That’s what sisters are for.”

They continued through the garden, making small talk about the upcoming events before they returned inside. Nate dropped Maddie at her room to change for the parade before he wandered to his. With every passing second, his stomach tied into a tighter knot as he realized he’d soon have to make small talk with the queen.

He pushed into his room, intent on going over the conversation list his mother made for him, but he froze the second he stepped inside.

His heart thudded against his ribs, and his palms turned sweaty as Stephen rose from one of his armchairs, his features twisted into a deep grimace.

“We need to talk,” his brother growled.

Nate’s jaw clenched as he wondered if they’d soon be in another fist fight. Would his revelation cost him both his brother and his fiancée?