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

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

ELENA

E lena stared out the French door to her balcony, her features set and her arms crossed. With each heavy thud, Elena felt her heart sinking deeper into her chest, weight down by a crushing sense of despair.

A hollowness echoed with every beat against her ribs, and sadness burrowed deep into her mind.

She’d made her decision, and she planned to stick to it. She’d given love a chance, but in her life, love wasn’t to be. And she couldn’t bear any more heartache.

She had gone to Sterling City to escape the royal duty of marrying Prince Eric, and ironically, she’d ended up tethered to him by her own choice.

Only now, she nursed a broken heart.

But she did what she was used to doing as a royal. She suppressed her feelings, making a choice for the good of the order.

Instead of following her heart, which had led to disaster, she’d take the stable path. The one that had been prescribed to her long before she’d even thought of escaping it.

Prince Eric was a sensible choice. A stable choice.

He would understand her way of life, the demands on her, and the choices she would face. Her father had been correct. She had been short-sighted, demanding she be allowed to explore other options. But those options were doomed to fail, spectacularly.

As Elena wrestled with her thoughts, a gentle knock on the door interrupted her turmoil, drawing her attention away from the tumult within.

She crossed to her door, her stomach twisting into a knot. What if it was Nate? Would he come to speak to her? What would she say?

Would she cave in to weakness, or would she stand firm in her decision?

With her pulse racing, she pulled the thick oak door back, her breath catching in her throat. She forced a smile onto her face as she spotted her mother on the other side.

The woman gave her a slight smile. “How are you, dear?”

Elena’s lower lip trembled as tears filled her eyes. She wanted to throw herself into her mother’s arms and cry like she had as a child. But she resisted the urge, lifting her chin as she blinked back the tears that stung. “Fine.”

Her mother cocked her head, a consoling but questioning glance crossing her features. “May I come in?”

“Actually, I was about to leave. I have several things to attend to, and several goodbyes to say. It would be very rude of me to–“

Queen Sophia stepped into the room, driving her daughter back a step before she swung the door closed. “I cannot help but wonder if you are being hasty. And if your father and I are to blame. ”

Elena stared at the woman, shocked to hear the words coming from her mouth. “What?”

Queen Sophia stared down at her clasped hands as she prepared her statement. She flicked her gaze up to Elena’s before she began. “You have had an argument with Mr. Kingsley. And you have ended your relationship, but are you certain this is what you want?”

“I haven’t another choice, Mother. Nathan thinks it best that he leave.”

“Do you disagree?”

Elena pressed her lips together as she stalked away from her mother, unwilling to face her as she spoke. “Not entirely, no.”

“Even after some thought?”

She twisted to face the queen. “I told you earlier that you and Father were correct. You tried to warn me of what would happen, and it has. Your wisdom has proven invaluable, and I discounted it. Now, I must pay the price for not heeding the warning.”

“Pay the price for not heeding the warning?” Queen Sophia furrowed her brows as she stared at Elena. “Heavens, Elena, this is not a fable or some cautionary tale for you.”

“Yet, it has become exactly that.”

Queen Sophia stepped closer, caressing Elena’s cheek. “Oh, darling, do not let this ruin you. You are so bright, so fiery. Yet now you seem so defeated.”

Elena heaved a sigh, crossing her arms. “I am, in a way. But in another, I am not. I have plans to move forward. And I will do just that after I’ve said my goodbyes. Mrs. Kingsley was very kind to me, and I wish her to know how much I appreciated it. I also will miss Maddie very much.”

Queen Sophia rubbed Elena’s arms. “Darling, I realize you have been through a tough evening and morning. Arguments between a couple are never easy. But time and perspective can change things. Perhaps you ought to speak with Mr. Kingsley again before you give up.”

Elena's nostrils flared as she sucked in a deep breath, flicking her gaze out the window. “I have already made my decision, Mother.”

“Really? And you cannot change your mind? We all make snap decisions in the heat of the moment. But we are all permitted to rethink them and change our minds.”

Elena shifted her weight, wondering what her mother would say when she learned she’d already agreed to marry Prince Eric.

Queen Sophia led her to the bed, easing them both onto the edge. “You know, you are so much like your father.”

Elena’s forehead creased. “Yes, I know. Stubborn, bull-headed.”

“And intelligent, kind, warm, so many wonderful qualities, but one of his best is his ability to rethink a situation he has misjudged.”

Elena chewed her lower lip. She had already done that, rethinking her engagement to Eric and accepting it.

“You know, we had quite a row the night he collected you in Sterling City.”

Elena snapped her gaze to her mother. “You did?”

“Yes,” Queen Sophia said with a nod. “He was very angry about your behavior, but what he hadn’t considered was that forcing you to choose your country over your heart could be detrimental. And that there needn’t be any such choice.”

“So you…”

“Convinced him, yes. In a very…loud manner.” Her mother grinned at her.

Elena chuckled. “Mother, I have never known you to be loud.”

“Perhaps not. But I promise you, your father and I had quite the argument about it. And after that he considered it all and changed course.”

“What are you saying, Mother?”

“I am saying that arguments can be terrible, but sometimes it can make you rethink, reevaluate, and grow stronger.”

“I think I have done just that,” Elena answered.

Her mother offered her a slight smile. “Then if you feel you have, that is all I can ask. Though, perhaps…”

Elena cocked her head, prodding her mother to continue.

“Perhaps your rounds ought to include Mr. Kingsley. I believe you two deserve the chance to speak one last time before he departs.”

Elena offered her mother a fleeting smile as the woman patted her hand. “And that is the end of my advice.”

“Thank you, Mother. I do appreciate you stopping to check on me, though I promise I am fine.” She offered another weak smile as they rose.

Queen Sophia pulled Elena into a tight hug before she gave her arms another rub and left her behind.

Elen? swallowed hard as the door clicked shut. Her lower lip trembled as she considered her mother’s words. She had pivoted based on the argument this morning. She had rethought just as her father had. Would they be proud of her?

The last statement her mother made seemed to contradict everything else. She wasn’t certain she could face Nate one final time.

She hated to leave the angry words between them, but she couldn’t face him again. Not now. Not with her engagement to Prince Eric looming over her.

And she couldn’t face a painful goodbye. She’d used her anger to fuel her steps from the room when she’d left him behind, but with the strong emotion fading, she feared she would fall apart.

Her stomach twisted into a knot as she imagined the conversation, the coldness that would exist between them where warmth had only been before, the stiff words when laughter had normally filled their space.

Her tongue darted nervously over her dry lips, a subconscious gesture betraying the tension coursing through her.

No, she couldn’t face Nate. With her decision made, she picked herself up off her bed and forced herself into the hall. Her knees wobbled as she made her way to the hall containing the Kingsleys’ bedrooms.

With a shaky breath, she knocked on the door of Nate’s parents. A moment later, Victoria opened it, her features softening the moment she spotted Elena.

Their suitcases sat open as they filled them with clothes.

Tears welled in Elena’s eyes, but she shoved them aside, plastering a polite smile onto her face. “Hello, Mrs. Kingsley. I assume you heard the unfortunate news.”

Victoria clicked her tongue, her forehead creasing as she nodded. “Yes. You and Nate had quite the argument. I’m so sorry, honey.”

Elena kept the soft smile on her features, trying to treat this like a diplomatic visit. “As am I. And very sorry to see you all going.”

“We’re sorry to go, too. Have you seen Nate again?”

Elena shook her head, her heart thudding against her ribs. “No. I think it may be best if we don’t see each other. We spoke very harshly with each other, and I do not wish to risk another argument.”

Victoria heaved a sigh. “Well, I can’t force you to see each other. But I do wish you’d at least say goodbye to each other.”

“I feel we have already done that,” Elena answered. “And now, I am here to say…goodbye to you.”

Her voice cracked as she spoke the last few words. Tears stung her eyes again, and she licked her lips as a distraction .

“Oh, sweetheart,” Victoria said, pulling Elena into a hug, “I’m going to miss you.”

“I will miss you also,” Elena said, a sob escaping her.

She pulled back, wiping the tears from her cheeks as Victoria offered her a lopsided smile, tears shining in her eyes, too.

“Well, I will leave you to your packing. I need to visit Maddie.”

Victoria nodded, squeezing her hand. “She’s not happy.”

“I imagine not.” Elena forced a laugh. “But I do very much want to say goodbye.”

“Okay, sweetie. Well, I wish you the best.”

“Thank you, and goodbye, Mr. Kingsley,” Elena said with a wave at the man.

He offered her a tight-lipped smile. “Goodbye, Ellie.”

She strode from their room with half of her goodbyes completed, but the knot in her stomach still remained. She glanced at Nate’s door down the hall, swallowing hard before she twisted away from it and continued down the hall to Maddie’s door.

With a knock, the door opened. A red-eyed Maddie, tears streaking her face stood at it. Without a word, she threw her arms around Ellie’s neck. “Oh, Ellie, this is terrible.”

“I’m so sorry, Maddie. It is not at all what I had hoped for, either.”

“Please, please go see Nate and work it out. You’re such a good couple. You just…had a fight.”

Elena pulled back from her. “We just don’t see eye to eye on the important things. I’m sorry, darling.”

“Oh, Ellie, please. You can still make it. You love each other. Remember the carousel and the kiss you shared there? And how excited you were when he proposed?”

The memories flitted through Elena’ s mind, but she shoved them aside. She couldn’t think of that now. Their relationship was over. Nate didn’t want her now.

“It has been very difficult, but love can’t always conquer all.”

Maddie’s nose wrinkled as she frowned.

“You know, once everything settles, perhaps you could visit me. Maybe around the Christmas holiday. It’s quite lovely here with the snow.”

“Aw, I’d love to. But I don’t want to say goodbye now.”

“I’m afraid you must. But this isn’t goodbye forever. We’ll still talk via text, I promise.”

Tears streamed down Maddie’s face as she nodded and wrapped her arms around Elena’s neck again. “I’ll miss you.”

“I will miss you so much, too.”

They said their final goodbyes before Elena left her to pack. Even after finishing her task, she felt no relief. The weight of what had happened still pressed down on her shoulders.

Her gaze fell on Nate’s door, and she stood frozen. An image of his face formed in her mind, and her heart pinched. She wanted to speak with him, at least to say goodbye, or maybe to apologize, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Instead, she hurried down the hall, racing back to her room and shutting herself inside of it. She let the emotions of the goodbyes spill over once in the privacy of her space.

“Oh, darling,” Caroline said, hurrying to her to embrace her.

“The goodbyes were harder than I expected,” Elena choked out.

“Of course, they were.” Caroline led her to her bed and eased her onto it. “Did you speak with Mr. Kingsley?”

“No, I couldn’t bring myself to see him.”

Caroline stroked her hair as she allowed tears to stream down her cheeks. She cried until no more tears came .

Caroline patted a tissue against Elena’s cheeks, drying what remained of the salty tears. “Well, I think you’ve cried yourself dry.”

She accepted the tissue from Caroline, blowing her nose. “I have. But I feel no better.”

Caroline brushed a lock of hair over Elena’s shoulder. “Do you know what I think would make you feel better?”

Elena sucked in a breath. “Chocolate?”

Caroline chuckled before shaking her head. “No. I believe you need a bit of closure. Why not find Mr. Kingsley and speak with him?”

Elena’s forehead creased. “Caroline…”

“Darling, I’m serious. You need to do this.”

“I can’t face him. Not now. I may fall apart again.”

“Then fall apart. Tell him everything you want to say. And at the end, you’ll know you’ve done everything.”

Elena sniffled, chewing her lower lip. “It will not change anything.”

“But you’ve done it. You’ll have no regrets. And you never know. It just may change everything.”

Elena’s stomach twisted as she considered it. What if she did speak with him? What if she told him how heartbroken she was to lose them all? To lose him?

Even if he didn’t stay, at least she would have said her piece. She licked her lips before she slowly nodded. “Yes, Caroline, I think you are correct.”

A grin spread across Caroline’s lips. “Let’s get you cleaned up a bit first, shall we?”

“Do I look that bad?” Elena climbed from the bed and approached her vanity, her eyes going wide. “Oh, dear, I do look a bit worse for wear, don’t I?”

“Not to worry, Your Highness, I’ll have you fixed in no time at all.”

Caroline brushed her hair as Elena wiped at her puffy eyes before she fixed her makeup. Elena studied herself in the mirror. “Not bad at all, Caroline. What do you think?”

“I think you’ll do. Now, go find Mr. Kingsley and say all the things. And no matter what happens, remember you’ve made your effort.”

A sense of urgency gripped Elena as she dashed from her room to Nate’s, a nagging feeling stirring within her that this encounter held great significance.

Her stomach clenched, but she rose her shaky hand in the air and banged on the door.

A minute later, a maid opened it. “Your Highness!”

The woman curtsied quickly.

“Hello, Dora. Where is Mr. Kingsley?” Elena searched the space, finding it empty.

“I believe the Kingsley have already left, Your Highness. Their luggage was being loaded–”

Elena didn’t hear the rest of the statement as she spun on her heel and fled toward the front of the palace. She’d waited too long. She hoped she could catch him.

With each step, her urgency grew, her heart pounding in her chest as she raced through the halls, desperate to catch Nate before it was too late.

Her chest constricted, and she zipped past Caroline who called to her.

“No time to talk, Caroline! The Kingsleys are already getting into the car. I must catch them.”

“Run, Your Highness!” Caroline shouted as she hurried behind her.

Elena pushed her legs to carry her through the halls and down the stairs as fast as she could. She puffed for breath as she reached the front door, flinging it open. She searched for Nate and his family, but her heart plummeted as she found no one .

Instead, a car pulled down the drive, already almost at the gates. She swallowed hard, her features pinching. She’d missed her opportunity. And now she’d never have another chance.