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

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

ELENA

E lena’s heart plummeted as she stared at the car winding down the drive away from the palace. A storm of conflicting emotions churned within Elena, tightening her chest and blurring her vision with unshed tears. Each breath felt like a struggle against the weight of disappointment and heartache.

A winded Caroline caught up to her, panting for breath as she joined Elena outside the palace doors.

“He left.” The words stuck in her throat as a tear fell to her cheek.

“Oh, no.” Caroline tugged her phone from her pocket. “I will call the gates and–“

“No,” Elena said, flicking away the tear and firming her jaw. “Do not call them.”

“Why?” Caroline asked. “You wanted to speak with him.”

Elena crossed her arms, allowing stubbornness and anger to shove aside her disappointment. “He clearly did not wish to speak to me.”

“But, Your Highness…”

“Caroline, he left. He left here without even a goodbye. He had the opportunity to come to me, and he did not. I will not chase after a man who does not know my worth or care a fig about my feelings.”

“I don’t believe that’s true,” Caroline said with a shake of her head. “He’s hurt, too.”

“Is he? I did not hurl the insults he did. I stood by him as Eric framed him to paint him in a bad light. I fought against my own father for him. To be accused of using him only to escape marrying Eric?” Elena snorted out a laugh. “I will not chase him down.”

Caroline followed her as she stormed back into the castle. “He learned of your engagement to Prince Eric.”

“How?” Elena asked, her eyes wide.

“I–I believe Prince Eric told him.” Caroline tugged her lips into a grimace. “I didn’t confirm it directly when he asked me, but…he did learn of it.”

Elena’s gaze fell to the floor. Had this been the reason he’d left without a goodbye?

“I could still have them tracked down at the airport,” Caroline said with a wave of her cell phone in the air.

Elena stared at the device for a moment before she shook her head. “No. If he wanted to speak about it, he would have.” She curled her fingers into fists, sucking in a steadying breath. “No, we move forward as I planned.”

“But, Your Highness, this is surely a path toward misery. Please, before you ruin your entire life over one argument, let me arrange a meeting for you.”

“No, Caroline. I will not put my heart through that again. I cannot.” Her features pinched and fresh tears stung her eyes. “I cannot stand it.”

Caroline pulled her into an embrace. “Oh, dear. I realize this is difficult, but let’s just have one more go at it, shall we? I’ll call the airport–“

Elena pulled back, wiping at her tears. “I said no, and I meant it. My heart will heal.”

A new voice entered the conversation as she sniffled and hurried to dry her face. “Elena? Is something wrong?” King Frederick asked.

She shook her head, plastering on a weak smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “No, Father. I am perfectly fine.”

“Mr. Kingsley has just left, Your Majesty,” Caroline explained.

King Frederick bobbed his head. “I see. And the goodbye was taxing, I imagine?”

“No, it was not. There was no goodbye. He merely left. For the best.” She lifted her chin, desperately trying to conceal her emotions from her father.

“I disagree. I think we should have at least seen them off.”

“I realize it may be viewed as rude, but Nathan preferred it this way. He did not wish to speak to me, and I honored that.”

King Frederick raised his eyebrows. “I see. It is a terrible shame that things ended on such a sour note.”

“Is it? Perhaps you were correct in being so…cautious before issuing your approval. Perhaps things were always meant to end on a sour note.”

King Frederick’s gaze lingered on Elena, his features etched with concern. He offered her a fleeting smile before he heaved a sigh. “I don’t believe so. He seemed a nice young man.”

“But you had reservations.”

“Elena, you are my only daughter. I will always have reservations over any man you marry.”

“You did not have them with Eric,” she shot back .

“Your engagement hadn’t been announced yet. Give me time, I probably would have found some.”

Her eyebrows pinched as her stomach twisted. Would the news of their engagement following the meal tonight be unwelcome? She assumed her parents would be thrilled. Had she misjudged?

She shook her head. “No, Father, you were right. Nathan Kingsley is not cut out for royal life.”

“I am not as certain as you are,” the king answered. “I…feel I was too hasty in saying that.”

Elena’s lips parted as he said the words. She drew her chin back to her chest, her head cocking in question. “What do you mean?”

“I think he is a man of genuine character and that alone makes him an excellent choice as a partner.”

Elena’s features crinkled, and Caroline slid a hand onto her shoulder. “So, you would have approved of our relationship?”

“Yes,” he answered. “I wonder if I had told you this sooner if it would have made a difference.”

Elena wiped away a tear that had fallen to her cheek. Their first argument had stemmed from the lack of approval from her father.

But their second point of contention had not. He felt she’d used him.

“No, I doubt it would have, but I do appreciate you telling me, Father.”

“Are you certain? Perhaps another conversation with Mr. Kingsley is warranted, armed with the new information.”

“It is not,” Elena answered. “He…made his thoughts clear, and while some of his reservations about our relationship stemmed from the lack of obvious approval, not all of them did. It is those last few that I have used as the basis of my conjecture.”

“I see,” King Frederick said. “Well, I suppose that should bring me some measure of relief, but it does not.”

“Why?” Elena asked.

“Because you are hurting. Elena, despite what you may think, I wish things would work out. I want to see you happy.”

She offered him a fake smile, but it was all she could muster. “Thank you, Father. I appreciate the sentiment.”

He nodded at her before he squeezed her shoulder, a rare display of affection between them.

As he strode away, Caroline leaned closer. “You did not tell him about your arrangement with Eric.”

“He will know soon enough,” Elena answered.

“Perhaps he no longer agrees it is wise.”

Elena sucked in a steadying breath. “Eric understands our way of life. He is a wise choice. Father knew that before, and he will understand once we make our announcement. Now, I think I would like to lie down before we dress for dinner. It has been a most stressful day.”

“And will likely prove to be a stressful evening,” Caroline said.

The words cut Elena, and she tugged her lips into a frown, realizing the truth they held. She had no desire to marry Eric, but had a strong one to protect her heart.

At least he couldn’t hurt her. He hadn’t the means because she didn’t love him. Their marriage would be what it had always been intended to be: convenience. An arrangement between two royal families to pair two people at similar stations.

As she snaked through the halls to her room, her mind conjured the image of a romantic movie she’d once watched with an arranged marriage between two country’s royals. The bride had wept at the altar for half the ceremony before someone finally put a stop to it. She’d happily ran into the arms of the man she loved.

But that wouldn’t happen for Elena. Instead, she would marry the man she didn’t love to protect herself and fulfill her duty to her country.

She reached her room and closed herself inside, hoping to find solace there. As she lay on the bed, though, all she found was pain.

The roses from Eric had already started to wilt, a few of their petals finding their way to the top of the dresser. It mirrored her own wilted hopes and shattered dreams. The absence of the carousel, once a cherished token of affection, now served as a stark reminder of her fractured heart and uncertain future instead of the lovely first date it had symbolized before.

She’d asked Caroline to give it away, no longer wishing to see the bitter reminder of her failed relationship, but now she questioned the move.

At least she could have held on to one piece of it and used it to remind herself of better times. But it would likely only bring her heartache. Even the memory of it caused tears to well. She twisted away from where it had sat, searching for another focal point.

Memories of her time with Nate bombarded her. She clamped a pillow over her head to shut out the light and noise of the room, hoping to make it stop.

With each passing second, she wondered if she’d made a terrible mistake not allowing Caroline to call the airport.

She tossed the pillow aside and sat up, staring at the clock. With a shake of her head, she flopped back on the bed. It had been too long. The Kingsleys’ private plane would already be in the air.

There was no stopping it now. She couldn’t have the plane turned around and brought back to Eldoria.

She would have to accept her fate. She, herself, had done it. She could blame no one else.

As the sun drooped in the sky, Caroline pushed into her room.

“Is it already time?” Elena asked.

“Yes,” Caroline said. “It is time to dress for dinner. There is still time to put a stop to what is supposed to happen afterwards.”

“There is not. I have entered into the agreement.”

“And you may back out. Tell him you were upset, or tired. You have had second thoughts. Please, Your Highness, do not be so short-sighted.”

“Oh, Caroline, I do appreciate your candor,” Elena said as she plopped onto the stool to have her hair done, “but this really is for the best.”

Caroline heaved a sigh as she picked up the hairbrush.

“Nathan must be well on his way, by now,” Elena said, her eyes staring ahead but not seeing anything.

“I could check–“

“No,” Elena answered, focusing her gaze on her ladies’ maid. “Although, I will likely ask you to ensure they arrived safety in Sterling City. I want to know that much.”

“I will be certain to keep tabs on it and report to you the moment they have landed.”

“I imagine that will be sometime during dinner. At least I will know they are safely home before Eric and I make our announcement.”

Caroline did not answer, her focus solely on Elena’s hairstyle.

“I know you do not agree, Caroline, but really, it is for the best.”

“I did not say anything this time.”

“You did not have to. Your silence signals your disapproval loudly and clearly. ”

“It is not disapproval, Your Highness, merely…sadness. You seemed so in love.”

“I was,” Elena answered wistfully. “And I never wish to be again. I never want to feel this hurt again. Which is why I must guard my heart and marry Eric.”

“You must do what you feel is right, Your Highness. Have you selected the dress?”

“Whichever,” Elena answered.

“Whichever? It is a night you will remember for quite some time. Red or blue?”

“I care not,” Elena said with a shake of her head. “Red, blue, brown, black. Oh, perhaps black.”

Caroline clicked her tongue. “Oh, Your Highness. I will make the choice for you. Red.”

“Fine.” Elena nodded in her approval, though she didn’t care which she wore.

They finished the process, and Elena left her room behind for dinner. A smaller, more private affair, she managed to make it through, though her stomach refused to cooperate, and she left most of her food on her plate.

Her mother wrapped an arm around her as they went to the sitting room for a nightcap. “Darling, are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m all right. Just…not hungry.”

Queen Sophia smiled at her before Queen Elisabeth caught her arm to ask a question. Elena lumbered to the room, each step feeling like she was walking to the gallows.

She hadn’t heard from Caroline yet. Had the Kingsleys not landed?

It didn’t matter, she supposed as she stepped into the sitting room, received her sherry, and eased onto the couch.

“Darling,” Eric whispered as he eased onto the cushion next to her, “perhaps we should make our announcement now so there is time for celebrations.”

Celebration was not a word she would use, but she nodded and slipped her hand into his.

He led her to the piano where he set his drink down and cleared his throat. “Excuse me, everyone. There is an announcement I would like to make.”

Elena’s heart thudded hard against her ribs as the room quieted. Second thoughts crowded into her mind, and her throat parched.

“Elena and I–“

Eric’s voice faltered as the doors swung open with a dramatic creak. All eyes turned toward the unexpected intruder. Her heart stopped as she stared at the figure hovering in the doorway.

Nate, wide-eyed and gasping for breath, focused on her. “Ellie, stop, you can’t do this.”