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“Your…heart?” Grandmama questions.
Grandpapa lets out a breath. “This is more serious than we thought.”
“But you see, that’s the point. It is serious. He’s serious. About me. And I’m serious about him.”
My grandparents look like I’ve told them I’m going to abdicate.
I lean my elbows on my knees. “You're worried that he’s going to break my heart. I know that's what everyone thinks. If only you knew the Alex I know, you’d see what a truly wonderful person he is.”
Grandmama’s voice trembles when she asks, “Are you in love with him?”
I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. “I know I’m heading that way. He's the most amazing man I've ever known.”
Grandmama lets out a whimper, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Seriously, why is this such a big deal?” I ask.
“Does he return this affection?” Grandpapa asks.
“He does.”
Grandpapa mutters something in Malveauxian I don’t understand, and Grandmama looks like she might faint. Actually faint.
“Are you okay, Grandmama?” I ask, springing to my feet.
Surely the fact that I have strong feelings for Alex, a man who is important to my new country, with whom we have a long and important history, is a good thing?
“What can I do?” I think fast. “Smelling salts? Isn't that what people have in the movies when they faint? I can go get you some.” If only I knew what they were and where to find them.
She waves away my concern.
“I think you should sit back down again, Madeline,” Grandpapa says, his tone grave.
I do as I'm told, something in his tone gripping my belly.
“We thought it was just a passing fancy and that it would run its course. But it seems that isn’t the case,” Grandpapa says.
My eyes dart between them. “What could be more perfect than me being romantically involved with a prince of the country we have a ‘special relationship’ with? I-I thought you'd be happy about it.”
“Happy?” Grandmama questions, her tone sharp. “How could we be happy about you having an affair with Alexander?” she asks, dismissing my very real and wonderful feelings for Alex with an ugly word.
I cross my arms over my body, concern twisting my belly. “It’s not an affair. It’s more than that. I don't get it. What have I done wrong?”
Grandpapa raises his chin. “Of course you don't understand. How could you? You haven't studied the history of our two countries. You don't know what came before.”
I scrunch my brows together. Is now the time to mention Wikipedia?
“What does the way I feel about Alex have to do with history?”
“Everything we do involves history,” he replies.
“With all due respect, you're going to have to stop talking in riddles so I can understand.”
Grandpapa is the one to reply. “Our two countries have an extremely important relationship, without which neither of the monarchies would have survived.”
The “special relationship”. Heard it before.
“We are progressive here in Malveaux, the laws of the land allowing succession to pass from parent to child regardless of their gender. Ledonia is not.”
