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“Alex told me about that. It's kind of archaic that only sons can inherit the throne.”
He continues. “Alexander is King Frederic’s heir. He will inherit the throne when his father turns 65, which is a matter of only seven years away.”
So far, they’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.
Grandmama steeples her fingers. “Do you know what happens if a Crown Princess of Malveaux were to marry a Crown Prince of Ledonia?”
Wait, what? Marriage? No one said anything about marriage.
“Let's not jump the gun here, okay? We’ve barely admitted we’re into each other. We’ve only known each other for a matter of weeks.”
Despite my protest, an image of Alex and I together, married, fills my mind. He’s holding me in his arms, gazing at with me with such love in his eyes it causes my breath to hitch, and I know. I just know.
Alex is the man I want to marry.
I want to be with him forever, to build a life with him, to have a family and share all that life can offer.
A deep sense of calm engulfs me. Calm and pure joy.
It’s him. It’s Alex.
My grandmama whimpers once more, telling me my thoughts are written right across my face in Vegas-sized lights. “Oh, my darling. It’s worse than we’d feared.”
“It’s a good thing, Grandmama. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before in my life.”
Grandpapa clears his throat. “I’ll put it plainly for you. Because of the Ledonian law of ascension, if you marry Alexander, you’ll have to give up your claim as heir to the Malveauxian throne.”
I gawk at him in astonishment. “I would?”
“Marrying Alexander spells the end to your life as a member of our royal family. If Nicolas signs the abdication papers—” he breaks off.
“Is he likely to sign them?” I ask, my voice meek with shock.
“We don’t know,” he admits. “What we do know is without you, the Crown may end up being passed to Edgar, which will mean the end of the monarchy of this country.”
Grandmama lets out another whimper.
I want to be with Alex, but I want my new life in Malveaux, too. But also, I would hurt my grandparents if I chose him over being in line for the throne. But not choosing Alex will hurt him—and it’ll hurt me.
My head pounds with the choice I know I’ll have to make.
But how can I ever, ever choose?
Chapter 27
Alexander
I dive into the outdoor pool, relishing the cool after my ride through the parklands. I’ve been back at the palace in Ledonia’s capital of Villadorata for a couple of days and my head is full of Maddie. Maddie and the fact that she’s falling for me. Maddie and the fact that she’s decided to stay in Malveaux.
How lucky can a prince get?
Incredibly lucky, as it turns out.
With steady strokes, I glide through the water, turning to breathe in a pattern I’ve used since childhood. Stroke, stroke, stroke, breath, stroke, stroke, stroke, breath. Our parents saw the ability to swim as extremely important, and I’ve never lost the feeling being in the water gives me each time I dive in. It’s a combination of a sense of calm, mixed with power, and right now I need it to help me get rid of some of the adrenaline from my system.
Today is the day I see Maddie again after two weeks away from her.
Although we’ve been messaging one another since I left Malveaux, I’ve missed her terribly. There’s a gaping hole in my heart that only she can fill.
