Royally Rebellious: An arranged royal romance (Resplendent Royals Book 1)

Chapter 18

Several days after I committed to marry her, I entered Alexandra’s room. It was a first to make a it month before seeing a woman’s bedroom. I expected it to be sterile expanse, but it was a sanctuary of sorts—lovely and homey. Pinks and florals peppered in with ivory. It was very feminine.

She looked up, a bit nervous. Her sisters surrounded her as her maid watched on.

“Could you all give us a moment?” I asked.

“Rick, I cannot?—”

“Just a minute,” I said. “I want to chat before the big to-do.”

We were about to take engagement photos. I hadn’t seen her in a couple of days. We were kept apart. But, this morning, I was told I would spend the day with my future wife—yes, wild I know—taking photos and acting like the perfect couple we were supposed to be.

Marta nodded, smiling kindly. I gathered from all Alexandra said about her that she was a trusted person. To date, she hadn’t done anything to raise suspicion. Marta left the door cracked as the others left.

Alexandra stood and stepped towards me.

“I have a gift.”

“Ah,” Alexandra said. “You didn’t have to. I got the ring.”

“Did you?”

I reached for her left hand. She smiled and held it out. Girls in Neandia wore their engagement rings on their left hand—the opposite of Lundhavian preference. It was a holdover from old Scandinavian traditions—Vikings being contrary.

The ring was beautiful. It was a big, shiny rock shaped like an emerald. I didn’t know much more. It made her finger look even smaller. It shone like the sun in the morning light. She treasured this heirloom.

“It’s nice,” I said. “Very nice. Fitting.”

She blushed.

I handed her the box. “Here. May you wear this if you so choose.”

Pulling the wrapping back, she unveiled a pretty ruby bracelet.

“It’s the same colour in both our flags,” I said. “And I thought you might like it.”

“I love it!” She smiled broadly.

It was infectious when she got excited like this.

I bent closer, “Check under it.”

Alexandra looked confused, then set the bracelet down. She peeled back what she suspected was the bottom of the box. Instead, she discovered something below it. She looked up at me. I put my finger to my lips, suggesting she remain silent.

She whispered, holding the phone in the box, “How?”

“In case you need me, my number is in there. For any of you. Hide it well, but call or text if you need something.”

Alexandra gaped, then nodded. She looked surprised but didn’t protest.

“Should we make everyone believe a fairytale, then?” I asked.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

She instinctively took my hand and dragged me excitedly into the living room. I couldn’t help but adore her suddenly. She was excited. In her shoes, I would have been frightened. She’d been locked up for two days—hidden from everyone. I could only imagine she was used to it and had nothing more to lose.

Her hair, now in pretty curls that fell past her shoulders, bounced behind her as excitedly as her gait. I caught up, matching her determined stride. She squeezed my hand like she didn’t want to let it go. We proceeded down to something called the Jade Room. Inside were big, luxurious curtains, cream couches, and a unique fireplace inlaid with jade. It looked out onto the gardens. There, we were met by a man I’d not seen before.

“Hello, Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness.” He bowed.

“Hello. I was told I would be meeting Louise,” Alexandra spoke French.

“Louise will be on leave indefinitely,” the man confirmed. “I am your new Private Secretary in the meantime. My name is Lord Jacques Matin. It is so nice to meet you. You look lovely this morning—far prettier than in pictures.”

He stared at her as if I didn’t exist. She mooned back at him like I wasn’t there—dreamy-eyed. Dropping my hand, she laced hers together in front of her body like a surprised schoolgirl who was hot for teacher. I should have ignored Alexandra”s flirting, but the asshole was practically eye-fucking her as we stood around for engagement photos. It was beyond ridiculous!

“Well, you’re too kind. Are they not yet ready?” Her voice was soft and breathy.

I hated it.

“Not quite yet, ma’am. Can I get you anything in the interim?”

“I’d like a coffee, Lord Jacques,” I announced. “Thanks.”

He looked up from her, glared, and then fixed this expression. “Your Majesty?”

Alexandra stared like a guppy.

“Your Majesty?”

“Oh… what?”

“Anything to drink?”

“No, thanks,” she answered.

Her eyes followed him as he left the room.

I shouldn’t have cared. This should have made me happy. Maybe she could have a go with her private secretary, leaving me to have fun with someone else on the side. Instead, I was lit on fire by the gall of a man who flirted in front of her fiancée! And he didn’t even know we weren’t an actual couple!

“You don’t need to trip over him,” I said.

“What?” Alexandra asked.

“He’s not that handsome.”

“Have to agree to disagree, Rick,” Alexandra said.

She thirsted!

“What is it about him?” I whispered.

“He has fabulous shoulders,” she stammered. “A kind face.”

“And I don’t?”

“I never said that. No. You don’t have a kind face. You look quite serious and a bit like you might cut someone most days. You have nice shoulders. I am not insulting you. I’m not about to run off with him. I was merely observing?—”

“That he had nice shoulders?”

Alexandra shrugged. Whether she knew it or not, she was riling me.

The asshole moving in on Alexandra under my nose brought my coffee back. He glared and immediately turned to a totally obscure topic.

“This room is lovely, ma’am. It will do well for photos. Do you know about the wallpaper?”

“I can assure you it’s not laced with arsenic,” she laughed.

I didn’t follow.

“I loved the block printing style, though. I love textiles. That’s why I studied them,” Alexandra said.

“Oh, did you?”

He was full of shit! How he found this out about her, but I did not, was curious. I suspected the old bat of a grandmother had it in for me. She figured if she could insert a handsome ringer, then I might fade away. She’d continue maintaining power over Alexandra. Who would be that crazy? A sociopath, I guessed. This family got weirder and weirder by the moment. What was the plan? To prolong Alexandra’s agony and make it worse? To embarrass me in front of my family? No, the old bitch wouldn’t win this one.

“Do you know anything about the preservation of tapestries?” I asked, trying my damndest to keep up.

“Of course. Well, preservation of all textiles. God, I love talking about this, Rick! Stop me if I bore you.”

She rambled. I was bored immediately. At least she looked sweet as she smiled and explained. Then, she stopped.

“So, that’s how you do it. Well, one process. I love that you both enjoy this stuff. Fascinating, really,” she said.

“For certain.”

The photographer moved us into place. I handed my coffee over. He lined up the shot, then paused to address something.

The photographer called Jacques the Dickhead over. He went. I had one moment to impress Alexandra. She looked up at me again with those big, blue eyes of hers. Damn if they didn’t sell me at this moment! I needed to do something good. Alexandra was distracted by some exceedingly average asshole who was here as a plant. I needed her to fall into my spell—and quickly. Kissing her worked before, so I tried again.

I gambled. And, at first, I thought I’d lost.

Alexandra pulled away, staring. Then, to my surprise, she dove back in. The woman could kiss! She wrapped her arms around my neck as I pulled her closer. And, despite the thirty or more idiots in the room, we kept going. This began with practical, strategic motives but I soon found myself longing to push her up against a wall. What was that about? We were completely wrapped up in whatever this was. As a shutter clicked and clicked, we pulled apart.

“That’s lovely, but won’t do for the official ones,” the photographer said.

“I’m sorry. You didn’t… catch us did you?” Alexandra looked nervous.

“Young love,” he said. “It’s beautiful. I figured I would capture it for you. People usually fear having to kiss and be romantic in front of a camera. But the two of you are naturals.”

Alexandra blushed. I squeezed her hand.

“Perhaps a little less of that then? Focus on the official photos?” Jacques declared.

“I can’t help myself,” I said. “I just… couldn’t fight it.”

Alexandra shook her head and bit her lip, her eyes never dropping my gaze. I realised that here, dressed like a normal young woman, and in a different light, I liked her. She was beautiful like this. I admired her legs and the way the curve of her hips felt in my hands only moments before. I wanted so badly to grab her ass. That would be satisfying.

“Well, shall we get on with it?” Jacques barked.

So, we did. We gave them every bit of a show.