Chapter 23
Is a Royal Wedding Happening?
Last night, Prince Rikard and Queen Alexandra were spotted leaving a bar in the entertainment district in Neandia walking hand-in-hand. Rikandra were spotted with the alt-rock band, Riot Elephant. Walking with the band’s frontman, Tim Sheers, was Princess Astrid.
Onlookers said that Rikandra spent time at the club they were seen leaving “all over one another” and stated that the Queen was spotted showing off a very large diamond on her left hand. This seems the new normal for the royal couple who have been inseparable since they were first spotted together weeks ago.
To add more to this plot, photographers caught Queen Alexandra heading to the barn with Prince Rikard the next morning sans-diamond. The jury remains out with Rikandra showing no signs of waning. We are waiting with bated breath for official news.
“Alexandra, we need to talk now!”
Celeste returned. I was about to atone for everything I got away with. It was a glorious two days. Rick took us out on the town. I danced in public. We’d barely been apart for more than five minutes. No, we did not get into any trouble. With people around, we’d not have time to avoid getting caught. Still, we did what we could. We ate in the dining room this morning like independent grown-ups and went riding this afternoon. It was freedom again, but I knew I would pay mightily for it.
I stopped. “Yes?”
Rikard stood to my right. I expected him to scurry away, but he stood fast.
“You’re dismissed, Prince Rikard,” Celeste said.
“Dismissed?” Rick played dumb.
“Dismissed. Go on. This is a private conversation.”
“And Alexandra is my fiancée. So unless that has changed, I’d rather stay.”
His tone was fierce. He’d gone from laughing to a growl in about a minute. It was hot and no one else defended my honour.
Celeste set her jaw.
“I am here to help, as always, if I can answer any questions, Your Majesty,” Rick said.
“Did you take the girls out last night?” Celeste demanded.
“They were hungry, ma’am. Yes.”
“You realise I should wring your neck for that?”
Mouth agape, I turned. His face remained neutral.
“Well, you can do as you please. However, I made sure they stayed out of trouble and returned in one piece.”
“You might say that, but the press are saying that you were canoodling with musicians of all people! And that the two of you couldn’t keep your hands off one another. I won’t have this, Prince Rikard! You haven’t married her. Not yet anyway. And you won’t get anywhere?—”
He played dumb. “Is it my fault if I find my future wife irresistible? Apologies, but I am a weak man.”
“You should not take her out and kiss her in public. And you should know better, Alexandra!”
I was unsure how to respond.
“Hormones are a dreadful thing! Can you two not wait a few months? In my day, we didn’t so much as kiss before a wedding.”
I stifled a snicker. It was all a bit harmless. We were supposed to be madly in love, right? What was a bit of light snogging on a night out? That was normal for any other person my age. I wanted to push back.
“We will be good,” Rick said.
“I doubt that. Nor can I trust Astrid to properly chaperone you. What will I do? Her reputation is destroyed by this point.”
“Grand-Mama, nothing happened with her. We made some friends. It was all very innocent!” I rushed to Astrid’s defence. “She didn’t kiss him. She didn’t do anything.”
Celeste was enraged. “It doesn’t matter but your reputations do.”
“Or else, will we not be marriageable?” I asked. “Because isn’t that what you mean? That a man—or his family—won’t find us worth it?”
“Of course!”
“Excuse me, but have we entered the Twilight Zone?” Rick interjected.
Celeste glared.
“I would say most parents don’t prize chastity in this day and age. Mine do not.”
“The church does! And your marriage must be sanctioned by the church—as will Astrid’s.”
“I know Catholics can be conservative, but I doubt kissing defies any requirements,” Rick protested.
“You all did this behind my back! You waited for me to leave.”
Celeste grabbed my arm, digging her nails into me. “You want something to go wrong. You want this all to end up an embarrassment, Alexandra! You aren’t taking this seriously!”
“How am I not? I have done everything asked of me,” I winced.
“You’re whoring yourself around town with him.”
I fought tears.
“Your grandfather would be so disappointed to see you lack any degree of character! I think it is time to call it all off.”
“What?” I asked.
“The wedding,” she said. “You’re not mature enough to keep your head on you.”
“No, no!” I pleaded. “Don’t say that.”
“We’re going through with this,” Rick’s voice was strong and posture aggressive.
Celeste glared. “You will not. I must authorise any marriage.”
“What if your hand was forced?” I played my last card. “Because our release is set to go out tomorrow morning.”
“It doesn’t matter! We can scrap it.”
Rick stepped closer to the old bag. “The photos will be ready. I am not asking. I am telling you that I will make it so—that we will make it so. And, as Alexandra says, force your hand.”
“Your parents?—”
“Will understand that we want to get married and support it. Celeste, the entire world is watching Neandia for the first time in however long. This is something the people want and need. You’d anger them. I won’t stay quiet if you do this to Alexandra. You are punishing her for acting like a woman of her age. This is what people our age do—and much worse!”
Given the way he defended us, I wanted to do a lot worse. He wanted this. He was defending us. Someone cared enough about me to have my best interest in mind. I wanted to kiss Rick more than ever. His defence of me changed things. I trusted him now.My stomach had butterflies. I gripped his hand tightly. I needed him to know how much it meant.
“Don’t test me, Celeste,” Rick said. “You had your side of the bargain, we had ours. We sold this completely. I adore Alexandra. And my duty is to her—not you. To her and the family but not your whims.”
Celeste backed down. “Fine, have it your way. But mind yourself. She is a precious commodity and if you don’t treat this seriously, I will make sure your family suffers a blow so great?—”
“I would never do anything to hurt your family unless you give me a reason to. Don’t try me,” Rick’s voice boomed through the hallway.
Celeste left. We stood hand-in-hand watching her depart into the abyss. After she turned the corner, I turned to Rick.
“That was… the sexiest thing anyone has ever done,” I murmured.
“She can die in a fucking ditch, Lex. I mean it,” Rick said.
I wrapped him up in a great big kiss. Everything felt different. It was brighter, more authentic, and sweeter. I wanted to try and do everything. I wanted to trust him and believe he would always have my back like this. It was amazing!