15. Nick #2
My brother sighs heavily, his smile slipping from his face.
“With the news of our engagement, the media storm intensified rapidly.
Annika was hounded by the paparazzi to such an extent that she stopped leaving her flat.
But the more reclusive she became, the more the press clamored for photos and stories.
When it became too much for her to handle, I encouraged Annika to move into the palace, but by that point, the damage was done.
She realized she couldn't live that way, so she ended our relationship.”
“You guys were together for years," I argue, angry on my brother's behalf. "The vicious press cycle shouldn’t have been a shock to her.”
Alex drops down onto the davenport next to me.
“When we were dating, it was different, less intense. We were a fairly boring couple. The press often reported on your dating exploits, but they left us alone. Occasionally, we’d get photographed or followed when we were together, but if Annika wasn’t with me, she wasn’t bothered.
Unfortunately, following Father’s death and the announcement of our engagement, the media attention skyrocketed, and she was harassed constantly. ”
“I really thought she could withstand it,” my mother tsks. “What a disappointment. ”
“How are you holding up?” I ask my brother.
Alex appears beleaguered, but I don’t know how much of that is due to our father’s death and Alex’s sudden ascension to the throne and how much is a result of his breakup. My mother said that Alex was heartbroken, but Mother's been known to twist the truth to suit her needs.
“Alright, all things considered. I loved her, but I respect her decision. Better she figured out that life in the royal family isn’t for her before we married or had children.”
“I suppose, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.”
Morosely, he shakes his head. “No, it doesn’t.”
Turning to our mother, Alex inquires, “Have you filled Nick in on your asinine idea yet?”
Alex's words cause the bourbon in my stomach to curdle. “What asinine idea, Mother?”
Mother motions for Gerald, who I hadn’t noticed hovering in the shadows of the room, to approach and he hands Mother a navy-blue leather dossier with the royal insignia embossed in gold.
I glance at Alex in confusion. What is Father’s private secretary, and close friend, doing working for Mother?
I assumed Gerald would continue working as an advisor to the king, albeit now serving Alex in the wake of Father's death.
Yet, it appears that Gerald is working for the queen instead. Quite the demotion, if you ask me.
Alex shrugs, like it’s not a big deal. It isn’t. I’m simply surprised.
Opening the dossier, Mother withdraws a single sheet of paper and slides it across the table.
Picking it up quickly, I glance at it, skimming the dozens of women's names, some I recognize, many I don't. I incline my head. “What is this about? ”
“Nothing brings the country together like a royal wedding," Mother responds with a sanguine smile.
"Well, that appears to be off the table given that Annika broke off the engagement," I scoff.
Alex barks out a laugh before quickly hiding his grin.
Mother simpers, "Not your brother's wedding."
My eyebrows shoot into my hairline, and I drop the paper as if it's on fire. “Royal wedding? Tell me you aren’t insinuating that I am to get married to…to one of these women on that list?”
Alex laughs again, this time more robustly, as he claps me on the back. “I told you her plan was asinine.”
Launching to my feet, I pace the room in a frenzied state. “There is no way, Mother. I refuse!”
“Crown before self, son. As a member of the royal family, it’s your duty to put the well-being of the Crown ahead of your personal aspirations. Nicholai, it’s time for you to repair your notorious reputation and become a man worthy of your royal heritage.”
“Yes, Prince Nick the Dick,” my brother jests.
One time— one time —the media called me that and my family will never let me live it down.
I glare at Alex before quickly turning to my mother. “I understand that, Mother, but marriage?” I ask incredulously as a shooting pain throbs behind my temples.
She cannot ask me to marry some random woman just to deflect attention from Alex.
“At times, we must take drastic steps to curry favor. While your father ruled Belgrovinia, we had the staunch support of the traditionalists, but those supporters are turning against the Crown because they fear Alexander. He’s young.
He’s unmarried. He’s a modern royal. They’re afraid he'll make changes to the monarchy and to how Belgrovinia has been ruled for centuries.
"Meanwhile, the modernists continue to rally against us, crying for further reforms and reduction in our political power. Nicholai, we desperately need positive press right now.” Mother pauses, holding eye contact with me.
“Think about it. Think how good it will be if you, the Prince of Hearts, matures into a respectable monarch capable of standing by his older brother’s side to lead the monarchy into the future. ”
“I am thinking about it,” I mutter through clenched teeth. “No one will believe that, immediately following the public demise of Alex’s long-term, committed relationship, I spontaneously decide to get married. The optics would be totally suspect.”
Alex chimes in, "Nick is right, Mother. People will simply assume he knocked someone up."
"That was uncalled for," I hiss, elbowing Alex. "And unhelpful."
And accurate.
Disappointed, Mother purses her lips, suggesting, “What if you settle down and debut your first serious relationship instead?”
I raise my eyes to the ceiling and begrudgingly acquiesce.
A relationship is better than a bloody marriage.
"Wonderful." Tapping the list with her fingertip, she explains. "The women on this list have all been vetted and meet the royal requirements for a potential spouse—"
"There will be no wedding, Mother. Do not refer to those women as potential spouses," I spit out.
“As I was saying, the ladies on my list are all religious, well-educated, from noble bloodlines, and native Belgrovinians without any scandals attached to their family names."
Sarcastically, I mutter, "Are they all virgins, too? "
Ignoring me, my mother inquires, "Would you like to have a hand in selecting your girlfriend from the list or would you rather one of my aides choose for you?”
“Call me crazy, but yes, I’d like to choose my own girlfriend, Mother.”
“Fine. I’ll set up discreet meetings with all the women to take place over the next couple of weeks then.
In exchange for taking marriage off the table, I’ll need something else from you.
” I narrow my eyes and wait impatiently for her next request. “I expect you to begin acting as Alex’s second-in-command.
That means attending the daily briefings, shadowing Alex, and doing whatever else is needed.
Now that you're back, you must accept more responsibility within the Crown.”
“Done,” I reply sullenly, as my dreams of pursuing my business degree disintegrate. I knew it was coming, but stubbornly, I held out hope that, with my prolonged absence, Alex and Mother would realize they didn’t actually need me to take on a proper role as a working royal.
“As Queen Elizabeth II famously said, ‘We must be seen to be believed.’ As soon as you make your selection, I’ll have my secretary schedule some dates to take your new relationship public.”
“Given the various debacles that the British royals have found themselves embroiled in during recent years, I don’t think we should be taking any pages out of their PR playbook, Mother,” I retort.
“Regardless, this will be wonderful,” my mother twitters with a wide smile. Standing, she remarks, “I’ll leave you two to catch up. It's nice to have you back, Nicholai, but next time, please shower and shave beforehand. And burn that atrocious t-shirt you’re wearing. It's uncouth.”
Watching my mother stride cheerfully from the room, coupled with my brother’s wide grin, I come to a sinking realization. I've been played by the master.
“She never expected me to get married, did she?”
Shaking his head, Alex replies, “Afraid not, brother.”
I groan and rub my bleary eyes. “Bloody hell, that manipulative woman.”
“Honestly, I would have given you a heads up, but I didn’t expect you to cave so easily. America has softened you.” Alex fiddles with his watch before admitting sheepishly, “And I do need your help.”