Chapter 39 — The King’s Test
Alexander had survived Amara’s brother.
He had survived her mother’s questions, her grandmother’s determination to feed him, several royal dinners, an ocean voyage, and the uncomfortable discovery that almost everyone in Azania seemed to know he was in love with the princess.
There remained one problem.
King Adisa had not agreed to their marriage.
Technically, Alexander had not yet asked.
That technicality was about to disappear.
He found the King early in the morning in a private courtyard behind the palace gardens. Adisa was reading reports while two guards waited at a distance.
Alexander stopped before him.
“Your Majesty.”
Adisa looked up.
“Captain.”
“I would like to speak with you.”
The King studied his face.
“About my daughter.”
“Yes.”
Adisa folded the report.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
Alexander remained standing.
“Sit.”
He obeyed.
Adisa poured tea for both of them with deliberate calm.
Alexander suspected this was psychological warfare.
“You love Amara,” the King said.
“Yes.”
“She loves you.”
“I believe so.”
“You believe?”
Alexander smiled slightly. “She has told me. Several times. Usually between insults.”
Adisa almost smiled.
Almost.
“And you intend to marry her.”
“If she agrees.”
The King leaned back.
“That is not the traditional order.”
“Nothing about our relationship has been particularly traditional.”
“That is true.”
Alexander waited.
Adisa drank his tea.
Then he said, “No.”
Alexander stared at him.
“No?”
“No.”
The King returned to his report.
Alexander remained seated.
Adisa looked up again.
“Was there something else?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Why?”
A small expression of satisfaction appeared on the King’s face.
The test had begun.
“You are an American officer,” Adisa said. “Amara is a princess of Azania.”
“I am aware.”
“She has responsibilities here.”
“I know.”
“She possesses considerable wealth.”
“I discovered that rather dramatically.”
“She has political influence.”
“Yes.”
“She may someday carry responsibilities greater than those she has now.”
Alexander nodded.
Adisa studied him.
“And you believe love solves all of those problems?”
“No.”
That answer seemed to surprise the King.
Alexander continued.
“I believe love creates several new ones.”
Adisa laughed despite himself.
“Explain.”
“I don't expect Amara to stop being who she is because she marries me. I don't expect Azania to become less important. I don't expect her duties to disappear.”
“And where would you live?”
“I don't know.”
The King frowned.
“You come asking for my daughter’s hand without knowing where you intend to live?”
“Yes.”
“Remarkable.”
“I could invent an answer if you prefer.”
Adisa’s expression sharpened.
Alexander continued calmly.
“The truth is that Amara and I haven't decided. Perhaps here. Perhaps America for part of the year. Perhaps both. The decision belongs to us together.”
The King was silent.
That answer had been better.
“What if I offered you a title?” Adisa asked.
“I don't need one.”
“Land?”
“No.”
“A position in my government?”
“Only if I earned it and was qualified.”
“Money?”
Alexander smiled.
“Your daughter already informed me she could buy me a better horse.”
Adisa laughed.
“She probably could.”
“My horse is fine.”
“That was not my question.”
“No, Your Majesty. I don't want your money.”
“What do you want?”
“Amara.”
The answer came without hesitation.
The King watched him.
“Very convenient.”
Alexander’s smile disappeared.
“What is?”
“You meet a woman. Later you discover she is the daughter of a king and heir to enormous wealth. Suddenly you want marriage.”
Alexander understood.
There it was.
The question Adisa actually wanted answered.
“When I fell in love with your daughter, I thought she had nothing.”
“You knew she came from a wealthy family.”
“Eventually. At first, I knew almost nothing.”
“And yet you loved her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Alexander thought about it.
Not because he needed time to invent an answer.
Because there were too many answers.
“She refused to be frightened when she had every reason to be.
She argued when silence would have been easier.
She could make me furious and make me laugh in the same minute.
She cared about Lela when she was barely surviving herself.
She fought for people she didn't know. And when she finally had enough power to demand revenge, she demanded justice instead.”
Adisa listened without interruption.
Alexander continued.
“I loved her before I knew about the palace. Before I saw Azania. Before I understood how much your family owned.”
“And now?”
“Now I know she is even more complicated than I thought.”
“That is certainly true.”
“I still love her.”
The King stood.
“Come with me.”
Alexander followed him through the gardens.
They walked beyond the formal courtyards and eventually reached a quieter section of the palace grounds overlooking the city.
Adisa stopped.
Below them stretched Azania’s capital.
“You see that?”
“Yes.”
“This is part of what Amara carries.”
Alexander looked at the city.
“Not owns?”
Adisa glanced at him.
“Good.”
The King pointed toward the markets and neighborhoods beyond the palace walls.
“A princess may possess wealth, but the responsibility is larger than wealth. Those people expect my family to serve this kingdom.”
Alexander nodded.
“Amara understands that.”
“She does.”
“Do you?”
“I am beginning to.”
Adisa turned toward him.
“If you marry her, there will be occasions when Azania comes before you.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“She may cancel a journey because there is a crisis. She may spend nights in meetings. She may travel without you. She may disagree with you publicly.”
Alexander almost smiled.
“She disagrees with me publicly already.”
“This is serious.”
“So am I.”
The King continued.
“You may become known not as Captain Whitmore but as Princess Amara’s husband.”
Alexander considered that.
“Will that wound your pride?” Adisa asked.
“No.”
“Never?”
“I didn't say that.”
The honesty made Adisa pause.
Alexander looked toward the city.
“I have pride. Probably too much. There may be days when I hate being introduced through her name. But that would be my problem, not hers.”
Adisa nodded slowly.
“And if she becomes more powerful than you?”
“She already is.”
The King laughed.
Alexander smiled.
“Your Majesty, I commanded soldiers. I know the difference between authority and worth. Amara having more authority than I do doesn't make me less of a man.”
That answer mattered.
Adisa’s face showed it.
They continued toward the royal stables.
Amara was there.
Alexander immediately became suspicious.
She stood beside a black horse, dressed for riding.
“Father.”
“Amara.”
She looked between them.
“What are you doing?”
“Talking.”
“For nearly two hours?”
Alexander frowned.
“Two hours?”
Adisa ignored him.
Amara looked at Alexander.
“Did he interrogate you?”
“Thoroughly.”
“I warned you.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask him?”
Alexander hesitated.
Amara’s eyes widened.
“You did.”
“Not exactly.”
She turned toward her father.
“And?”
Adisa calmly inspected the horse.
“Your captain lacks a plan.”
Alexander looked offended.
“I have several plans.”
“You admitted you do not know where you will live.”
“Neither does Amara.”
“Correct,” she said.
The King continued, “He does not want a royal title.”
“Good.”
“He refused money.”
“Very good.”
“He claims your wealth is irrelevant.”
Amara smiled.
“It isn't entirely irrelevant. I have excellent horses.”
Alexander pointed at her.
“That's what I said.”
Adisa finally smiled.
Then he looked at his daughter.
“Do you want to marry him?”
The question silenced both of them.
Amara looked at Alexander.
He did not speak.
This was her answer.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
The King nodded.
Alexander waited.
Nothing.
“Your Majesty?”
Adisa looked at him.
“You asked whether you could marry my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“I said no.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
Amara stepped forward.
“Father.”
Adisa raised one hand.
“Because it is the wrong question.”
Neither understood.
The King looked at Alexander.
“Amara is not mine to give you.”
Silence.
Alexander slowly understood.
Adisa continued.
“You do not need my permission to possess my daughter because you will never possess her.”
Amara’s expression softened.
“You want my blessing?”
Alexander nodded.
“Yes.”
“That is different.”
The King walked toward his daughter.
He took her hands.
“When you disappeared, I would have promised anything to have you standing here again.”
Amara’s eyes filled.
“I imagined bringing you home and putting guards around you for the rest of your life.”
“That sounds terrible.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“Then I realized what that would mean. Men stole your freedom. I cannot celebrate your return by taking it again.”
He kissed her forehead.
“You choose your husband.”
Amara looked at Alexander.
“I already did.”
Alexander smiled.
Adisa turned toward him.
“But my blessing is not automatic.”
Alexander’s smile disappeared.
Amara groaned.
“Father.”
“What?”
“You enjoy this.”
“A little.”
Alexander folded his arms.
“What else must I do?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Your test is finished.”
Alexander stared at him.
“When?”
“The moment I asked what you wanted and you answered Amara.”
Alexander looked suspicious.
“That simple?”
“No. I spent the next hour making certain you meant it.”
Amara began laughing.
Alexander shook his head.
“I preferred pirates.”
“I have heard that several times,” Adisa said.
That evening, Alexander believed the matter was settled.
He was wrong.
A formal dinner had been arranged.
Again.
He entered the royal dining hall with Amara and discovered the entire family waiting.
Queen Nalia smiled immediately.
Kellan looked suspicious.
Amara’s sisters looked excited.
Her grandmother looked as though she already knew everything.
Alexander leaned toward Amara.
“What is happening?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“Yes.”
Before he could question her further, King Adisa stood.
The room quieted.
“Captain Whitmore spoke with me this morning.”
Kellan looked at Alexander.
Alexander considered escaping through the nearest door.
Adisa continued.
“He expressed his intention to marry my daughter.”
Every face turned toward Alexander.
He whispered, “You could have warned me.”
Amara smiled.
“This is more entertaining.”
Adisa looked at his daughter.
“Amara?”
She stood.
“Yes, Father?”
“Are you certain?”
“About Alexander?”
“Yes.”
She looked directly at the man beside her.
Alexander expected a romantic answer.
He should have known better.
“No.”
The room went silent.
Alexander stared at her.
Amara waited exactly long enough to make him suffer.
“I am certain he is arrogant, stubborn, irritating, overly fond of giving orders, and incapable of admitting when I am right.”
Laughter began around the table.
Alexander folded his arms.
“Finished?”
“Not yet.”
She stepped closer.
“I am also certain he stood beside me when I had no title. He believed I deserved freedom when he thought I had nothing. He was willing to let me go when keeping me would have made him happier.”
Her voice softened.
“And I am absolutely certain that I love him.”
Alexander’s expression changed.
Amara took his hand.
“So yes. I choose him.”
Queen Nalia was already crying.
Kellan looked as though he was trying very hard not to become emotional.
The grandmother said something in Azanian.
Alexander leaned toward Amara.
“What did she say?”
“She said you still need to eat more.”
“Of course.”
After dinner, Kellan found Alexander on a palace terrace.
“Captain.”
“Prince.”
“My father told me.”
“I assumed the announcement made that unnecessary.”
Kellan ignored the comment.
“You have his blessing.”
“Apparently.”
“And Amara has chosen you.”
“Yes.”
Kellan looked toward the gardens.
“I still think you're unsuitable.”
Alexander smiled.
“I would have been disappointed otherwise.”
“But less unsuitable than before.”
“High praise.”
Kellan offered his hand.
Alexander took it.
Then Kellan pulled him closer.
“If you ever marry her for her title—”
“I know.”
“If you humiliate her—”
“I know.”
“If you hurt her—”
Alexander interrupted.
“I will hurt her.”
Kellan’s expression changed.
Alexander continued.
“And she will hurt me. We will argue. We will make mistakes. I cannot promise you a marriage without pain.”
Kellan listened.
“But I can promise I will never treat her as something I own.”
The prince slowly released his hand.
“That will do.”
Alexander found Amara later in the same garden where her father had tested him.
She was sitting beside a fountain.
“So,” she said, “you survived.”
“Barely.”
“Father likes you.”
“Your family has a very disturbing method of demonstrating affection.”
She smiled.
Alexander sat beside her.
“Amara.”
“Yes?”
“I meant what I told him.”
“What?”
“I don't want the kingdom.”
“I know.”
“I don't want your title.”
“I know.”
“And your fortune is frankly intimidating.”
“That is understandable.”
Alexander laughed.
Then he took her hands.
“I want you.”
Amara looked at him.
“Even when I say no?”
“Especially then.”
“Even when I steal your horse?”
“Borrow.”
Her eyes widened.
“You finally learned.”
“One time only.”
She laughed.
Alexander kissed her.
When they separated, Amara remained close.
“Are you going to ask properly?”
“Now?”
“You crossed an ocean. You survived my father’s test. It would be unfortunate to lose your courage at the final moment.”
Alexander stood.
Then he did something Amara had almost never seen him do.
He looked nervous.
He lowered himself to one knee.
Amara’s teasing expression disappeared.
“Amara Adisa.”
“Yes?”
“I loved you when I thought you had nothing. I love you now that I know you have more than I can comprehend. I love the princess, but I would have loved the woman without the title.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I cannot promise you a quiet life.”
“I would hate one.”
“I cannot promise never to argue.”
“That would be suspicious.”
“I can promise that every day you remain beside me, it will be because you choose to.”
Amara was crying now.
Alexander smiled.
“Will you marry me?”
She let him wait.
Three seconds.
Four.
Five.
Alexander narrowed his eyes.
“You are enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
“Amara.”
She laughed through her tears.
Then she reached for him.
“Yes.”
Alexander stood and pulled her into his arms.
“Yes?”
“Yes, idiot.”
He kissed her.
Somewhere above them, one of the palace windows suddenly closed.
Amara looked up.
“Was my family watching?”
Alexander followed her gaze.
Three more curtains moved.
“Yes.”
She sighed.
“Welcome to royal life.”
Alexander laughed and kissed his future wife again.
The King had wanted proof that Alexander did not desire a princess, a fortune, or a kingdom.
He had received it.
Alexander wanted the same woman he had wanted before he knew any of those things existed.
Amara.
And this time, the King gave them his blessing.