4. Alejandro
ALEJANDRO
IDID NOT attend dinner. That had been my gift to Gabriel Valemont on his first night in Solterra, a solo dining experience where he could enjoy the delicacies of our country.
I could only imagine his face when he was served percebes, something I was sure the prince had never encountered before.
Maybe I should’ve graced him with my presence after all, just to watch him bite into the goose-neck barnacles that looked less like food and more like something a sea witch might keep in a jar to curse her enemies.
Too bad I had another, more pressing engagement to attend.
Up in my chambers, on my terrace, with paella and another bottle of wine from our vineyards as I congratulated myself on a well-executed plan.
Was it petty? Perhaps. But Prince Gabriel was the one intruding on my space in the name of diplomacy; I hadn’t invited him here. Why should I move my schedule around to accommodate a man who thought his smile entitled him to everything the world had to offer?
It wasn’t like I was an ungracious host. I still made sure His Highness had candles and wine and a five-course meal, all served on our best silver, along with a polite note expressing my regret over being unable to join him.
The next morning, I was still grinning to myself when Elena sauntered into my private sitting room and helped herself to an espresso from the tray that had been brought up.
She arched a dark, pointed brow as she lifted the small mug. “I find it suspicious you’re smiling this early in the morning. What did you do?”
“Maybe I got a wonderful night’s sleep.”
“Or maybe it’s the smile of a man who thinks he ruined a certain prince’s evening.”
I let out a mock gasp. “Would I do that?”
She shook her head as she sat down across from me. “Never, Your Highness. Which is why it should please you to know that Prince Gabriel thoroughly enjoyed his dinner last night.”
“Sure he did.”
“I saw him ask the chef how the percebes were harvested and then for a demonstration on how to eat them properly.”
“And?”
“He ate several with great enthusiasm.”
I nearly snorted, because that was impossible. “Did he?”
“Yes. And then he convinced the chef to sit with him and they talked about which coastal cities are known for the best harvests. Oh, and they joked about the percebes looking like dragon toes.”
What? Nothing about what she’d said made any sense. I had to shake my head to clear it, because surely I was hearing things. “The chef…sat with him?”
“He did. The prince wanted to send his compliments to the kitchen personally.”
“Chef Martin doesn’t come up to the dining hall, ever. Not even for my father.”
“Perhaps your father has never called his barnacles dragon toes. He even requested that percebes be served again while he’s here.”
Ugh, that was enough. I shoved away from the table and stood. “He’s lying. No one enjoys percebes the first time, especially if they weren’t raised here.”
“Maybe he’s familiar with Solterran delicacies?”
I practically growled as I crossed over to the window overlooking the white stone and red flowers in bloom.
Gabriel Valemont should’ve been easy to unsettle. I knew men like him. He was a charming, pretty prince who’d been sent by his brother to smooth over an ugly public embarrassment, so he should’ve stuck up his nose the way so many others had when they’d been served the dish.
Instead, he’d befriended my chef.
Fine. The dinner had failed, but today’s event would not.
“The schedule remains as planned?” I asked.
“Yes, sir. Every tedious minute.”
“Good.” There was no way he’d enjoy what was on his itinerary today, and I’d rather enjoy peeking in on him later as he suffered through it all.
The thought made me smile, and after I glanced at the time, I turned back to face Elena.
“Well, it seems the prince has a packed day. You should make sure the staff tending to him has awoken His Royal Highness so he doesn’t miss a minute.”
She grinned. “It’s six fifteen—he should already be awake and making his way down to the state antechamber, and if he’s not, Watson has been instructed to deliver the protocol briefing to him in chambers.”
“Let the fun begin.”
Elena shook her head.
“What?”
“You’re taking a little too much pleasure in torturing him. You do realize he wasn’t the one who—”
“Tossed me aside for a footman? Yes. But he shares the same last name and face with the one who did, which makes him guilty by association.”
“Or a reminder of what was lost.”
“Nothing was lost,” I snapped before looking out to the gardens below. “Except my dignity. Something I plan to reclaim during his visit.”
“By torturing him?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Elena. He’s here to mend the rift between our kingdoms. The least he can do is spend the day touring Solterra and meeting with its people.”
“Without a break?”
“He’s young and fit. I’m sure he’ll survive. Plus, I scheduled a luncheon in there for him.”
“With twelve ministers who want to discuss taxation and grain allocations?”
I turned and leaned back against the rail, crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s an important topic.”
“And a boring one.”
“Good thing I won’t be there.” I walked through my chambers and picked up my leather riding gloves, tucking them into my back pocket.
“Going for a morning ride?”
“Yes. I think that would be nice. Then a swim, and then I might head out to the local vineyards and see how their harvest is going.”
“You’re not going to join His Highness at all?”
“Oh no, I will—maybe somewhere between the inspection of the palace conservatory irrigation system and his audience with the dowager Duchess of Maravilla.”
Elena got to her feet. “You’re terrible, you know that?”
“Why? I’m just trying to further his knowledge about Solterra.”
“In the most brain-numbing way.”
I waggled my brows. “Here’s hoping it inspires him to leave early.”
“I don’t know,” she said as she opened the door. “He doesn’t strike me as the kind to quit.”
No, he didn’t me either, and after her report of his easygoing response to my welcome meal, I was starting to second-guess my ability to get rid of the pesky prince.
Nonetheless, my jam-packed schedule should keep him busy enough to wear even his good nature down. A thought that had me smiling all the way outside into the crisp air to go on my morning ride.