Chapter 27Marco
Chapter 27
Marco
The early morning sun is like a caress, pulling me from sleep. I blink as I shake off my slumber, my back stiff from sleeping on the rug by the fireplace all night. I look over at the bed. Sofia’s slow, rhythmic breathing tells me she’s still sleeping.
I stare at the ceiling, my heart heavy. For so long I’ve felt something was missing in my life. I’d searched wide and far for that feeling of connectedness, of belonging. My travels took me all over the world, from Scandinavia to Africa, from India to New Zealand, but no matter where I went, no matter how beautiful or fascinating a country could be, it never felt quite enough for me.
Now, I know what is enough. It’s her. Sofia. My Principessa .
But she’s rejected me. Although I know her feelings for me are just as strong, she’s choosing not to be with me.
Why I found what I’ve been searching for in a woman who will not have me is fate’s cruel trick.
Do I give up? Do I allow her to simply end things between us? Or do I fight, knowing she’s too afraid to let herself be mine?
I throw off my covers, collect my things, and get dressed in the small bathroom with the door closed. After I brush my teeth, I splash water on my face and look at the man in the mirror, staring back at me. He has a hollow look to his face, his eyes dull.
I know I need to accept what she told me last night. She’s right, she’s a princess and with that role comes responsibilities and a way of doing things. However wrong I think she is, she doesn’t think I fit the mold of the perfect husband.
But shouldn’t a marriage be based on love?
I return to the room to find Sofia awake.
“Hi,” I murmur.
“Good morning.”
Is it? It doesn’t feel like a good morning.
“I’ve used the bathroom, so if you want to get in there I’ll wait downstairs for you.”
“Marco—” she begins, but I don’t hang around to hear her repeat her words from last night. I get it. We’re done.
So instead, I collect my things and leave the room, descending the creaky staircase where I pay for the night’s accommodation and step out into the soft Monteluce morning light.
I find the cafe the two ladies were sitting at when we met them yesterday— that was only yesterday? —and order coffee and croissants. I close my eyes, the sun warm against my eyelids, sorrow and disappointment worming across my chest.
How could she look at me the way she does, kiss me the way she did, and not know that what we have between us is real and true? She’s the woman I’ve been searching for without even knowing it. She’s the woman who has touched my heart in a way no woman has before. How can she give that up because, what? I don’t fit the model of a perfect princess’ husband?
No. I don’t believe what she said. I know the force of her feelings for me have scared her into rejecting me. I know that she feels the same way about me as I do about her, but she’s running away, back to the safety of her life filled with rules and decorum.
But it doesn’t matter. She’s made her decision. And even though I know it’s the wrong one, it’s done. Over.
I open my eyes to see Sofia, standing awkwardly by my small table. She is wearing the jeans and T-shirt from yesterday, her hair loose around her shoulders. But whereas yesterday I found her transformation thrilling, today it reminds me how fleeting this moment is between us. How all we will ever have is our one perfect night under the stars in Monteluce.
Wordlessly, I pull a chair out from the table and she sits.
We eat in silence, neither of us knowing what to say. There really is nothing to say. I would give up everything to be with her, to love her.
It’s her choice not to be with me .
I press the screen of my phone and read the time. “Shall we go and see the professor?” I ask.
“We’ve come this far,” she replies.
We make our way to the agreed upon coffee shop where we find him sitting at a table, a cup of coffee and a half eaten pastry on a plate.
“Good morning, Dr. Esposito,” I say as I pull a chair out for Sofia to sit.
“Good morning. How did you two enjoy our town festival last night?” he asks.
The memory of the kiss we shared after the lanterns were released lingers like a sweet ache, so vivid and powerful, but what now can only ever be a beautiful dream.
“It was wonderful,” Sofia replies smoothly, her practiced smile on her face.
“Now, let me order you some breakfast. What will you have?” he asks.
“We were up early, so we’ve eaten already,” Sofia replies.
“In that case, shall we look at this scroll you have for me to translate?”
“Of course. I have it here.” Sofia pulls the scroll from her purse and places it carefully on the table.
Dr. Esposito’s white bushy eyebrows ping up. “It looks very old. How intriguing.”
“We thought so,” Sofia replies.
“Which is why we are so interested to learn what it says,” I add.
“Well, let me see.” He reaches into the top pocket of his blazer and pulls out a pair of reading glasses. Unravelling the scroll, he pulls his brows together as he scans the words.
Once the professor translates the scroll, we would have solved the last part of the puzzle, and our adventure will be over.
“Ah,” the professor says. “Interesting.”
“What’s interesting?” I ask.
He places the scroll on the table and holds each end with his hands, flattening it. “Where did you find this?”
I open my mouth to reply when Sofia jumps in with, “It was hidden in a secret place. I believe it’s been there for some time.”
“I see,” he replies.
“What is it? What does it say?” I ask.
He pulls his glasses from his face. “The thing is, I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
The anticipation gets the better of me. “And?”
“It seems to be a royal decree,” he replies.
“It is?” Sofia exclaims, her eyes wide.
“A royal decree saying what?” I ask.
“I’ll read it to you, shall I?” he offers, and we both eagerly agree. “Hold it flat for me, will you?”
I do as he says as he puts his glasses back on. Pointing at the first words, he reads the text. “By the Grace of God, We, King Ferdinand III of the Kingdom of Ledonia, Sovereign of the Realm, do hereby proclaim and ordain this Decree of Succession, to be known and respected by all our subjects and heirs.”
“Kind Ferdinand III?” Sofia questions. “But he was my great, great grandfather.”
“You mean the current princes and princesses’ great, great grandfather,” I add hurriedly.
“Yes. Of course. That’s what I meant,” she replies.
The professor gives Sofia an odd look. “Shall I continue?” he asks, and both Sofia and I reply, “Yes!”
“From this day forth, the right of succession to the throne of Ledonia shall not be determined by the sex of that child. Henceforth, any legitimate child of the reigning monarch, be they male or female, shall have equal claim to the throne. This rightful heir shall be declared by the Council of Nobles, in consultation with the reigning monarch or their designated regent, based on the principles of equality, merit, and the best interest of the realm. Given under Our Hand and Seal this twelfth of November in the year of Our Lord 1763.” The professor looks up at us. “It goes on to state that the king decrees that this is the law of the land.”
As he speaks, I watch Sofia. She’s riveted, hanging on his every word, her face a study first in shock, then, as realization dawns, in excitement.
When he’s finished, the professor pulls his reading glasses off and regards us with a serious look on his face. “Is this authentic?”
“I… I don’t know,” Sofia replies haltingly.
“Because if it is, the laws of succession, by which the Crown passes from parent to son, have been ignored. Nay, refuted for hundreds of years.”
All this time, I’d assumed that Amelia was using this riddle as a clever way to throw Sofia and me together. It didn’t once occur to me that this scroll would have potential implications that could be both serious and far reaching. But instead, we’ve found a document that means that, since 1763, the Crown has quite possibly been passed to the wrong member of the royal family.
This is huge! Huger than huge!
We need to do some backtracking with the professor—and fast.
“This has been a fantastic game, and we are so very grateful to you for your help, Dr. Esposito,” I say.
“A game?” Sofia questions.
“Yes. The game that sent us here with this mystery to solve.” I roll the scroll back up. “Thank you so much, professor. I’ll be sure to let the game master know how great you’ve been in this. I’m certain the company that runs this game we’re playing will be very happy to know you played your part so well, and I bet they’ll offer you compensation next time.”
“Err… thank you?” he replies, clearly confused.
“Now, we really have to get going because we need to tell the others what we found.” I rise to my feet. “Enjoy the rest of your day. I think it’s going to be warm and sunny. Come on, Hadley. Time to get back to the others and tell them we’ve won the game!”
Sofia stands, mumbling her thanks to Dr. Esposito. I take her by the hand and lead her up the street toward her car, my head spinning.
“Marco, do you know what this means?” she guffaws.
“I do, but we don’t want to talk about it here. Let’s get in the car, okay?”
“Okay,” she agrees.
We reach the relative safety of the car and slip inside. Immediately, I turn to face her.
“If this scroll is authentic, then you are the next in line for the throne.”
“I’m the heir,” she says, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“You are, if this decree is the real deal.” I hold the scroll up.
Sofia regards it with wide eyes. “It seems too fantastical to be true.”
“It’s what you’ve always wanted, though. To be your father’s heir.”
She nods, her features drawn. “It’s almost too much to take in right now.” She shifts in her seat. “But why would someone give you the riddle to solve anonymously, a riddle that ends with me learning I’m the next queen of Ledonia? It makes no sense.”
I press my lips together. “I think I know.”
Her brows spring up. “You do?”
“I think your sister might be behind this.”
“Amelia? Why ever on earth would Amelia want to send us off to solve this riddle?”
I chew on my lip, aware that I’ve been holding my conversation with her sister a secret all this time, the conversation during which Amelia suggested we find people for our respective siblings so that they could know what true love is.
How will Sofia take it? Will she laugh it off as one of her little sister’s crazy scams? Or will she see it the way I’ve grown to see it. That Amelia’s plan was for Sofia to find the man who was right for her: me .
I take a breath and level her with my gaze. “The day we attended that event in the throne room your sister asked me what I thought of the match between you and Enzo. She wasn’t a fan.”
She shrugs. “That’s putting it gently. I think her words were something along the lines of ‘how can you ever go through with such a ridiculous thing?’”
Taken aback, I ask, “So, you knew?”
“I knew Amelia wanted me to fall in love rather than have an arranged marriage. She kept carrying on about finding the sizzle.”
“The… sizzle?”
“You know, those feelings you get when you’re really attracted to someone of the opposite sex.”
“I’m aware of those feelings.” My lips curve into a brief smile before it drops away.
She looks down at her hands. “What exactly did Amelia say to you?” she asks .
“She came up with a plan she wanted my buy-in on. She wanted us to work together to find people for you each to fall in love with to show you what you’d be missing if you went through with your arrangement. By giving me the riddle, she would guess I would bring it to you, which would mean we were thrown together.”
“And you and I would develop feelings for each other,” she finishes for me, her face grim.
I pause for a beat, the elephant in the car sucking out all the air. “Yes.”
“Clever girl,” Sofia says so quietly it’s almost a whisper.
The atmosphere is thick around us, my heart banging like a drum. I’m fighting the urge to reach out and kiss her again, to tell her how much I feel for her.
I don’t. Now is not the time. But I know one thing for certain. I want Sofia with every fiber of my being.
I would walk across hot coals for her.
I would slay a dragon for her.
It’s her. She’s the one.
As I gaze into her deep brown eyes the realization hits me like a punch to the solar plexus. I’m in love with this woman at my side. Not Princess Sofia. Not the person she projects to the world. But the real Sofia, my Principessa , the woman with the sharp wit and the brilliant mind, the woman with the hugest of hearts, who wants to do the best for her people at all times, putting their needs ahead of her own. This beautiful, kind, wonderful woman who has captured my heart in a way I never saw coming.
She may have decided we’re over, but I resolve not to give up. My feelings for her are too strong simply to walk away. And I know she feels it too but she’s letting her fear stop her from allowing herself to love me.
But I’m going to make her mine. One way or another. I just need to bide my time.