6. Chapter 6
Fitz
I thought this whole thing would be a drag. I’d been to my share of balls, masquerades, royal assemblies, you name it, but I’d never been the only male in the room. Never before had women been so eager for my company. A bloke could get used to it. In all honesty, I didn’t mind being the hot commodity.
In the beginning, I’d moved between the groups of women, allowing sufficient time to learn their names and their province of origin. But after the first hour, my security team escorted me to the library. Each woman had only five minutes to impress me and explain why she should stay, as per the producers.
I hated to admit that after the first five, their faces blurred together. I did like two nobles who differed from the norm. However, the constant fawning from some became increasingly irritating to me. Flattery had its merits, but there was a point where it teetered on the edge of insincerity. Coupled with the uninvited touches on my arm and thigh, I couldn’t help but feel objectified, like a piece of meat on display.
The most recent young woman exited as the guard came for her. I let out a deep sigh of relief and sank into the small couch. Not that it was comfortable. Seeing Michaela had reminded me of my time in America.
She had a comfortable couch. I slept on the L-shaped monstrosity multiple times, with my legs on one side and Michaela on the other. Those weren’t the stories I’d told my parents, but they were the ones I cherished. Especially as the stiff cushions of the royal settee didn’t cradle me.
Heels on the marble struck like a countdown for destruction. When Esmerey walked in with the confident stride of a lioness on the prowl, I understood completely.
“Why are we even bothering with this charade?” She skipped the greeting and walked into the room as if we were old chums. “We both know that I am the one who should be next to you on the throne.”
While I didn’t address her behavior directly, I wasted no time in adjusting her perspective. “Perhaps for you, but I remain unconvinced.” I rose briefly, creating a space for her next to me. Having witnessed her skills before, I knew the debate had miles left to run.
“It’s smart. You need control of parliament, and with you on my father’s good side, you’d have it.” Her palm slipped over my knee as she leaned toward me, almost predatory. “You just need to keep his little girl happy.”
I didn’t appreciate being threatened, even in veiled terms. Grasping her hand, I removed it from my leg. “And if I sent his little girl packing?”
Esmerey withdrew her hand from mine and straightened as though I’d offended her. “You know that would only upset my father as well as yours.”
My nostrils flared as I tried to keep my frustration in check. “Then give me a reason to let you stay.”
She faced me again, dark eyes sparking with mischief. “Because I know you, Leo. You always want what you can’t have.”
I tried not to laugh at her arrogance. “I could have you, and we both know it.”
“But,” her gaze dipped as if to explore my frame for a moment, “you can’t have the loyalty of the Corswald faction. Not without me.” Footsteps approached in the hallway. Likely, the guard sent to escort her. Esme wasn’t the type to take orders, refusing to wait for a command. “Think about it. We’d make a good pair.”
I watched her leave, frustrated by our interaction. My desire to remove her from the competition took hold, but I hated she was right. She had influence in circles I couldn’t penetrate. Should I prioritize her potential contributions over my personal attraction? When did my people’s wellbeing surpass my own?
That was the sort of thing a king was supposed to know.
But I’d also never claimed to be worthy of such a title.
Michaela
I chewed on the inside of my lip as another woman I hadn’t met walked out. Blair had already left, followed by Eirene, Dagny, and Carline. That left me with Sadie, who barely talked.
“This is ridiculous.” Chantal’s voice carried over the room with ease since few people remained to dispel the sound. “Do you know who I am? Who my father is?”
The guard kept his face like stone, unwilling to budge despite the way she railed on him. Sadie squirmed beside me as though the very idea of confrontation got under her skin.
“It’s cool,” I assured her. “They’ll come get her soon enough.”
“And, if you think I’m not going to make you pay for this indiscretion, taking commoners before you take a noble woman, then you are absolutely mad.” Chantal cast a glance over her shoulder as if to take inventory of the rest of us who remained. There weren’t many.
Sadie, Gwendolyn, Chantal, and myself. I could see why Chantal was freaking out, especially since she was the prince’s ex-girlfriend.
A new guard appeared in the doorway. The same who’d been escorting the contestants from the room all night. Chantal squared her shoulders and drew in a quick breath. She didn’t say it out loud, but I could hear the ‘it’s about time’ on her lips even without her voice.
“Miss Sadie Martalle.” His booming voice rattled the young woman beside me, and she took a step backward as if he’d called for her execution. “The prince awaits.”
“You go,” Sadie whispered to me. “I think I’ll faint.”
“That’s not how this works.” I took her by the shoulders. “I used to get like this before I went on stage too. Keep breathing. You can’t pass out if you still have oxygen. No matter what, keep breathing.”
Her wide eyes locked on mine. “Do I have to talk to him?”
Any other prince, my answer would have been yes, but I knew Fitz and his kind heart would see right through her nerves and understand who she really was underneath it all.
“No. He can do all the talking.” I squeezed her shoulders. “Now hurry. You don’t want to keep him waiting.”
She took a tentative step toward the exit, but I still heard her whisper, “Maybe he’ll send me home if I do.”
Strange. She sounded hopeful. Didn’t everyone want to marry Fitz?
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Chantal came to her senses once Sadie was escorted from the room. “She’s gutter trash and you’d let her—“
“Hey!” I could deal with her tantrums, but I wasn’t going to let her speak that way about sweet Sadie. “It’s not okay to talk like that.”
Fire kindled in her eyes as she faced me, wrath locked onto a new target. “Excuse me? You think you can command me? Who are you anyway? Another gutter snipe here to try to steal the crown from those who deserve it?”
“Again,” I spoke evenly, “you’re acting rude. You’re not better than anyone. You were born into privilege. You’re lucky, that’s it.”
Her perfectly shaped lips parted with shock. “You dare speak to me as though—“
“That’s enough, Chantal,” Gwendolyn stepped in beside me. “You’re such a child. Grow up.”
Seconds ticked by with her furious glare locked between the two of us. I actually thought we’d broken her elitist brain for a second. Straight-up short-circuited and melted down, but finally she rebooted back to her entitled self and shook her head with disgust.
“I’m not waiting around any longer. I’m taking what’s mine.”
She turned and stalked from the room, headed, presumably, straight for Fitz.
Fitz
She talked very little.
Sally?
Katie?
Sadie, I think? I wasn’t sure.
She stared at her shoes and whimpered quietly every time I looked at her. Was meeting the prince really that dreadful?
“Are you okay?” I spoke softly, anxious she might burst out of her skin at the slightest startle. “Would you like some water? Or something to eat?” She was remarkably petite. It was hard not to be taken aback by her size.
“I’ll survive, Your Highness.” Refusing eye contact, she clutched her stomach, as if my words had reminded her of her hunger. To resolve the issue, I made my way to the cabinet, where I had stashed a couple of snacks to enjoy between meetings. I returned with a small bag of nuts and extended them to her.
“I know this evening has taken longer than expected. We have dinner scheduled for later, but this might hold you over until then.”
Her eyes met mine for the first time. Never had I witnessed such a mesmerizing shade of amber that radiated warmth and enchantment. I set the bag in her hand and smiled, pleasantly surprised by the authentic connection we’d made. “Hello there. Finally, we meet. Nice to see you.”
A flicker of a smile twitched her full lips. They parted as if she might speak again. I waited; hopeful that fear wouldn’t hide in her tone.
“Get your hands off me!” a voice echoed off the hall walls outside my study. I recognized it immediately and clenched my hands to keep my frustration at bay. Rising to my feet again, I left Sadie on the settee and strode toward the doorway. Chantal, my ex, filled it before I arrived, eyes alight with trouble. “Hello, darling. It’s been too long.”
“Not long enough,” I said without remorse. “Please trust that I am not the reason you are here, Chantal.” The guard stepped forward like he meant to remove her, but I raised a hand to stop him. I didn’t want a scene.
Cameras wouldn’t focus on anything between me and Sadie, the commoner, but all the gossip rags had hunted me for months after my breakup with the international model who stood before me. She mastered the art of provoking me, appearing innocent and victimized. The entire nation yearned to witness our petty arguments in a public arena.
“Excuse me, Your Highness.” Small Sadie slipped around me and through the space left open in the doorway. I opened my mouth to call her back, but like a field mouse, she had already scurried away.
Frustrated, I turned away from Chantal and started toward the couch again. “Why agree to come when I’ll just send you home?”
“Don’t be silly,” she followed like she had no clue that I was trying to put space between us, “you still love me, Leo. I know you do.”
“Not as much as you love yourself.” I couldn’t deny that seeing her again brought up old feelings I thought I’d smothered, but along with the good, came the horrible. “The second I thought about giving up the crown, you were gone, and now that it looks like I’ll reign, you’re back again.” I took my seat, not caring that I should have waited for her to sit first. “Tell me why on earth I should let you stay?”
Chantal lowered herself to the seat, shrugging like this was all a game. “I make your mother happy. She adores me. You know I’d make a good queen. I have a deep understanding of the inner workings of the kingdom. Being raised as a lady of court, I know what it means to rule. To me, it’s the obvious choice.”
“And to me,” I met her haughty stare, “it’s not so simple.”
Once again, the long hallway telegraphed a visitor with echoing footsteps headed our way. Someone was coming. Likely whoever was supposed to follow Sadie. I glanced up, hating that I dreaded the next contestant like I was waiting on a threat. At that moment, seeing Gwendolyn in the doorway brought me unparalleled joy.
“Did they send me early?” Gwen smirked. “You know I always have been bad with timing.”
Chantal kept her stare locked on me. “Not at all. We had a lovely chat. Didn’t we?”
I didn’t say a word. The pain she’d caused when she dumped me still cut fresh. But once again, I found myself conflicted. She’d made a good point. I once believed she’d be queen, but then I questioned my own duty to the throne. Was I to blame for the breakup?
Chantal left as Gwen hovered in the doorway. She waited briefly, ensuring our privacy, before making a face. “That is one intense duchess.” Her mouth shifted to the side with sneaky thoughts. “Do you think we could slip her a Valium or something?”
Laughter crept up on me and took me by surprise. Rising to my feet, I covered the ground between us and pulled her into a hug. It was too familiar. Too easy. Hidden cameras watched us from all angles. I swore I felt them zooming in to get a close up. I needed to be more careful.
But for a moment, I didn’t care.
I needed something real.
Coming to my senses, I released my grasp and stepped away. Gwen ducked her head and started toward the couch as if she knew her role. “Sorry to barge in like that, but I saw her go barreling down the hallway and I thought you might need to be rescued.”
“You know me,” I said ruefully as I took my seat.
“Yes,” she agreed, “I do.”
My mind flashed back to our last conversation and how it all unraveled. Bringing her back like this wasn’t fair, but I had no choice. Desperation dictated decisions.
Gwen took a quick breath and asked the question everyone wanted to know. “What’s Chantal doing here? You didn’t end on good terms.”
I leaned back and ran my palms over my slacks. “She was always my mother’s favorite. Chantal must have been her pick. Mother always thought she’d make a good queen.”
A heavy pause landed between us. Not because Gwen had nothing to say. Judging from her expression, she wanted the right words.
“It’s stupid though, isn’t it? She has to know that you’re going to send her home.” She crossed her legs and smoothed her skirt. “It’s not like you care about her anymore.” Though I felt her stare, I couldn’t meet it. Gwen’s tone turned urgent. “Leo, there are no feelings there, right? You’re just going to send her home…”
“It’s not that simple.” I drew in a shaky breath. “I have a job to do. Nolcovia has to come first. If Chantal or Esmerey could be queen, shouldn’t I give my people what they need?”
Gwen’s foot bounced, something she did when she felt emotional. Finally, she spoke again, but her voice remained subdued. “So, they have a chance?”
I couldn’t admit it out loud. I hated the thought because it meant my own misery, but I couldn’t think solely of my feelings anymore.
“That begs the question then, dear Leonidas…” Gwen waited until I looked at her. “Why am I here? You’re looking for a wife, so why did you invite me?”
This was a conversation I’d dreaded since I’d invited her. The answer wasn’t easy, and considering our history, I knew it wouldn’t go over well.
Gwen did not back down. “I longed for this in the past. You know that.”
I hadn’t forgotten that rainy day in our last semester where she’d confessed her feelings to me and asked if I felt the same.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t
I never considered her as anything more than a friend.
“I know. I wasn’t ready back then.”
Her eyebrows lifted in question. “Are you ready now?”
“I don’t have a choice.” Feeling cornered, I unintentionally snapped at her. “I have to be ready.”
“So,” she shook her head as if disbelief had taken hold, “you plan to change our friendship into something more? You believe it will work? Like, you can suddenly manufacture feelings that have never existed for you?”
I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, but I had. Despite my romantic nature, practicality must also be considered. “You understand me and the people of Nolcovia.” I couldn’t give her the romance she wanted, at least not yet, but logically, she was my best bet. “If you don’t want to stay because it’s too complicated, I understand. You can always tell me no.”
Her face averted, longing for escape. With a bitter laugh under her breath, she almost whispered, “You know you’re the prince, right? It isn’t exactly in the noblewoman’s handbook to turn you down, is it?” With a wry smile, she echoed the phrase taught to every young noble girl. “When the prince calls, you answer.”
Taking a chance, I set my hand over hers. “This is us, Gwen. We’ve rarely followed the rules.”
She paused for the slightest moment, then slipped her hand from beneath mine. “That’s my time.” Rising to her feet, she covered the distance to the doorway, but turned to look back. “Do what you must, Leo, but do it for the right reasons.”
She left me in silence, more conflicted than ever.
Michaela
As the last one left in the parlor, I felt like I was going to develop a complex before this whole competition was over. Even if I wasn’t a part of the tournament, I kept getting singled out as the loser. No one ever returned. I wasn’t sure what I was walking in on after I followed the guard down the shadowed hall.
He stopped early and motioned with his arm for me to head toward an open door. Maybe Fitz had sent everyone home. Maybe the prince was calling the whole thing off. Some of his prospects would make me want to run. I stole a quick breath of courage before I stepped into the light of the doorway.
He didn’t notice me at first. Fitz leaned forward, elbows on his thighs, face buried in his hands. The crown he’d worn earlier rested on the table beside him, leaving him looking more like himself. Racks of books filled the walls beyond him, and a large desk faced the window. I gathered it was his office, a place he should have felt relaxed. Instead, tension gripped his shoulders and arms as though he’d already given up hope.
My first instinct was to go to him and set my hand on his shoulder to let him know he wasn’t alone in this, I’d come thousands of miles to help him carry the burden, but my mind quickly reminded me of the whole interaction in the parlor. He wasn’t just my friend anymore, and the cameras needed to be respected, even if I couldn’t see them.
“Your Highness? You summoned me?” I curtsied but kept my chin up to see his reaction. As his head came up, relief spread over his features.
“Coco,” the tension in his shoulders released all at once, “I thought you’d never come. Where have they been hiding you?”
The familiarity of his tone eased my nerves. Whatever existed in the parlor had faded in this room. Having him talk to me like a friend with our familiarity restored, I felt silly for ever doubting our connection. Of course, he had pretenses to keep up in public, but in private things could be normal.
“What about the cameras?” I tried to shield my mouth with my hand, but Fitz only laughed at my antics.
“Don’t fret. They aren’t recording in here.”
I pulled a face as I started toward him. “They’re not recording interviews at all? That seems crazy. This is exactly what the people will want to see.”
Fitz pulled the gold crown from the table beside him and rolled it around in his hand. “They’re not recording you , specifically.“ He glanced up and must have seen my reaction because he quickly tried to explain. “They don’t see you as a viable option for the future queen. They figure you won’t make it through the first round, so they don’t want to waste film on you.”
I’d received tougher blows over the years, but that one sure didn’t feel good. Was it only because I wasn’t from Nolcovia? Or was it something more?
“You know,” I tried to play it off, “if I’m in this country much longer, my self-esteem is pretty much going to be zero.” I took the seat near him on the couch. “Who exactly is they anyway?”
Fitz leaned back against the couch and stared up at the ceiling. “My parents have hired producers who are filming and editing the show to be aired here in Nolcovia. They are the ones designing the system with some input from me.” He rolled his head from side to side, pulling at his collar to make room. Fitz had always hated ties. “Tonight, I’ll send ten home. The ones who remain will be given a bracelet and, at each ceremony, if I ask them to stay, they will receive a new charm for their bracelet.”
“And when they don’t make the cut?”
Fitz shrugged like that was the last thing he wanted to think about. “They give the bracelet back and leave.” He turned to look at me. “I’ll keep you here until the final four so that you can help me until the very end and give me your final assessment.”
I nodded like it made sense, but how could it? I’d never been one for reality TV, and yet I’d landed smack dab in the middle of a show.
“Tell me,” Fitz shifted to face me, “what have you seen tonight that I should know?”
The question broadsided me, though, all things considered, it shouldn’t have. That was my sole purpose for being in Nolcovia. But I hadn’t taken time to get to know that many of the contestants outside of the few common girls I’d met.
“I like Blair.” It was the honest truth. She was sharp and witty and real. He needed someone like that. “Eirene has a chip on her shoulder about the kingdom, but I think you could change her mind. Carline is sweet, and Dagny is precocious, and of course Sadie is precious beyond words.”
His brow creased slightly. “I know Blair, and I only spoke to Sadie for a moment. I got the feeling she didn’t want to be here.” Fitz pushed on without my input. “I don’t remember the rest, except for Dagny and she’s… well… Dagny. Nice as they are, I don’t see any of them with the capability to rule a country.”
“Well, isn’t ruling your job?“ I spoke before my brain reminded me that I was talking to a prince. “I mean, does she have to be all royal and whatever, or could she be kind and generous instead?”
“I guess.” Fitz brushed me off and started looking over notes on his pad.
“Okay,” I decided to go at it from another direction, “why don’t you tell me who you like and we’ll work from there?”
Fitz nodded and started listing off names, most of whom I hadn’t met, but all of them had Lady at the front of their names. Blair was right. The commoners were the token girls there to make the crown look good, but never once had the royals even toyed with the idea of giving them a fair shot.
“Lady Esmerey.” His voice caught my attention.
“Why her?” I interrupted his list.
“She’s beautiful. She’s regal.” Fitz started listing the reasons off on his fingers. “She knows how to run a kingdom.”
I scoffed at the idea. “She’s also a really big jerk.”
Fitz pulled a face like I was crazy. “Well, she’s civil to me.”
“Of course, she is.” I laughed at his naivete. “She wants the crown. Next, you’re going to tell me Fallon and Lilith made your list as well.”
Fitz glanced at his list and then stretched his jaw to the side as he thought about his answer. He drew in a deep breath and exhaled all at once. “Is there any reason to suspect they wouldn’t make good queens?”
I rubbed my palms over my face, trying to convince myself that this couldn’t be reality. No way would Fitz fight to keep those awful women. “Only because they are repugnant human beings, but I guess their heads can hold a crown up if that’s all you’re looking for.”
Anger flashed in my friend’s eyes. I’d crossed some invisible boundary, and he wasn’t going to let it go. “Perhaps I need to remind you that this is not America. What you value is not always what I will value for my future queen. While it would make great headlines for a few weeks to select a commoner, she won’t be ready to rule at my side.”
It was never my intention to travel thousands of miles to be patronized by a would-be king. If he thought I was backing down because he’d tried to put me in my place, then he had another thing coming.
“Then tell me what you’re looking for, Fitz, because clearly our values are out of sync.” I should have stopped there, but I wasn’t even close to done. “Maybe you’re out of touch with your people and what they need. I’ve heard horrible things tonight, and you would be smart to pay attention to some of these lesser common girls.”
“I never called them that. I was merely drawing attention to the fact that they aren’t of noble blood.”
“And when you say it like that,” my volume increased with my frustration, “it sure sounds like you’re calling them less than you.“ Emotions rose and choked me as I thought of young Sadie and her thin body and simple gown. “I mean, you’re not even letting them keep the bracelet. I’m sure it’s pure silver—“
“Platinum,” Fitz interjected as if my idea had insulted him.
“Even worse.” I shook my head. “Any one of these common ,“ I noted the way he flinched this time, “women could sell it to make more money than they’d see in months.”
“It wasn’t my idea to take them back. The producer came up with that whole scheme.”
“Hmm,” I played up my sarcasm, “if only you were the prince in power who could throw his weight around to do some good.”
“Careful, Michaela…” Warning filled his tone.
If he thought his rank and title influenced me, it didn’t. Sure, I’d gotten a little twitterpated before, but he was missing his mark, and I wasn’t going to back down and let him make excuses when he knew he could make changes. The Fitz I knew wouldn’t hesitate for an instant.
I met his stare, though it chilled me to the bone. As much as we had connected instantly earlier, I felt the distance of the years between us now. While I had stayed in my humble home with my single mother, Fitz had returned to his life of luxury and privilege.
Maybe he wasn’t the guy I thought he was.
Maybe this whole thing was a mistake.
The royal guard stepped into the doorway. “It’s time, Miss Caldwell.”
I stood and started for the door, but I didn’t want to leave things tense and sour. He’d brought me overseas to give him counsel, and he deserved my trust until he showed me otherwise.
“Good luck.” His eyes softened as they met mine. I tried to smile as I said, “I know you’ll do the right thing.”
As I followed the guard, the realization settled over me. Fitz might not do the right thing. Back in the day, I could count on it, but I really wasn’t sure he was the same guy anymore.