Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
NATE
N ate’s stomach twisted into a tight knot as he stared at Elena’s cousin. The last time he’d had a run-in with her, she’d tried to embarrass him by having pictures taken of them kissing. To say he didn’t trust her was an understatement.
Nate hesitated, his distrust for Isabelle roiling inside him. “I’m calling Elena.” He retrieved his phone from his pocket. As he dialed, he couldn’t shake the memory of Isabelle’s previous manipulations. Was this another trap, or had she genuinely changed?
She clicked her tongue at him, crossing her arms as she waited. “Fine. Go ahead.”
He pressed the call icon next to her name and stalked a few steps away, shooting a suspicious look over his shoulder at Isabelle. The phone trilled a few times before Elena’s voicemail greeting played in his ear.
He cursed under his breath as he waited for the beep, his voice tense. “Hey, Ellie, I, uh… I had a question for you. Nothing terrible, just…call me back when you get this. Thanks.”
“Well, I suppose we are at standstill until your sweetie approves me,” Isabelle answered as he lowered the phone and ended the call.
He flicked his gaze back to her. “Well, you haven’t exactly inspired my trust.”
“I am sorry about that. I’ve apologized to Elena, too. It’s all water under the bridge.”
He bobbed his head. “Uh-huh, until it’s not, and you do something else to get me into hot water.”
“I have no desire to ruin your marriage to Elena. And I have every reason to want my brother’s plan to fail.”
“Like what? Seems to me with how jealous you are of her, you’d be tickled by this.”
“I’m not. Jealous of Elena, yes. Jealous of her crown, no. I do not envy the pressure she will face as a monarch of this country.”
Nate stowed his phone in his pocket with a shake of his head. “I don’t know. I don’t see what we can do about this situation.”
“Several things,” she answered. “First, we can comb through the archives in search of something that will allow us to easily overturn this decree or refute it. Julian found it, but perhaps there is some precedent set.”
Nate’s brows pinched. “Like…another royal who married a non-royal?”
She nodded. “Yes. Though we must be careful. We do not wish to throw the entire line of succession into chaos. However, if we find one, we might search for a subsequent decree rescinding that requirement.”
Nate chewed his lower lip. Elena had insisted on staying in Sterling City to help his mother with the charges she may face. He could return the favor by working to find a solution to her dilemma in Eldoria. “Well, I guess it can’t hurt. And if it’ll help Ellie, I’ll do it.”
“Excellent. We should go to royal archives straightaway.”
“Oh, wait, I’d better tell my brother.”
“Stephen is here?”
Nate glanced at her, trying to read any emotion in her eyes that matched the interest in her voice. “Yeah. Umm, let me just speak with him, and then we can go.”
“I will await you in the sitting room.”
Nate nodded as they stepped into the hall and went their separate ways. A moment later, he pounded against Stephen’s door. His brother pulled it open shortly after, giving him a sheepish glance. “I thought maybe Ellie had already come back and you weren’t leaving. I’ll get my stuff.”
“Actually,” Nate said as he stepped into the room, still darkened by blackout curtains, “I’m staying.”
Stephen’s eyes lit up with a mixture of hope and relief. “Really? You’re staying? Is Ellie flying home?” He paused, a shadow crossing his face. “I can’t face going back, not yet.” His voice faltered.
“No, not yet. She’s…working on something to help Mom. But…there’s a problem here. I’m going to stay and help them solve it.”
Stephen’s forehead crinkled. “Problem here?”
“Yeah,” Nate said, setting his hands on his hips. “Apparently, Elena’s cousin, Prince Julian, found some sort of…decree or something that states anyone who ascends to the throne has to marry royal blood.”
Stephen’s jaw fell open. “So…what does that mean for you? She can’t marry you?”
“She can. She just… can’t be queen.”
“And her father is okay with that? I mean, I feel like you had to jump through a million hoops before he approved you to marry her. I can’t imagine he’ll be okay with her not taking the crown.”
The words stung. King Frederick likely wasn’t pleased but hadn’t forced them to call off the wedding yet. Would he?
“That’s why it’s important for me to help them solve this. I don’t want to take any chances. We fought hard to get to where we are.”
“How does Ellie feel about all of this?”
Nate shrugged. “She seems…okay. I mean, she doesn’t want to call off the engagement, but I’m sure she’s not happy about it. She’s been raised with nothing but duty to Eldoria in mind. And that’s what really stinks about this whole thing. If they pass her over for Queen, they’re really losing out. She has such loyalty to this country. It’s unfair that just because she fell in love with me, she can’t rule it.”
“Yeah. Well, I’m not going to complain about not going home. I really don’t want to, as bad as that sounds. Have you heard from Mom or Dad, by the way?”
“Nothing. I should call them before I head off with Isabelle.”
“Isabelle?” Stephen choked out as Nate fished his phone from his pocket.
“Yeah. She’s been working with Elena on this,” Nate answered as he scrolled through his contact list.
“Nate, bro, have you forgotten that this chick tried to make sure you never got a shot at putting a ring on Ellie’s finger?”
Nate flicked his gaze up from his screen. “No, I haven’t. But, apparently, that’s all water under the bridge now.”
“Yeah, right. Same with Chloe and her undying love for me. She was whispering in your ear about how much she loved you, and then telling me the same thing. All lies.”
“Yeah, I get it. It’s hard to trust someone once they’ve shown you that they can’t be trusted, but I have to try. I have to do this for Ellie.”
“Just watch your back, Nate.”
Nate bobbed his head as he pressed the call button next to his father’s name, toggling it onto speakerphone.
“Nate,” his father’s gruff voice answered a few rings later. “I heard about the mix-up. Are you on your way back?”
“Hi, Dad, no, something’s come up here. We’re going to stay and see if we can help.”
His father hesitated.
“Listen, I’m just calling to see if there are any updates on Mom’s case. Stephen and I are both on, so if you could give us an update, we’d appreciate it.”
The older man sighed, pausing again before he responded. “Well, it’s not looking great, boys. According to the police, your mother was the last one seen entering that building before Chloe’s murder. It’s circumstantial, but it’s only a matter of time before they come back to us with charges.”
Nate’s stomach twisted into a tight knot. He second-guessed his decision to stay here. His mother needed his support. She could be facing a murder charge soon. “Oh, no. Maybe we should come back.”
“Well, nothing’s happened yet. And remember your mother doesn’t want you here dealing with the press.”
Nate licked his lips, worry coursing through him. “Yeah, I know, but…Dad…she could be arrested. She needs us there to support her. How is it going to look if both of her sons, the two involved with the victim, aren’t standing behind her?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Charles answered. “If you need to come back, I’ll make sure I call you. Until then, I think it’s best that you stay away. The last thing we need is something taken out of context that makes this situation worse.”
“Anything hitting the press already?” Stephen asked.
“No. Thankfully, the police have been fairly tight-lipped. They don’t want to end up with egg on their faces if this isn’t true. They won’t leak this unless they’ve arrested her.”
“But you think that’s only a matter of time,” Nate repeated, his fingers tightening around his phone.
“Cliff thinks today. We’ll see. Oh, speaking of, he’s here now. I’ve got to go. We’re trying to build up a strategy so we can hit back as soon as they file charges.”
“Yeah, that’s important. Okay, well, please keep us informed. And tell Mom we love her and support her,” Nate answered.
“I will. Thanks, Nate.”
The call ended and silence stretched between them before Nate finally raised his gaze to his brother’s. “Wow,” was all he could manage.
“Yeah,” Stephen said as he shuffled to his armchair and collapsed into it. “Sounds like a real mess over there. I feel so selfish right now.”
“Well, you heard Dad. They don’t want us there in case we mess something up.”
“Which we will. Mom and Dad held life together for almost six decades, and you and me can’t handle three.”
Nate huffed out a laugh. “Yeah. I feel like a complete failure. And then we totally ran away...”
“But at least you’re here helping Ellie out with her problem, right?”
Nate pressed his lips together, sucking in a sharp breath. “I guess. I should get going. Isabelle is waiting for me.”
“Mind if I tag along?” Stephen asked. “Otherwise, I’m just going to sit here with the curtains drawn all day.”
“No, it may even be better. Get dressed. ”
Stephen hurried from his seat, tearing through his suitcase to dig out a set of clothes. Within a few minutes, he was changed. They made their way through the halls toward the main stairs.
As they rounded a corner, they ran into Alexander.
The man offered them a surprised grin. “Nathan, Stephen. What are you doing here?”
“Well, I was trying to surprise Ellie, but she had the same thoughts and flew to–“
“Sterling City, yes,” Alexander said with a nod. “It seems this has gone like just about everything else in your relationship.”
Nate offered a chuckle. “Yeah. Well, while we’re here…your sister asked us to help her.”
“Isabelle?” Alexander crinkled his brow.
“Yes. She said she was working with Ellie on this whole royal decree issue.”
Alexander rubbed his chin. “Hmm, I haven’t heard what she’s doing, but I’m game to help. Or at least monitor. One never knows with Isabelle.”
“So, Ellie didn’t say anything to you?” Nate asked as they proceeded down the hall toward the stairs.
“No, but we barely tackled the issue before Elena decided to jet off to Sterling City. I was just about to check in with my uncle on it, but my time may be put to far better use in ensuring Isabelle causes no trouble for you.”
“I appreciate the backup, thanks,” Nate said with a nod as they descended the stairs.
They pushed into the sitting room, finding Isabelle pacing the floor. “There you…Stephen…and Alexander. Are you joining our little searching party, too?”
“I’m interested to know what we are searching for,” Alexander answered .
“Anything that can ensure Elena does not give up her crown when she marries Mr. Kingsley.”
Alexander arched an eyebrow. “And you are determined to do this? You?”
Isabelle clicked her tongue at him. “I have already explained this multiple times. I am the one who told Elena about Prince Eric’s soon-to-be common status.”
“Eric is losing his title? Whatever for?”
Isabelle nodded. “Corinthia is no longer interested in having a royal family.”
Alexander sucked in a deep breath. “Incredible. I assume he’s been put in his place now, though the trouble Julian has created is still lingering.”
“Yes. And I intend to stop it,” Isabelle answered. “He’s gone too far this time.”
“How?” Alexander questioned.
“I’m going to begin with an exhaustive search of royal archives for anything that post-dates the decree Julian found or any precedents that have been set by marriages prior to this.”
“Hmmm, smart,” Alexander said. “Well, shall we, then?”
Isabelle bobbed her head. “I have a car waiting. Let’s go.”
They left the palace behind, sliding into the waiting car and being whisked away to the capitol building. People bowed and curtsied as they paraded through the building, heading to a set of tall double doors marked ‘Archives’.
They pushed open the heavy doors to the archives, and Nate’s stomach dropped. The vast room was lined with towering shelves crammed with dusty tomes and ancient manuscripts. The air, which was the musty scent of old paper, was a silent testament to centuries of history, waiting to be discovered. It would take all of them days to search through this .
“Uhhh, is there a good place to start or do we just need to look at everything?” Stephen asked, voicing Nate’s concern.
“Royal decrees are housed in the back,” Alexander said, snaking through the shelves and filing cabinets. “We’ll start there.”
“Stephen, you could help me look at the marriages thus far and determine if there have been any instances of a non-royal marriage while Alexander and Nathan look through the decrees.”
“Sure,” Stephen answered, following her to another area of the room.
Nate took another glance around the room as he shuffled behind Alexander. “Don’t you think your brother would have checked this?”
“No,” Alexander answered with a shake of his head, as he pulled open a drawer filled with official looking manuscripts. “He would deliberately mislead us just for the chaos. It’s entirely possible we could find something in here.”
They pored over edict after edict, decree after decree, finding nothing that would help them.
After hours, Nate slumped into a seat at a well-polished table with a copy of a thick book listing Eldoria’s laws. He cracked open the dusty volume, noting several of the handwritten pages dating back hundreds of years.
He peered at a few of them, finding nothing interesting. As he flipped to a new page, an envelope marked with the royal seal slid from the book.
Nate gazed at the envelope, its edges tinged yellow and fragile from the passage of time. The royal seal, unbroken and commanding, exuded an aura of profound historical weight.
“Hey, Alexander, look at this,” he said, awe and reverence mingling in his voice .
The man peered over Nate’s shoulder. “Looks like a royal missive. I wonder why it was never opened.”
“Me too. What should we do with it?”
“Open it,” Alexander answered. “Let’s determine if it could help.”
Nate handed it over to the prince, his stomach twisting into a knot. Alexander carefully broke the seal and unfolded the parchment.
“It appears to be a royal decree,” he murmured. “Let’s hope this is the answer to our prayers.”
Nate held his breath, wondering if he’d stumbled upon something that would help Elena’s case or hurt it.