CHAPTER 15 #3
"Because he's lying! Because someone probably paid him to lie!" She gestured at the tablet. "Look at the timing, Archie. This comes out the same day my Italian lesson gets sabotaged? The same week as all the other incidents? You think that's a coincidence?"
She had a point. The rational part of my brain knew she had a point. But the jealous, hurt part was still looking at those photos and seeing her with someone else.
"I don't know what to think," I said, and it was the first honest thing I'd said since this conversation started.
"Well, when you figure it out, let me know." She walked toward the door, her shoulders rigid. "In the meantime, I have an Italian lesson to not attend because someone keeps sabotaging my schedule."
"Betty."
"Don't." She stopped at the door but didn't turn around. "Just don't."
She left, and the silence that followed was awful.
Viktor moved toward me with an expression of concern. "Your Highness, I'm deeply sorry you had to endure that. These situations are never easy."
I sank into one of the chairs, suddenly exhausted. "She's telling the truth. About the photos being innocent."
"I'm sure she believes that." Viktor's tone was gentle, almost paternal. "Though perception often matters more than reality in these situations. The public will see what they want to see."
"The public doesn't know her."
"No, but they know what they expect from royalty.
Standards of behavior that may seem antiquated to an American college student but matter greatly to the stability of the alliance.
" He paused. "The Grand Duchess is concerned, Your Highness.
She's already received inquiries from several allied governments questioning whether the Princess is suited to her role. "
"Because of some tabloid photos?"
"Because this follows a pattern. The speech incident, the wardrobe malfunction, the various difficulties." He spread his hands. "Individually, these could be dismissed as growing pains. But together, they paint a picture of someone who may not have been adequately prepared for royal life."
"She's been here two weeks."
"I understand. And I want to be clear, I'm not questioning the Princess's character or intentions.
I'm simply concerned about whether she received proper vetting before the marriage was arranged.
" Viktor's voice took on a note of frustration.
"The Grand Duchess was eager to secure this alliance quickly, given the political situation.
Perhaps too eager. A more thorough background check might have uncovered potential issues before they became public scandals. "
The words settled into my gut like stones. Viktor was voicing concerns I'd had myself, doubts I'd been trying to ignore.
"You think the marriage was a mistake."
"I think the marriage was necessary for political reasons. Whether it was wise is another question." He moved toward the door. "I'll coordinate with your communications team about damage control. We'll need a unified response across both royal families."
"Viktor." I stopped him before he could leave. "The other incidents, the sabotage attempts. Do you think they're connected to this?"
"It's possible someone is orchestrating a campaign to undermine the Princess.
It's also possible these are simply the inevitable complications of asking an unprepared young woman to assume a role she was never trained for.
" He met my eyes. "Either way, Your Highness, you may want to consider whether six months is long enough to determine if this alliance is truly viable. "
After he left, I sat alone in the Red Salon, turning his words over in my mind. Viktor had a point. The incidents were piling up, each one creating more doubt about whether Betty could handle royal life. And now this scandal would follow her, follow us, for months, maybe years.
But the look on her face when I'd accused her of lacking dignity...
I'd screwed up. Badly. I'd let jealousy override reason, had lashed out at someone who'd just spent the night in my arms, who'd been vulnerable and trusting and real.
She'd been right about the timing being suspicious. Right that someone was actively sabotaging her, and I'd just made their job easier by attacking her instead of standing with her.
I looked down at the tablet again, at the photo of Betty laughing in that hot tub, young and carefree and completely unaware that years later, someone would use that moment to destroy her future.
She'd been telling the truth. I knew she had been. And I'd chosen to believe the worst anyway.
The question was whether she'd give me a chance to make it right.
***
THE EMERGENCY CALL came two hours after Betty left.
My mother's face on the screen held that particular expression she reserved for occasions when I'd disappointed her on an international scale. The Grand Duchess appeared in a smaller window beside her, looking tired and older than I remembered.
"The scandal has already reached three continents," my mother said without preamble. "We need coordinated messaging before this spirals further."
"Isabelle is right." The Grand Duchess's voice carried less of its usual steel. "This requires a unified response from both families. Lord Viktor will remain at the Solmarian palace to coordinate our communications strategy."
I sat up straighter. "With respect, Your Grace, I'm not sure that's necessary. Our press office can handle—"
"Your press office released a statement calling the photos 'unverified' when the source has already been authenticated by three news agencies.
" My mother's tone could have frozen the Mediterranean.
"We need someone with experience managing royal crises.
Viktor has handled similar situations for the Grand Duchess for fifteen years. "
"He's also the one who brought this to our attention in the first place," I pointed out. "Rather conveniently timed."
The Grand Duchess waved a hand, the gesture weaker than it should have been. "Viktor has my complete trust. He'll report to both households and ensure we present a united front. The alliance cannot afford more amateur missteps."
The word "amateur" landed like a slap. She meant Betty, of course. But she also meant me.
"There's another consideration," my mother added, and something in her voice made me pay closer attention.
"Given the pattern of incidents surrounding the Princess, having Viktor on-site provides an additional layer of oversight.
He can identify potential problems before they become public embarrassments. "
Oversight. That was a diplomatic word for surveillance.
"You want him to watch Betty."
"I want him to protect the alliance." My mother's gaze didn't waver. "If the Princess is being sabotaged, Viktor has the intelligence connections to find out who's responsible. And if she's simply unsuited to royal life, better we know now rather than after the six months have passed."
The Grand Duchess nodded, though she seemed to be fighting exhaustion. "I've already authorized his extended stay. This is not a request, Archibald. It's an arrangement between our two houses."
After the call ended, I checked my watch. Betty needed time to cool down, and frankly, so did I. Chasing after her now would only make things worse.
I'd find her before the reception. Apologize properly.
In the meantime, I had a dossier to pull on Viktor Beaumont.