1. Nick #2
However, I’ve never had a moment of privacy.
Since I was born, every success—and every misstep—has been laid out for the world to witness.
And now the pressure to live up to heightened expectations is mounting.
With my father’s passing, I received a most unwelcome promotion from the spare to the heir .
Since Alex is currently unmarried and without children, I'm now second in the line of succession until Alex produces an heir.
Becoming the heir and second-in-command is a role for which I feel both suffocated and completely ill-prepared.
With the deathbed promise I made to my father fresh on my mind, I lift the bourbon to my lips and take another heavy sip as I look around me.
The solarium, which is usually cheerful and bright given the wall of windows overlooking the oceanside bluffs, turns dark and dreary as the glowing sun disappears beyond the horizon.
An early summer storm is rolling through, cloaking the night sky in heavy cloud cover and completely obscuring the moon.
Large raindrops lash against the windows in a jarring cadence, like a stampede of hooves beating against a cobblestone street.
With only a single small table lamp providing light, the depressing ambiance perfectly fits my somber mood.
That is until the doors to the solarium fly open, and my older brother strides into the room, flipping on the overhead lights as he enters.
Startled, I fling an arm over my eyes at the bright intrusion. “What the hell, Alex?”
Ignoring my plaintive grumble, Alex gestures to the uncorked crystal decanter of bourbon that is perched on the antique mahogany sideboard and inquires, “Top off? ”
Alex loosens his tie and unbuttons the top button of his dress shirt. Shrugging out of his suit jacket, he drapes it across a chair before grabbing himself a tumbler and pouring hefty servings into my glass and his. “Cheers, mate.”
Tapping my tumbler to his, I ask, “What are we celebrating?”
“I proposed, and Annika said yes.” Alex smiles proudly.
His admission shocks me from my brooding.
“I had no idea you were thinking of proposing.”
Childhood friends who reconnected after university, Alex and Annika have been dating for several years, but Alex never let on that he wanted to marry her. I assumed their relationship was one of convenience, rather than one rooted in love.
Annika isn't who I would have picked to become Alex's wife.
Alex is sturdy, responsible, and driven.
While Annika is very nice, she's introverted and quiet, studious and solemn.
I've always thought that a good relationship is made up of yin and yang, the cosmic duality of two opposite personalities that work to balance each other out.
To me, Alex and Annika are too similar, and when I see them together, there's no passion.
Alex needs someone who will challenge him and push him out of his comfort zone.
Someone to temper his serious nature and bring him joy.
But I'm not Alex and if he's happy with Annika, then I'm happy for him.
After all, what do I really know about relationships?
“I wasn’t, not really. But after Father’s passing, it seemed like the right time to move forward with our relationship. She’ll make an excellent queen and mother to our future children.”
Not the most romantic proclamation, but he sounds earnest and pleased.
With a smile, I remark supportively, “This is great news.”
“It is,” he agrees.
As his news sinks in, I feel the noose around my own neck loosening. I've been granted a pardon. I can breathe again. I won’t be the heir for long. My life will once again become my own after Alex and Annika wed and begin their family.
"When will you have the wedding?"
"Strategically, it's best to do it before the coronation next year. The country needs something to celebrate and…" Alex breaks off with a wry expression.
"And the anti-monarchists will be less likely to protest if they believe that you're settling down and becoming a steadfast family man," I supply, irritation lacing my voice.
Which is total and utter bullocks. No one is more stable and dependable than Alex, but the media still view him with suspicion.
And they have ever since that fateful night nearly a decade ago.
With a curt nod, Alex agrees with my assessment.
"Well, no matter the cause, congratulations on your engagement, brother. I wish you and Annika all the happiness in the world."
“Thank you." Alex sips his drink. "I have one more piece of good news. My engagement grants you the opportunity to escape your royal duties for a bit. I want you to take your leave as you’d originally planned.”
My leave, as Alex refers to it, was originally scheduled to take place immediately after I completed my graduate degree. I planned to take a year off between school and the beginning my career to travel the world, but those plans got scrapped when Father died.
Shooting up in my seat, I pivot to face my brother. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously," he smiles broadly. "Go. Travel. Enjoy your time off before you're forced to join the family business. I can’t promise you the full year, but I can grant you three months off. ”
Three months of freedom and privacy.
Thirteen weeks to travel and sightsee.
Ninety days without a packed schedule of political meetings and royal events.
"Mother won't be pleased. She'll consider this a dereliction of duties,” I argue.
Alex waves his hand, dismissing my worry.
“I'll handle her. Now that the funeral is over, things will be quiet for a bit.
I've just come from a meeting with the communications team.
We'll wait a few weeks before releasing the news of my engagement to Annika to the media. Our wedding and the coronation plans will keep the rabid reporters busy for the next several months.”
Squinting, I appraise my selfless brother. “You didn’t propose to allow me this opportunity, did you?”
Alex cackles at my presumption. “God, no, you cocky bastard. Getting married before my coronation is a smart political move. Shipping you off on an international trip for a few months is just as added bonus, you twat.”
"Well, I'm grateful." Smirking, I shove him with my shoulder. “You’re a great king, Alex, but you're an even better brother.”
“Stop being nice to me. It freaks me out.” Alex’s smile shrinks as he leans forward, all business once again. He places his elbows on his knees. “You’ve spent your life mapping out a different future. I want you to take these three months to come to terms with what will become your new normal.”
My new normal. Press conferences. Ribbon cuttings. Council meetings. Interviews. Politicking. Galas, events, and royal balls.
Alex continues, “I’ve asked Johann and four others to accompany you as your security detail, and I’ve reserved one of the jets for you to depart on Friday to the States.”
Johann is a senior member of the King's Royal Guard and my personal bodyguard and driver.
Only a couple of years older than me, he spent the last six years trailing behind me through uni and business school.
Over time, the lines between our professional relationship blurred and a close friendship formed.
"Johann is enough, Alex. I don't want an entire security team tailing me. No one will recognize me in the States."
"What you want no longer matters. As much as you hate to hear this, you're the second in the line of succession, and what you need is a full security detail.
Johann will be traveling with you as your friend and the other four officers will discreetly watch you from a distance.
They'll be as unobtrusive as possible, I promise. "
"No."
With pursed lips, Alex suggests a compromise. Since he has one at the ready, I assume Alex knew I’d resist having an armed squad of goons shadowing me. "Then Bruno will accompany you."
While I'd much rather bring Bruno, the highly trained German Shepherd guard dog, than a team of four security officers, I'm not sure that's possible. "Can we even do that? Bring a pet into another country? Aren’t there quarantine laws?"
“Bruno isn’t a pet. He’s a military member.” Alex waves his hand through the air. "Besides, diplomatic immunity and all that. Shouldn't be a problem. I'll have the lawyers draw up the papers."
“I want to go, Alex, but seriously, can you really handle me being away for three months?" I ask, bewildered and grateful…but I also feel guilty. "Before Father passed, I promised him I would be here to support you, Alex. I don’t want to desert you.”
“You’re doing no such thing. I have dozens of advisors to help me during the interim." Alex raises his head to meet my eyes. "I want to give you this gift, Nick, but it’s a one-time offer. If you don’t take me up on it now, it will expire.”