19. Alejandro #3
“Yes,” I said. “I don’t want some public apology tour or articles about reconciliation.”
“What do you want, then?” my father asked.
I looked at Gabriel, and in that moment I realized what I would’ve asked for before wasn’t what I truly wanted now. Before, I would’ve demanded something in terms of power, maybe a trade agreement that gave Solterra a leg up and made it clear we were no one’s reject.
But now I thought of the tour of Solterra I’d sent Gabriel on during his time here, how he’d met so many of our people from all walks of life and had taken the time to listen to their stories and learn about their culture.
I thought of him showing up unexpectedly at the academy, and how quick he’d been to join in with the children wearing paper crowns.
How much a moment like that meant to them and how art could bring people together, could make them brave.
“I want the story to be about what the kingdoms can build,” I said, an idea starting to form. I turned to Nicholas. “Valoria has youth arts programs, doesn’t it?”
He nodded. “Music, primarily. Some theater, a little dancing, though not enough. Gabriel’s been mentioning needing more funding for years.”
My gaze landed back on Gabriel, who gave a little shrug, suddenly fascinated by his wine.
“Yes, well, the Valorian council seems to think only opera is culture. Seems a little unfair to me.” He lifted his glass and under his breath said, “And boring.”
For a long moment I only stared, curious why he’d never brought it up after he visited the academy.
“What if,” I said slowly, “we created a joint arts initiative of some kind? Not a palace event with press, but something with actual funding behind it. Maybe scholarships?”
Interest lit Gabriel’s eyes and he leaned forward.
“Yes, and what if we had visiting instructors and exchanges? Like, say, let Solterran performers train in Valoria for a season and vice versa? Oh, maybe they can perform together too, and it can raise money for the smaller youth academies? Other countries do that, especially with their dancers.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother watching us, her gaze all too knowing. She would no doubt have something to say about this later, but only noted and filed it away for now.
“That’s a great idea,” my father said, and his voice reminded me he was also at the table. “A productive way for our kingdoms to come together for the greater good and keep the headlines from dwelling on the negative.”
“I agree,” Nicholas said, but he was looking at Gabriel, a pensive expression pulling at his brows. “I didn’t realize you’d given this serious thought. That it was something you felt passionately about or that you had any specific plans.”
Gabriel lifted a shoulder. “Well, you’re a newlywed with a kingdom to run.”
“So? You’re my brother. I’m never too busy for you.”
The whole table went silent and Gabriel met Nicholas’s eyes.
Nicholas leaned forward, like he wanted his twin to hear him. “I should have listened more closely. I’m sorry.”
Gabriel’s smile flickered, and this time I found myself pressing my leg against his in a show of support.
Then, because he was Gabriel and he couldn’t tolerate anything too heavy, he cleared his throat. “Well, this is terribly inconvenient. I was trying to be impressive in front of the king and now you’ve made me emotional. How rude.”
My father, who had been watching the entire exchange with a curious expression I couldn’t fully read, said, “Consider me impressed, Prince Gabriel. Though truthfully, everything I’ve heard about your visit so far had been enough to grant my respect.”
My mother laid one hand on my father’s arm and lifted her glass with the other. “It looks like we’ve found our answer, then. A partnership between our kingdoms.”
“A joint cultural foundation funded by both crowns,” my father said. “Announced not as repairing our relationship but as a commitment on both sides.”
Nicholas looked to me. “If that is acceptable to you.”
I looked around the table at each person sitting there.
All my anger and irritation from the last few months felt like a place to channel all my energy no more.
For the first time since everything had happened, I no longer felt like a chess piece being moved around someone else’s board.
But it was going to take more than a few promises to win back my trust.
When my eyes landed on Gabriel, I nodded. “Yes. It is.”
His slow answering smile made my heart beat a little faster as my father lifted his glass and announced, “Then we begin there. To Valoria and Solterra.”
We all followed his lead, raising our glasses, as Nicholas added, “To what we build next on common ground.”
Common ground. We’d finally found that, against my better judgment—although I still preferred the common ground I’d found with the man rubbing his leg up against mine.
Maybe I’d been wrong about Gabriel from the beginning. He was not the careless man I’d assumed him to be. He was careful about the parts of himself that mattered…
And I was beginning to want every one of them.