Benefits

Luke

“Of course I do. Which means I don’t want to see you suffer, either. These American women, they have grand dreams of being wealthy and living the good life.”

“Don’t generalize,” I said. “You haven’t bothered to get to know her at all, so making assumptions won’t work on me. You and Father raised me right, and I found a woman that understands me and still wants to be with me.”

“For now,” Mother said. “Until things get difficult. There is more to being a queen than both of you realize.”

“You can show her, teach her. She wants to get to know you.”

Mother scoffed. “She cares nothing of this place. This isn’t her home country. It’s ours. She needs to have the passion of someone who’s lived here and wants to continue to see our country thrive.”

“So, if I went out there and plucked a commoner from the streets, you would give me your blessing?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “The match needs to be beneficial.”

“There it is,” I said.

“There what is?”

“You want to pick out the woman. Jus