Chapter 2

Roman

“I’m glad my dearest son, Roman, could make it to lunch for once, which shouldn’t be too hard.” Queen Mary spoke with a sarcastic smile on her lips.

“He doesn’t have a wife or an heir, so he has all the time in the world.” She whispered the last part. I took a breath and ignored her words. Being the crown prince of Penevia was not easy and especially with Queen Mary as my mother.

“If I may, your highness.” Lord Crawford cleared his throat. He was my uncle, the king’s younger brother, and a close friend of the queen. He had named himself prime minister, and it was all because he would never get to the throne. “Of course, uncle.” I smiled politely, placing down my fork. “Please, speak.”

My father, King Edward, who was just as curious to hear what his younger brother had to say, placed his hands on the table and followed the conversation. “As you know, your father’s fourth cousin, King Abel of Soliste, has been trying to put a claim on this throne, and seeing as you are twenty-six and have yet to produce an heir—“

“Because I’m not a machine, and the heir is right here.” I interrupted my uncle and kissed my six-year-old brother, Prince Oliver on his cheek. “You mean the king’s bastard?” Mother muttered under her breath while the king let out a defeated sigh. Oliver wasn’t her biological son and belonged to the king’s longtime mistress, Lady Pia. Even if I wanted to hand over my position to Leo, it would still be illegitimate unless there was really no other way.

I would’ve mentioned my twenty-one-year-old sister, Joan, but everyone knew the kingdom would go to shreds if she were to take the throne. Worse than her absence was her relationship with her criminal boyfriend. Of course, I was aware that I was the kingdom’s last hope, and it wasn’t like I didn’t love the power, but I was in no hurry to settle down.

The king of Soliste had always been jealous of Penevia, which was about three times bigger than his own kingdom. He had been bothering us for years, and there were rumors that he was slowly collecting political strength to push us off the throne.

Unlike me, his eldest son, who happened to be my distant cousin, had an heir and a wife. Although Soliste did not have much power, they had a clear future. One which could possibly bring Penevia in danger. I loved my kingdom, and I loved my people, but even then,

I would not marry some stuck-up noble. I would not end up like my father, King Edward, who only got married to protect the throne.

“King Abel can keep dreaming because the throne is in good hands, and if I decide to marry, it’ll be out of love, and that’s final.”

“Did you love the girl you married in Las Vegas?” Father spoke up for the first time. He laughed at his own joke while Lord Crawford joined him. It was an unfortunate event that I had to be reminded of for the past six years.

Yes, I got married, and yes, it was a mistake. It was a short marriage that had gotten annulled as fast as it had happened. It was completely erased from existence, so there was no need to discuss it.

At times I could still see her in front of me. Audrey.

How could I ever forget her mesmerizing dark eyes, which had almost seemed black, or her dark curls, which I was not allowed to touch? With her bold and confident personality, she had definitely left an impression, that was for sure.

“What happened in Las Vegas?” Little Leo asked.

I frowned. “Nothing, eat your food!”

The people loved King Edward, but I viewed my father as an immature man who loved making fun of me.

“Roman, I found you some suitable marriage candidates. They’re all from well-off families, and they have good qualities to one day become queen—“

“Do you also have a marriage candidate for me, Aunt Mary?” My cousin, Brandon, entered the room. He was my best friend and my father’s relative. “Brandon, it’s good to see you!” Father stood up and kissed his forehead.

“I see you’re here, Brandon...as always.” Mother rolled her eyes. The queen and Lord Crawford were not fond of Brandon, most likely because he was one of the few sane people in this palace.

“Uncle.” Brandon bowed. “Prince Brandon.” Lord Crawford forced himself to smile at his younger nephew. The alliance between my mother and my uncle was probably put together by satan. They were both cold-hearted, stiff and boring.

“Lunch was nice, now please, if you’ll excuse me.” I rushed from the dining table. The king gave me a nod, while the dismayed looks on my mother and uncle’s eyes were enough to make me run out of the room.

“Come on, Brandon!”

Brandon followed me to the hallway and could finally take a breath. No one had to tell him that he was not wanted here because he already knew that. Even then, he had still decided to remain at my side.

“Brandon, did you hear that nonsense?”

“I sure did.” Brandon snorted. He did not have much to worry about, so the idea of me having to get married probably sounded hilarious to him.

“Wouldn’t it just be great if your royal heir would just fall from the sky?” Brandon said. “Just like that.”

Even though it was a joke, it would probably be for the best. It meant that I did not have to carry this annoying burden of an entire kingdom depending on me. “Your highness, there you are!” A familiar voice nearly yelled in my ear.

It was Lenny, my personal butler and a real pain in the ass. He was in his late fifties and had been working for the royals before I was even born. That man practically raised me to the point he knew me even better than my parents did. Perhaps that was why he was starting to get on my nerves.

“Please tell me I don’t have a schedule for today, Lenny.” I faced him. “Brandon, Dalton, and I have plans.”

Dalton was my personal guard and my best friend. Brandon, Dalton, and I were inseparable—which was mainly due to them being the only two in the palace who saw me as a human being instead of a product.

“Well.” Lenny sighed. “Then I’m afraid you have to cancel them, there are tourists about to make their way over to the palace, and you need to greet them from the balcony.”

“Oh sure, I’ll also go to the gates to give them a handshake and a cookie for visiting the palace,” I spoke sarcastically. Lenny looked at me with hopeful eyes and squeezed my hands. “Really, your highness?”

“No, of course not.” Brandon chuckled. “You know how he is, always so rude, sarcastic, uncaring—“

“That’s not true!” I defended my pride. I loved Penevia, and I loved my people. I was just not willing to go that extra mile, which was completely fine. I lived by my own rules.

“You know what, if it’s really that necessary—I’ll stand on the balcony or whatever and greet those tourists.”

Lenny clapped his hands and gave me a bow. “Thank you, your highness. We’ll start in three hours.”