Royally Matched

by Jenna Brandt

  “Really, Father? I’m capable of toppling the entire reputation of a country?”

  “As the Crown Prince, you most definitely are, which is why you will end all communications with that—woman—and return to Triola at once.”

  “No, I don’t think so, Father. I quite like it here in the South of France. I have no intention of coming back to Triola any time soon.”

  “It is not a request. I am your father, and more importantly, your king. If you do not return to Triola immediately, I will cut you off from everything. No money, no yacht, no servants. You will be completely on your own. Do you understand me?” his father growled in anger. “I am done letting you act like an imbecile at our country’s expense.”

  Max wanted to argue, but part of him knew it wouldn’t do him any good. He’d never heard his father so upset, and his father didn’t make empty threats. If Max pushed him and didn’t comply, his father would cut him off. Max had never been without all the royal perks. He didn’t know how he would fair, but he suspected, not well.

  “Fine, Father, I will make arrangements to return to Triola as soon as possible.”

  “Today,” his father stated adamantly. “Take the helicopter to the airport. The jet will be waiting for you.”

  Though he didn’t like being dictated to, he could suffer a week or two back home. Once he smoothed everything out and appeased his parents with a few public appearances, he could return to his life abroad.

  As Lily turned the final page of the book, she looked out at the gathered children. “And the princess lived happily ever after,” Lily said as she closed the book. “I hope all of you enjoyed the story.”

  They all clapped and cheered as one of the orphanage workers leaned towards her and told her what was next.

  “It’s nap time,” Lily announced, trying to keep an upbeat tone, knowing the children wouldn’t be happy about the news.

  The group of kids, ranging between the ages of 3-8, all sighed with disappointment.

  “Just one more story, Lady Lily?” a little boy with brown hair and eyes stated, his bottom lip coming out in a pout.

  “I wish I could, but I don’t want to break the rules,” she leaned towards the boy and added in a whisper, “I want to make sure I can come back soon.”

  The boy giggled and nodded, making his dark hair dance on top of his head. “We want that too.”

  As Lily stood up from her chair, she watched as the orphanage workers gathered up the kids for their naps. They took them to the two rooms, one for boys and the other for the girls. There were more kids than space, and Lily had been working on raising funds to expand the Chinese orphanage. She was grateful she finally met the goal to add on an additional wing to house another dozen kids.

  Sue Shongshay, who ran the orphanage, came up to Lily with a giant smile on her face. “Thank you, Lady Liliana. You’ve done so much for the kids here, really for all of us,” Sue said, shaking Lily’s hand profusely. “I can’t believe you took time off from your UN work to come here to present the check to us.”

  “She’s fantastic, isn’t she?” Lord Joseph Rogers agreed, coming up to stand next to them. The blond-haired man, with a strong jaw and steely blue eyes, gave her a look of admiration as he added, “She never ceases to amaze me.”

  Lily averted her eyes, knowing if she let them meet Joseph’s, he would stare at her with affection. They had grown up together in Triola’s royal court. When he attended one of her fundraisers for the orphanage, he had shown an interest—she suspected more in her than her cause—but she had assumed he would tire of her and move on. Two years later, he was still following her from cause to cause.

  Though he was a good friend, and it was nice to have the support, she didn’t see him as anything more than just that. Not only was she too busy for a romantic entanglement, but she’d been burned by letting herself develop feelings when she should focus on other matters. She wouldn’t let herself get distracted again. It nearly destroyed her the last time.

  “How kind of you to say so, Joseph, but this was a joint effort by all of us.”

  “You mustn’t make light of what you did, Lady Liliana. You spent countless hours advocating for the orphanage by sending out letters, hosting fundraisers, and making everyone see the importance of this place,” Sue said with audible awe. “We are lucky you care so much for what happens to these children.”

  Lily’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She didn’t feel comfortable receiving so much praise for doing the right thing. She was lucky—being born into a safe environment in a sustainable country—and wanted to help those that didn’t end up with the same fortunate birthright. “I’m just glad I can help. We’ve all worked so hard to raise this money. I wouldn’t want to just send it over and not be here to give it to you in person.”

  Though it was only one section of the orphanage she could help, Lily knew it would make a huge difference. Once the expansion was completed, she could raise money to add a nursery wing for infants.

  A buzzing sound drew Lily’s attention to her cell phone. She glanced down at it and noticed she had an incoming call from her mother.

  “I need to take this call,” Lily said, stepping away from the other two people. She didn’t need an audience for her mother making a case for her to return to Triola. She received such a call about once a month, and she was due one any day. Quickly, she sent a silent prayer for God to help her remain civil.

  “Hello, Mother,” Lily said, taking in a deep breath and preparing herself for the passive aggressive digs about her work and how she is letting her parents down by not being at court.

  “Good morning, Liliana.”

  “It’s actually late afternoon here, Mother.”

  “How do you expect me to keep track of that? You’re always going from one place to another in some third world country.”

  Ah, and there it was—the dig Lily knew her mother couldn’t go more than five seconds from working into the conversation.

  “Was there a specific reason you were calling?” Lily asked, trying to remain calm and not let her mother know she was upsetting her.

  “As a matter-of-fact, there is. It’s time for you to come home, Liliana.”

  “Not this again, Mother. You know perfectly well, I’m not in Triola because I’m helping the people here in Asia.”

  “Yes, you’ve made that clear,” her mother stated tersely. “But the reason you are being summoned home is because of your father.”

  “What’s wrong? Is father hurt?”

  “He asked me not to say anything, but I think under the circumstances, you should be made aware of his condition.”

  “What condition, Mother?”

  There was a long pause on the other end of the line, before she stated quietly, “Your father had a mild heart attack. His heart isn’t doing well. The doctor has put him on two medications to rectify the situation, but they told him he needed to take it easy. Unfortunately, he feels it’s his duty to keep up the family image at court and won’t adhere to their instructions. Of course, if you came home and took up your position in the royal court again, it would give him the ability to take a needed break.”

  “Mother, I haven’t been back at court in over five years. I don’t think me returning will make a difference. No one will even remember who I am. How can I help with the family image?”

  “You’re wrong. Though you’ve been away, many of the Triolans have kept up with you via your blog and social media posts. You are somewhat of a mini-celebrity around here. You’ll see once you get home. I’ve booked your flight and emailed you the details. I will see you when you get here tomorrow.”

  Her mother ended the phone call, giving Lily no chance to further object.

  Joseph must have noticed her call ended, because a few moments later, he was by her side again. “Is everything all right?” he asked with concern.

  “It seems I’ve been summoned home,” Lily stated ominously. “I’m to return to Triola immediately.”

&nbs
p; “How long will you be gone? Will you miss the ground breaking for the expansion in two months?” Joseph asked.

  She shook her head. “I won’t let that happen. I’ve worked too hard to let anything keep me from finishing this project. I’ll just go home, check on my father, and then return in time to shovel the first pile of dirt myself.”

  Even as she said the words, she wondered how easy it would be. Her mother was a formidable woman, and it had taken a miracle to get away from Triola’s royal court once. Would Lily be able to do it twice?

  Chapter Two

  As Max walked down the ramp from the royal jet, he looked out at the familiar sight of the Triola royal welcome. A long, black, stretch-limo, along with a chauffeur, stood nearby. There were several paparazzi waiting with cameras behind a roped off area.

  They were shouting out questions rapidly. “Where’s Starla? Is she coming to Triola to meet you? Are you going to propose?”

  Max pushed his sunglasses up from the bottom of his nose and shrugged. “You guys ought to know, I won’t be staying in Triola long enough for her to need to come here.”

  Without hesitation, more questions were sprayed at him. “Why are you back? Are you out of money? Is there something wrong with the king or queen?”

  This time, Max refrained from answering. He didn’t like the sudden turn the questions took. Ignoring the paparazzi, he walked to the limo and waited for Patrick to join him as his chauffeur opened the car door.

  “Good evening, your Royal Highness,” the older man said with a grin. “It’s good to have you back in Triola.”

  Max glanced over at the chauffeur. After a moment’s pause, he asked, “Harry? Is that you?”

  The grey-haired man nodded. “It is indeed, your Royal Highness. Your father thought you would prefer to have someone you know rather than one of the new chauffeurs.”

  “I hate to admit it, but he was right. It’s good to see you,” Max said, patting the older man’s back. “You were always good to me growing up. You never treated me like a burden.”

  “Of course not, your Royal Highness,” Harry stated with an offended tone. “I think no one has ever viewed you that way.”

  “I very much doubt that,” Max declared with a roll of his shoulders, “but it’s kind of you to say so.”

  Max slid into the leather seats of the car and immediately looked around for a bottle of champagne. Nothing. “That’s odd. No liquor either,” Max mumbled under his breath.

  “Is everything all right, Master Beaumont?” Patrick asked with concern, as he took a seat across from Max.

  “Nothing you need to worry yourself about,” Max stated as he pushed the button to lower the partition separating them from Harry. “What’s going on?” Max barked out in irritation.

  “What are you referring to, your royal highness?”

  “The fact that there isn’t a lick of alcohol in this car,” Max accused as he leaned forward. “It’s like the Prohibition in here.”

  “The king thought it best you stay sober while you’re home. He ordered that all the alcohol be removed from the royal palace and all the limos.”

  Max slumped back in his seat and crossed his arms. “So, it really is the Prohibition,” he mumbled, already hating the decision to give in to his father’s blackmail. “This will be a long week.” Then realizing he wasn’t at the palace yet, Max stated, “I want you to stop at the nearest store.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that, your Royal Highness. Your father gave explicit instructions I was to return with you directly. No stops or detours.”

  “Sounds about right,” Max stated begrudgingly. “The old man thinks of everything.”

  Irritably, Max punched the button to roll up the divider. If Max would sulk, he would do so without Harry watching him.

  What had Max gotten himself into? He hadn’t expected his father would orchestrate a moratorium on all libations while he was home. What else did his father have cooked up while Max was in Triola? Perhaps he should have tried to make it on his own rather than just assume he couldn’t do it.

  As Max’s chauffeur pulled through the gates signifying entrance into the royal palace, the enormous baroque structure came into view. The stacks of marble pillars lined the front and framed the massive doors in the center. The facade had gold that accented the statues that were sprinkled throughout the garden and on the edges of the fountain in the center.

  Max wondered if they would give him his old set of rooms in the west wing. With over 2,000 rooms, he wouldn’t be surprised if no one had stayed in them since he last left two years ago.

  The limo came to a stop, and a few moments later, the door opened to reveal a footman for the palace.

  “Good evening, your Royal Highness,” a young brown-haired man he didn’t recognize said, holding the car door open.

  Max stepped out, and made his way up the stairs and through the doors being held open by two additional servants. Though Max couldn’t see him, he knew Patrick was close behind.

  “Your father informed me you were to come to his study as soon as you arrived,” Patrick stated from behind Max. “We should go there posthaste.”

  “We could do that—but we won’t,” Max informed Patrick. “I haven’t been back here in two years. I think I will check out a few things before meeting with my father to receive my penance.”

  “Really, Master Beaumont, you should take this situation more seriously. The king will only tolerate so much insubordination before you push him too far.”

  “I appreciate your candor, Patrick, but my relationship with my father isn’t something I need advice on.”

  “Very well, your Royal Highness,” Patrick said. “I will go inform the king you will be delayed.”

  Max continued down the hall towards the east wing where the royal court guests were housed. Perhaps there were a couple of pretty courtiers who could distract him while he was here. With his title, charm, and money, he knew it would be easy enough to find many young women to help him pass the time while he was stuck in Triola.

  He passed through the throne room, momentarily glancing at the massive seat he would end up inhabiting one day. It made Max’s stomach clench with dread. He would do anything to avoid taking on such a daunting task. There had even been times when he had contemplated abdicating, but his father always talked him out of it, telling him he would grow used to the idea as he got older. It hadn’t happened yet, and Max wondered if it ever would.

  As Max entered the next area, he heard voices speaking in hushed tones, which ended abruptly once he entered the massive hall. All eyes turned towards him, and Max resisted the urge to fidget under the scrutiny.

  He recognized all the noble families immediately; having them attend royal functions over the years made them a constant presence during his childhood. What he found intriguing was that there were several of the noble families’ daughters present in their finest attire, making it clear they knew that the Crown Prince was returning to Triola.

  Two of the young women rushed to his side with thickly plastered makeup and perfectly arranged hair.

  “Welcome home, your Royal Highness,” the blonde one stated, placing her pristinely manicured hand on his arm. “I am Lady Matilda Blanchard, the daughter of Baron Russix, in case you don’t remember me from when we were children.”

  The other brunette woman placed her own manicured hand on his other arm and said, “And I am Lady Alexa Davidson. My father is the Viscount Freymore. We also spent time here at the palace together when we were young.”

  “Ladies, ladies, Max needs some space,” Georgina, Max’s ex-girlfriend from high school, stated as she came up to him and put her arm through his, pulling him away from the other two women who instantly had disappointed looks on their faces.

  She leaned towards him and whispered, “Sorry about the two of them. They’ve been jabbering all day about your return and couldn’t help themselves.”

  Though Max welcomed female company while he was at the palace, he di
dn’t want it in the form of Georgina. She had used him while they were teenagers to gain attention. She tried to convince him to take her back when he ended things because of it. Though all the women most assuredly wanted to use him to advance their position in the royal court, Georgina was deceitful about it. She had hurt him tremendously. He had no desire to go down that road with her again.

  Disentangling himself from Georgina’s grip, Max stepped back from her and pointed out, “They aren’t the only ones who found the need to pounce on me.”

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Max. With our history, you should know I would want to… catch up,” she said, arching her eyebrow and smiling in a knowing way.

  “You might want to, but it only goes one way. And you should address me as your Royal Highness. We haven’t been on a first name basis in years.”

  Georgina crossed her arms and shook her head. “I’m not sure what’s gotten into you. I’m only trying to welcome you home.”

  Irritated that Georgina wouldn’t realize he wanted nothing to do with her, Max stated bluntly, “I need to take my leave. If you will excuse me, Lady Georgina.”

  Without waiting for a response, he quickly exited the social hall and made his way towards the wing of guest rooms. He had no reason to be in that part of the palace, but he didn’t want to go back the way he came and risk running into Patrick. He needed a few minutes to get his anger under control before he did anything else.

  As he moved down the hallway, he wondered how he would get through the next couple of weeks. The royal court was even worse than he had remembered. It had always been filled with gossips, opportunists, and vipers, but it was clear, this time they were focused on him.

  Movement from the end of the hall caught Max’s attention. As the figure came into focus, Max stopped walking, rooted to the spot in shock.

  Lily, the only girl he had ever loved, stood at the other end of the hallway. The air in the space was sucked out, causing Max’s chest to feel like it would explode. He had been prepared for a myriad of other circumstances, but never in his wildest dreams did he think he would end up standing across from the one woman who broke his heart.