I lead Hazel out into the hallway. “We have some paperwork to fill out,” I say to her. “You know, to make it official.”

“Right, of course,” she says, smiling. “I need to fill out paperwork to marry the prince.”

I grin at her. “It’s more of a business deal than anything else.” I grip her hand and pull her along behind me. I wave off the steward as he tries to follow us.

“Right, a business deal that ends with me getting pregnant,” she says.

I laugh and shrug. “Not a normal one, but still.” I hesitate for a second. “Do you know what’s happening here, in the castle?”

“I’ve seen the news,” she says. “I think I know why you’re back.”

“So you totally understand why we’re doing this?”

She nods slowly. “You want to be seen as more… serious.”

I cock my head at her, a little surprised. “That’s a very good way of putting it.”

She blushes. “Thanks.”

“That’s exactly it. You’re going to make me look more serious. That’s how I’ll gain favor with my father.”

She nods but doesn’t say anything, and I can tell she has a million questions. I’m grateful that she doesn’t ask them, at least not yet. I’d like to sign the paperwork and make this official before we dive into my complicated relationships.

We walk to Andrew’s office, mostly in silence, and stop outside of his door. She looks nervous again, and I can’t blame her. She doesn’t know me, and has no clue what she’s getting into. Court politics can be incredibly intense and difficult, and she has no concept of any of it.

On the flip side, I don’t know her at all. Of course, I had my steward look into her. Hazel’s background is all clear, and she seems to come from a decent family, although it appears as though their relationship is strained. She didn’t grow up rich, but she wasn’t dirt-poor, either. She was lower middle class, and maybe that’s even worse for her.

As far as I know, she has no family history of mental disease, no family history of chronic illness, and she looks healthy as fuck. I’m fairly sure I’m getting a damn good wife out of this deal, but I can’t ever say for certain until I’ve gotten to know her better. Anything can happen, and that actually excites me.

Men like Julian want to remove all the joy from the world. They want things in their little boxes, all lined up in neat orderly rows, but I like things messy. I want to get dirty and broken and to enjoy what time I have on this planet. And I’m not going to let him take that joy away from my entire country.

“Ready?” I ask her.

She nods once. “I’m ready.”

I knock on Andrew’s door and push it open before he can respond.

He looks up from his desk and sighs. “You again,” he says.

“Me again. And I brought company.” Hazel steps into the room and Andrew looks surprised. He stands up and nods to her.

“Hello, Hazel,” he says. “I’m Andrew. Second Steward.”

“I know,” she says, curtsying slightly.

Andrew shakes his head and looks at me. “You really got her to go along with this?” he asks me.

I pretend to be hurt. “This is a solemn occasion, Andrew,” I say. “We’re about to sign my marriage papers.”

Andrew groans, shakes his head, and pulls open a drawer. He drops a stack of papers on the top of his desk and looks at us.

“Let’s get started,” he says, gesturing at the chairs in front of his desk.

We sit down across from him and Hazel keeps fidgeting slightly. I can tell she’s nervous as Andrew begins to go over the terms of the contract.

“The basic idea is this: your official title will be Wife Consort, which is a very old but surprisingly real station,” he says. “You will be paid a yearly stipend in small chunks each month for the rest of your life. You will be allowed to live where and as you please, and you may even take a second husband. In exchange, you will give Nolan full custody of any children he sires with you, and you will return to Polovia twice a year to serve any ceremonial functions necessary. Do you understand?”

She nods meekly. “I understand.”

Andrew looks at her for a second. “This is a big thing,” he says finally. “Polovia hasn’t had a Wife Consort at court since… I don’t know, hundreds of years at least.”

“Quit trying to scare her,” I say.

“I’m not trying to scare her. But people are going to talk, and it won’t be all nice things. She should know what she’s getting herself into.”

Hazel looks at me and I look back at her. She hesitates before nodding at Andrew. “I get it,” she says. “I’m still here.”

I smile as Andrew sighs and continues to go over the contract. For the most part, is simple legalistic stuff, just outlining every single detail imaginable. Each of us initials the bottom of every page, indicating that we read it, or at least that Andrew went over it with us.

It takes almost an hour to get through that stack of papers, which basically all boil down to what Andrew said in the very beginning. As we go through it all, Hazel is totally silent, and the only way you’d know that she’s paying attention is by watching the way she fidgets in her chair. She keeps moving, like if she settles down then something bad might happen or something. It’s actually fascinating to watch, and I feel like it’s the first real glimpse into her personality that I’m getting.

Andrew, for his part, doesn’t seem to notice. If he does, he doesn’t comment on it, he just continues to do his job. I can’t tell if she’s nervous, afraid, regretting everything, or what. But she doesn’t ask any questions and she initials every page, so we continue.

Finally, Andrew gets to the last page. It’s an ornate thing, with lines for us to sign, and the enormous royal seal already stamped in wax. I see that my father signed the bottom, indicating his approval, although I doubt he actually signed it. I suspect my mother had his personal steward sign, which is surprisingly common.

“Okay Hazel,” Andrew says. “This is your last chance. If you get up and leave without signing, we won’t hold anything against you.”

She looks at me and I look back, but I don’t say anything. If she wants to walk away, I want her to go. I don’t want to force this woman to marry me. I don’t want her to feel like I had to convince her.

I want her to want it.

She looks away, takes the pen from the table, and signs her name quickly. She puts the pen down and looks away again when it’s done.

“Okay then,” Andrew says, and looks at me. “Same goes for you, it’s not too—“

I grab the pen and sign before he can finish.

Andrew sighs. “I now pronounce you man and wife.”

“May I kiss the bride?” I say.

Hazel looks at me, eyes wide, but I laugh at her.

“Congratulations, Wife Consort Hazel Joyce,” Andrew says. “Remember, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

I give Andrew a look. “Quit acting like I’m some kind of weird rapist or something.”

He smirks at me. “Definitely not a rapist. But definitely weird.”

I roll my eyes and turn to Hazel. “Now that it’s official, it’s time for you to take your place in the castle.”

She cocks her head and looks at me. “What do you mean?”

“You’re going to come live with me,” I say, laughing. “At least until you’re pregnant. It was in the contract, remember.”

She hesitates then nods. “I remember. Page six, subparagraph four.”

I glance at Andrew and he looks surprised. “Uh, that’s right,” he says.

“I have a good memory.” She blushes slightly.

“Impressive,” I say. “But you still better go home and get packed. You’re coming to live with me, little wife. And soon, you’re going to get knocked up.”

“Uhm, okay,” she says, still blushing.

“Andrew, how long do you think it’ll take?”

“Until she gets sick of you?” he asks me.

“No, until I get her pregnant. I think the first night.”

“I’m sure you’re both very fertile,” he says blandly.

“What do you think, princess?” I ask her. “How quickly do you want me to get you pregnant? We can go try right now, if you want.”

She’s beet red and it drives me absolutely crazy. I can’t stop smiling right now. I know I shouldn’t be this happy, but I can’t help myself. I just married this girl, she’s truly my wife, and I’m going to fuck her until she’s pregnant. I never really thought this would happen, but holy shit, it’s very real.

“Maybe later,” she says quickly, and stands. “Like you said, I should go pack.”

“Wise choice,” Andrew mumbles.

“Suit yourself.” I stand up and escort her to the door. “But remember, you’re all mine now, princess,” I whisper in hear ear.

She looks up at me, her eyes wide, but she isn’t blushing this time. No, this time I can see a glint of excitement in her eyes.

“Okay,” she says to me.

I smirk at her, open the door, and she leaves the room. I watch her go, staring at that sweet ass for a second, before looking back at Andrew.

“What do you think?” I ask him.

“She’s smart and beautiful. I think she’ll be fine. I’m more worried about you.”

“Don’t be,” I say. “I have this under control.”

I grin at him before leaving the room, I shut the door and head back to my apartment, a whistle on my lips, a spring in my step.

I never thought I’d be a married man, let alone married to a foreign girl like Hazel. But damn is she fucking sexy, and I can’t wait to claim what’s rightfully mine now.

“Was that her?”

I stop mid-stride and look to my left. Surprise rushes through me as Julian smiles at me, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Excuse me?” I ask him.

He walks up to me and the stewards that were flanking him hang back. “The girl. Was that her? The new wife?”

I take a sharp breath. “Word travels fast,” I say.

“There are no secrets here, Nolan,” he says. “You should know that. But I guess you haven’t been at court in a long time.”

“Some things I never forget,” I say to him.

He stops in front of me and I appraise him. I haven’t seen my cousin in years. He’s a bit shorter than me, a bit wider, but we have a family resemblance in our faces. He could almost be a brother, except he’s a piece of shit, and I despise him.

“Be careful,” he says to me. “You’re out of your league now.”

I smirk at him, anger rising in me. “Don’t forget who I am, Julian. You’re just a jumped up cousin, but I’m still the prince.”

“Maybe. But you’ve been gone, Nolan, and I suspect you don’t have what it takes anymore. No, I’m not worried. This marriage thing is just a stunt.”

I laugh softly. “If you’re not worried, why are you standing there trying to intimidate me? I would think such tactics were below you.”

He stumbles a second and I catch a glimpse of the rage behind his façade. But he quickly gathers that up and shakes his head.

“Watch yourself, prince,” he says. “You’re not long for this castle.”

I just laugh and walk away from him, seething with rage. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of getting into a petty little insult war with him in the corridors.

That run-in couldn’t have been a coincidence. The castle is huge, and Julian is staying far away from Andrew’s office. No, Julian knew that I was signing the papers right then, which means I have a leak in my own staff.

Julian is right about something. I’ve been away from court for too long. I’ve grown too trusting. I’m not nearly paranoid enough. I should have fired that steward immediately and gotten someone that I trusted from Andrew. Obviously he’s been leaking information to Julian this whole time. It doesn’t matter, though. Julian couldn’t stop this, and it’s not like what I’m doing is a secret.

Soon, everyone is going to know. The prince is back, and he’s definitely a player.

I’m playing the court’s game and I’m going to fucking win.