CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Sebastianos
It was hard to explain how freeing it was to see the woman you were supposed to marry and feel absolutely nothing for her.
No pang of regret. No bloom of passion or connection. Just dead space between us.
Not that there’d been any feelings between us in the first place.
How could there have been? I’d barely known her. Had only met her on a few occasions prior to having the contract tossed into my face.
After I’d refused to allow the engagement to move forward, I’d been able to see Reina as the manipulator she was. She’d thrown fits and temper tantrums that had rivaled Penelope in a bid to force me to honor the contract between our fathers.
I’d been ready to leave the country, to give up my family and heritage at the time. Thankfully, my father had seen how serious I was, even apologizing once the dust had settled. I’d gone back to the barracks, the only place I’d ever really felt free, trying to put the entire thing behind me.
Now, as Reina eyed me with her cold blue eyes, dressed in pure white in an obvious bid for attention, I could only be grateful at how different Iliana was from her.
I looked over at the woman carrying my child, and a fury of passion and possessiveness swept over me, unlike any I’d felt before.
But what about love? Was I even capable of it?
I had to push those thoughts away and focus when the press conference began.
“Thank you all for coming today,” Reina began, and I was immediately furious that she’d been allowed to take the lead. Heads would roll for this. I looked over at my uncle and he appeared equally furious. “We appreciate you being here on short notice.”
The assembled media began to quiet down as Reina showed her teeth to them. I was pretty sure she was trying to smile.
I hadn’t crossed paths with Reina since her arrival to the palace, which I found strange and at least a little suspect. But today wasn’t about Reina, so I did my best not to listen to the woman as she went on about a new age in royalty and how embracing the working class and foreigners was a testament to King Demetrius’s desire to bring Cassia into the twenty-first century.
The muscle ticked in my jaw as Reina took veiled jabs at Iliana being an American and a commoner, although being the daughter of a baron placed her firmly in the nobility circle, which I’d soon make sure was corrected. Not that it mattered. It was a wonderful thing that the king had given me the freedom to choose my own path, including my marriage, but it sounded off coming from Reina, especially since she was wrong.
Beside me, Iliana watched Reina with an expression I found hard to read. Was she sizing Reina up like she was some sort of competition? It didn’t look like it, but it was certainly hard to tell. If we weren’t in a public function, I’d say something reassuring to her. But public displays of affection were generally frowned upon in official functions like this, so instead, I was forced to pretend to be interested in whatever was coming out of the PR flack’s mouth.
“…and so, the palace would like to welcome Ms. Iliana Costas to Cassia and wish her the best of luck in her marriage to the Duke of Becktonas.”
The reporters erupted into a million questions at once, but before Reina could field any questions, my uncle stood and approached the podium. This hadn’t been the schedule for the events, which told me he was even more angry than me.
Unable to do anything but curtsy and step off the dais, Reina gave me another cold look before marching off, her hips swaying side to side as she strode away.
“Welcome again as we gather for this most joyous announcement,” Uncle Demetrius began, and I realized what he was doing. Whereas Reina would have fielded and answered inappropriate questions, no reporter would dare ask those same questions of my uncle. “I’m happy to answer any of your questions, but first, let me share with you an epic love story of two countries being joined by fate.”
Then my uncle wove a tale of two unlikely individuals meeting on an unlikely night. He spoke of passion and soulmates and immediate love. He even gently corrected the fact that Iliana’s father was a baron without making the palace communications team sound like idiots.
I glanced over at Iliana, whose eyes were glistening again. We smiled at each other as the king spoke of the longing of two hearts to see each other again, and how fate waved its magic wand and made it so.
When he was finished, there were tears in many of the reporters’ eyes, and I knew my uncle had won them over… for now.
It wouldn’t last. Love didn’t sell newspapers. Scandal and drama did. Soon enough, we’d be crucified on the gossip cross, but for now, it was nice.
When it was our time to field questions and pose for pictures, Iliana handled herself beautifully, even making the reporters laugh as she told the story of how she’d stumbled during her first curtsy, even showing them the faint line of the scar she had to prove it.
When I was asked, “How do you feel?” it was easy to answer, “Grateful and happy.”
When the allotted half hour was mercifully over, Reina stepped forward to close out the event, but once again my uncle took over the podium, forcing her to take a step back.
“I’m thrilled to have shared our exciting news with each of you. Our communications office will keep you apprised in due time.”
With that, a page arrived and ushered us into a conference room a few doors away. As with most official events, the communications office always wanted a debriefing and today was no different. We filed into the room, all except for Penelope, who happily skipped away with her nanny.
Casting a look over at Iliana as we were seated at the long table and left with a single guard by the door, I smiled at her.
Her dimples appeared as she smiled back. “That went better than expected.”
I nodded. “It certainly did.”
Nate walked into the small room and took a seat beside me, giving me a curt nod by way of greeting before leaning over and whispering in my general direction. “More talk of trouble from Anjou. There was a scuffle at the Amurian border last night between our troops, and she thinks it’s a sign of more. She wants more troops along the border immediately.”
I nodded. “Come to my office as soon as this wrap-up is finished.”
He gave a nod to Iliana before leaving. Reina breezed in as he left, and I didn’t miss the fact that he refused to acknowledge her.
Trailing behind Reina was the communications director, who looked like he was being led to a firing squad. Actually, he looked really sick. Almost green. Two assistants were on each side of him, looking like there were prepared to jump in should he topple over.
“Excuse me, Your Highnesses,” Ralph said, looking on the edge of ralphing. “My most sincere apologies for needing to step away.”
My uncle looked concerned and also a little relieved. I knew he wouldn’t want his old friend to be ill, but I knew he wasn’t looking forward to giving the man a dressing down for letting Reina take center stage.
“Please see the attending physician,” my uncle said. “It all worked out well in the end.”
Reina stepped in. “See, I told you everything would be okay. You go on and I’ll share our updates.”
Ralph, looking really ill again, shot a distressed look at my uncle. At his nod, he rushed from the room.
Beside me, Iliana murmured, “Poor man.”
I nodded. “Indeed.”
When the doors were closed, Reina took the seat across from us. One of the assistants stayed behind and pulled out a notepad and iPad.
“Well, that was fun, wasn’t it?” Reina said as she took her seat. She didn’t look at me, instead settling her gaze on Iliana, who said nothing. Damn, the young woman beside me looked regal as she met the Reina’s gaze steadily.
Reina frowned before looking down at her notes. “We’re doing the best we can in our office to field questions and whatever, erm, speculation has been arising over the past forty-eight hours.” The word “speculation” was given a heavy emphasis. “As you can imagine, we’re dealing with a potential PR nightmare here. With her…” she waved a hand toward Iliana, “lack of proper bearing and protocol, we have enough of a battle. But with a scandalous pregnancy ready to break free at any moment, our job is increasingly difficult.”
“Who says it’s scandalous? You?” Iliana asked, her question and her voice surprising me — in a good way. Good for her for not letting Reina’s subtle jabs go unchecked.
“The king, actually,” Reina sniffed in response. At the head of the table, my uncle shifted in his seat and Reina quickly went on. “Out of concern, of course. Concern for both you and Sebastianos’s reputation. It’s the only reason he pushed for a puppet engagement.”
My patience with the woman was running thin, and from the look on the king’s face, so was his. But he was holding his peace, watching the events unfold around him carefully.
“Say what you need to say and get on with your day,” I snapped at Reina, who had the audacity to bother looking hurt.
“Fine. Your fiancée needs to work on her composure and her bearing so that she doesn’t embarrass herself and the entire country in the televised interview next week,” Reina said. “She also needs to sign the non-disclosure agreement, and a few other documents before the king can recognize the engagement officially in front of parliament.”
I was trying to keep an eye on Iliana’s reactions through my peripheral, but her mask was back on. “Send the papers to my suite, and I’ll review them this afternoon,” Iliana said, her voice clipped.
“I don’t work for you,” Reina fired back. “Come by the communications office and sign them before the close of business or—”
“Enough!” Uncle Demetrius barked. “The young lady in front of you will soon be a member of the royal family. I suggest you step carefully here.”
Looking immediately contrite, Reina inclined her head, but I didn’t miss the way her hands curled into fists. “My apologies, Your Highness.” Rising gracefully from her seat, she curtsied and excused herself, her little minion hustling behind her.
I met my uncle’s eyes. “And why is she still working here?”
He sighed. “To improve relations with Amur.”
I lifted a brow. “Is it working?”
He frowned, his eyes moving to Iliana in a very direct way. I got the message. We’d talk about this later. My phone vibrated, and I pulled it from my pocket. It was Nate. Ready?
Meeting my uncle’s gaze again, I waited for him to stand before standing as well. Like she had a spring in her ass, Iliana sprung up beside me, clearly remembering protocol. “Thank you for what you did today. The press ate up your participation.”
“I was pleased to support you and your bride.” He shook my hand before taking Iliana’s between both of his. “Welcome to the family, my dear. I look forward to getting to know you much better in the future.”
We waited for the king to exit, and the second the door closed behind him, we both visibly relaxed. “Are you okay?” I asked, and like a switch, Iliana turned on a megawatt smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Perfect.”
I didn’t believe her, but I didn’t have time to dig further. “I need to go see Nate. I—”
She held up a hand. “Of course you do, and I need to sign some business contracts, apparently.”
The words and the implications behind them were sharp, and I instantly understood why she was upset. I’d completely forgotten to mention the non-disclosure and the Cassian royal family version of a pre-prenup that laid out all of the expectations and obligations a royal spouse-to-be would be expected to uphold. With everything on my mind, I’d actually forgotten about it myself. And to have Reina deliver the news in her catty way, I could understand why Iliana might be feeling a little betrayed.
“Are you upset?” I asked. “I forgot to mention the contracts, and I’m sorry about that. I’m sure it sounded worse than it really is.”
She gave a shrug as she reached the door. “It’s fine, really,” she said as she stepped through. “Maybe I’ll see you later today.”
With that, Iliana was gone, letting the door click shut behind her.
I wanted to go after her and reassure her that things looked legal and impersonal on the outside, but they were just formalities. But that could take hours and then hours more for us to kiss and make up.
My phone vibrated again, reminding me that I had business to attend to.
I’d have to reassure Iliana later.
***
The small gathering of security personnel were headed their separate ways after Anjou’s latest demand for more troops was over and the king decided to think it over in the coming week before making a hasty decision.
“Let’s all hope that it doesn’t result in an international incident,” Minister Anjou had said. Most of the attendees bristled at the tone she’d dared take with the monarch, but I was incredibly glad she had. More and more of her true colors were starting to show, and I was taking note.
Nate and I stayed behind in the room after everyone left.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that woman is trying to kick a hornet’s nest,” I said, frowning down at my legal pad.
“She’s practically frothing to get more troops involved,” he agreed.
“I think we should suggest to one of General Fieldsis’ men that she be watched a little more closely,” I suggested.
“I agree, but who? You’ve got to be careful with this one, Seb,” Nate warned. “This requires a deft hand.”
I nodded, considering it a long moment. “I think I know just the person. “Is Damen Poulos still in the defense ministry? He and I served in the Middle East together, and he has a hell of a way with reconnaissance.”
Nate nodded at that. “Yeah. Poulos is still there, and he’s got a top security clearance too, I believe. You trust him with this?”
“I do,” I said. “Tell him to watch the minister for now and to be subtle. We’re looking for anything out of the ordinary right now.”
Nate pushed to his feet. “I’ll get it done immediately and report back anything he hears.”
When the door closed behind him, unease settled over me. I was getting the sense that the stakes were getting higher in my life with each passing moment — both professionally and personally. The squeeze around me was tightening as my country was threatened with violence on its northern border while I navigated a new relationship with the woman carrying my child.
Scrubbing my hand down my face, I cleared my head and looked down at my agenda which, at the moment, seemed like a never-ending to-do list.