Savannah was extremely emotional on our shopping trip.  I couldn’t blame her.  I had heard that pregnant women become this way.  I did what I could for her and by the end of the trip, I think we were having a good time.

But travel is exhausting.  I could not wait until they invented a jet that could get me to and from Paris in under an hour.  Even with fine dining and all the amenities, it just drained you to travel so much.

When we arrived back at the embassy, I escorted Savannah back to her room.  I ordered the servants not to disturb her unless she wanted something.  She needed rest after all the jet setting and I needed a drink.  I was just about to go down to the bar near the pool when my father burst into the room.

“Well, you’ve done it!  You’ve really done it this time!” he ranted.

“Father, what troubles you?  Come, I have news to celebrate.”

“Celebrate?!” he said outraged, slapping a tabloid down onto the table in front of me.

The front page had a picture of Savannah and I walking through Paris.  The headline screamed “Royal Bastard?” and speculated about my baby---  Well, Savannah’s baby still, technically.  I was hopeful.

“What is the meaning of this?!  You slum around with these whores?!”

“Father!” I objected.

He slapped me with his open hand.  What was I to do?  He was the king.

“Shut up!” he roared.  “Do you have any idea how humiliating this is?  For me?  Your mother?  All Andalia has is its tourism now!  The Royal Family is the face of the entire country!  The entire economy!  Who will come to a country where its prince sleeps around and acts like an irresponsible child?!”

“Father, we were discreet,” I assured him.  “No one was to know until the parentage of the baby was known.”
“You don’t even know if you are the father?!” he snapped.  “How can this be?!”
His face changed.  He realized.

“Byron,” he said with disgust.  “That boy is a bad influence on you.”

“He is my friend.  We did not plan this,” I said.  “Byron is very upset as well.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is,” scoffed my father.  “Wait until I tell his parents!  Assuming they don’t already know.  You two?  You’re sharing women now?”

“We have shared many things,” I said.  “This cannot be new to you.”

“Of course, I was young,” he said.  “But I did not knock up those women.  You will have to marry her now.  It’s the only way!”

“If it is mine, you’re saying.”

“Of course!  Why would---  You love this woman?  Please don’t tell me you’re in a love with an actress,” he said in disgust.  “These women parade around on the screen with no clothes!  What kind of wife is that for you?!”

“You do not know her, father.  She is gracious and kind and beautiful---“

“I’m sure she is, but none of that matters,” he concluded.  “All that matters is whether or not she is carrying your heir.  Then you must marry her.  If not, she is Byron’s problem.”
“But I would---  I mean, I could still---“

“Marry her if she carries Byron’s child?  No!  Don’t be a fool.” he scoffed.  “Are you trying to make this a bigger scandal than it is?!  If you have any concern for your friend and our family, you will put that out of your mind right now.”

I became overwhelmed with sadness.  Father had always been controlling.  He manipulated my life to great lengths.  I did not like it.  I wanted to be my own man.  Make my own decisions, but I was trapped in my position. 

“I will not,” I said.  “I plan to marry her if the baby is mine or not!”

“You will do as you are told!” he said, slapping me across the head.  “You will not disobey me.  I am your father!  Your king!  Bah!  You make me ashamed.  You should be ashamed of yourself, boy.  Defy me again and there shall be consequences!”

“Why will you not talk to me, father?  Why can we never discuss things?!”

“We are discussing things!  I am talking, and you should be listening.  That is how we discuss family matters.  Until you act like a man, you will obey me!  Do you understand?!”

“I still have questions.  I want to know---“

“DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!” he screamed.

“Yes,” I said dutifully.  “Will you accept the child as a member of this family?  Or will you consider him a bastard forever?”

“That remains to be seen,” he said, reserving judgment for a later time.  “One day, my son, you will be king.  You will understand the decisions I make.  You will make the same decisions for your family, for your subjects and for your country.  Never forget that.”

Father had a way of upsetting me a great deal.  I was trying not to cry.  I looked away from him.  No matter what I seemed to do, no matter what achievements I made, to him I was nothing.  Just a child who needed constant supervision.  Was it any wonder I flew around the world to get away from him?

“I don’t want to see you in any more pictures in the tabloids,” he warned.  “Not until this matter is settled.  We will either announce a wedding or congratulate Prince Byron on his.  There are no other options.  Understand?  Do this for me, son.  Do this for your family.  Then, in a few months, all will be forgotten.”

“Yes, father,” I said a little bitterly.

I’m not sure if he heard or if he was merely waiting for me to capitulate.  Aaron came into the room to tell him that his limo had arrived.

“Thank you, Aaron,” he said.  “See to it that Dominique spends his time here, won’t you?  See that he is relaxed and safe.”

“You mean trapped,” I corrected.

“I mean, safe from the paparazzi,” he corrected.  “Good to see you, Aaron.  Dominique, I will call you, huh?”

“Yes, father,” I acknowledged.  “Have a nice trip or meeting or wherever you’re off to.  I know you mean well.”

Father made a noise acknowledging my response.  It was probably not the response he wanted, but at least we both knew where we stood.  Now it was up to me to prove to him I was man.  Responsibility was never my strong suit, but perhaps it was time that I grew up. 

If the baby was mine, then I would marry Savannah, if she would have me.  If it was not, perhaps it was better for Byron to do the right thing.  I would not want my adopted son to be treated like trash in my Royal Family.  If he was mine, I would fight for him!  I would not allow father to speak to him disrespectfully.  Bastard or no!  He would be my son!  You can disrespect me father, but never my child!
Aaron will still standing at the door watching me.  I guess he noticed my distress.  I was muttering some of this under my breath.

“Your highness?” he began.  “Perhaps a snifter of cognac to settle the nerves?”

“Or two or three,” I suggested.  “Yes, please.  Bring them forth.”

Aaron brought the snifter and I poured myself a stiff drink.  I took a second one and poured one for Aaron.

“Drink with me,” I said.

“My Lord, I cannot,” he said in shock.  “I am on duty.”

“This is your duty now, come.  I shall promise not to get you drunk,” I said.

He took the snifter and we clinked glasses.  He twirled and smelled the cognac, then took the entire drink.

“Hmmm,” he said pleasantly.  “Quite good.”

“I have never asked Aaron, but---“

“Two, sir,” he said.  “I have two children.  A boy and a girl.”

“Were you ready?” I asked.

“No, sir.  No one is,” he assured me.  “You will be fine.  Ms. Kelly is a fine woman, I think.”

“My father does not think so,” I said, taking a sip.

“He is from another time,” explained Aaron.  “Things were done differently.  He does not expect you to do things the same way, but you should respect the old ways.  There is wisdom in the traditions.  Some of them, anyway.”

“I do not know what to do, Aaron,” I said.  “If this is not my baby, I may want to marry this girl.  If it is my baby, I don’t know if I’m ready and I don’t know if she will marry me in any case.”

“Look into your heart, my prince,” he said.  “And hers.  You will find the answer.  Thank you for the drink.”

Aaron patted me on the back and returned to his duties.  He has two children and yet, he takes care of me.  It should be the other way around.  I am his prince.  I need to take responsibility.  Perhaps it is time that I stood up on my own, regardless of what my father says!  Maybe that is what he’s been waiting for me to do all this time.