Adrian didn't know which way to turn. He needed to get out of here – he was getting bombarded with women. As soon as Megan had left, the women flocked to him, as if she was his bodyguard too. They tried to rope him in.

Usually, he would take them in his arms, but the pressure to choose just one—it suddenly weighed on him—realizing that he needs to pick someone he can tolerate, and hopefully love. It would make things easier.

He headed out of the hallway and out into a deck. It had a roof so it must have been below the top deck. He wondered where the pool was, if the women didn't find him, they would sure find the pool.

It was quiet out here—the sea salt stirring bittersweet memories of his mother. He leaned against the railing—hoping none of the women would follow him. He picked his phone out of his pocket, he checked it constantly—wondering when his stepfather would realize that he had gone sailing for a purpose—his last fight against his stepfather.

Bitter memories haunted him. His stepfather had never liked him, and neither did his brothers. He remembered being so happy to finally get siblings, to not be an only child, but once they all met, well it wasn’t pretty.

He didn't need any of this, even with women inside, he still felt his world crushing him. He thought he had done everything right – but, his options were closing in on him.

Adrian held onto his phone – he wanted more than anything to chuck it away from him. Every few minutes he looked at it. He was waiting for some angry phone call. Any second his father would attack him.

He dreaded when his stepfather's number appeared on the screen. It was like the seconds were ticking by with a resounding boom in his head.

His stepfather didn't leave Adrian with much hope – constantly telling him how he didn't live up to the family name.

Although Adrian's mother had reigned over the country for decades – Adrian's stepfather never saw him as the rightful heir.

Adrian took the deep breath, "Since when did my life start to end?"

It felt like the world is rushing by him – forcing him to a stop.

Adrian had always known – deep within him – that his stepfather and stepbrothers wanted to take the throne from him. Even though, he was the legitimate and only air. But, Adrian and making you the parliament was cracking – and Adrian had realized it too late.

"Perhaps, I could still persuade them –", Adrian was going over the options in his mind.

He heard light footsteps behind him—he recognized them instantly as Megan's.

He sighed— the time for pleading and persuasion was over.

"How can I be such an idiot – how did I not notice it before?" He grumbled to himself – he felt like a fool.

Megan set a comforting him his shoulder, smiling warmly – but her eyes were sad, she was aware they were losing this battle.

He felt lucky to have her, honestly – she was a stoic woman with broad shoulders and a stern face. She rarely showed her own emotions – in all the years he had known her, she practically raised him as her own son. Perhaps Adrian's mother knew – that she would be here for long, and that he would need a motherly figure in his life – although, with Megan's sturdy presence, she wasn't much of a motherly woman.

What if he lost her, too?

Finally, she spoke, "Your Majesty – we were paying attention to your duties, now it's time to pay attention to this one."

But, Adrian shook his head – if he had been paying attention sooner, he wouldn't feel so trapped. Although, he was surprised that his stepfather hadn't already assassinated him – it was a recurring thought.

"I know, I know – I'm lucky to even have this chance."

Adrian repeated what Megan had told him time and time again. At least he had a chance.

Megan return to her tablet – checking his schedule. So far, their plan up to this point had not worked. He talked to individual members of Parliament – but none of them seem persuaded that he was able to run the country.

His charitable efforts throughout all his years – had not provided any luck to his reputation.

It's not like I'm the only one – he thought bitterly to himself.

They judge me because I'm a prince.

But, Adrian would not let his brothers control the country – he needed to do this for himself, and for his mother.

"Where's the fairy godmother when you need her, huh?"

He had barely even enough time to mourn his mother – they given her quick funeral, but the year that had passed – seem to last forever.

That was his father's fault – rushing everything – in so many ways Adrian wished that his father had been involved in his mother's death. Then, Adrian could have dismantled his father quickly – leaving him to ascend the throne. But unfortunately, cancer got the better of her – into quickly.

You just never know when it's over, he thought to himself.

His eyes glazed over the ocean. He preferred the familiar London streets – he loved to see the amazing sites and busy people walking around on the cloudy days. He loved the way the roads twisted and turned in circles in the city. Out of all the countries he had been to, his own was his favorite.

Making coughed beside him – "Sir, you might want to see this."

She turned the tablet towards him – and his mouth fell open in surprise.

He was on the front cover of the news – again – an old photo of him doing questionable things to a couple women. Anger filled him immediately.

Everyone just forgot his own efforts – his charity dollars, his fundraisers, everything that he used to help people – gone in an instant.

Usually, when something like this happened – he brushed it off, but now it threatened him.

It was a photo of him all right – he remembered it from back the day – and it suggested a fury of things – all of them shaming him.

"How the hell did they get that?"

Megan shrugged – they were always careful around his parties, using confidential women and contracts for his friends.

"It looks like it's everywhere sir – all the newspapers got it at the same time – it doesn't even matter where it came from now."

The heat burned in his cheeks, he felt his heart pounding in his chest.

The image of his stepfather burned in his mind – he had something to do with this.

His hands balled into fists.

"What do we do now?"

Megan shook her head, "Even if they took it down – even if they said it was a fraud – the impression lingers, possibly permanently."

And he knew that she was right, for years everyone would remember a photo like this – they wouldn't remember anything else about him. That was the way public images worked. It didn't matter if they retracted – the damage was done.

"How can they even have the gall to do that?"

Megan set down her tablet – thinking, "It could only have come from somewhere higher up – or else they wouldn't have dared to do that to you."

He growled in frustration – slamming his fist down on the rail – it did nothing to help alleviate the stress.

They needed their plan to work. Under his stepfather's rule, the country would crumble. There were literally hundreds of thousands of people relying on him.

Megan said, "Let's make sure this plan goes accordingly."

He took a deep breath – and somewhere in the back of his mind, he hoped he could fall in love with one of the royals on this boat. At least, for the sake of his country. His mind immediately thought of Veronica's sassy smile and voluptuous curves. Did she say she would do anything for him, right?

A wicked thought ran across his mind.

I could play with her a little, right?

At least for now. He knew that Megan carried lots of items for his women and pleasure—she would surely have something for Veronica.

He headed to the pool with a smile.