Aleks meets me in the dining room for a little breakfast.

It feels good to be speaking Bellestanian again, as it’s been a while since I spoke it exclusively. I forgot how much of the language I really missed. For example, we have this insult in Bellestanian that roughly translates to “farmer who failed to plant his crops at the correct time and must resort to begging in order to feed his family.” It’s stupidly quaint, but it’s a real serious insult here. There’s also the standard “pig fucker” and “cow’s dick hole,” which are always fun.

Aleks and I don’t talk about anything of consequence, which is a hallmark of our relationship. He’s been living and working in Bellestan this whole time, barely ever contacting me, and we were once very close friends. We both have lives totally separate from each other, and yet we always end up talking about soccer matches or politics. I don’t know if he has a family or what, but it’s just the way our relationship is. Maybe it’s because we’re men, but we never seem to talk about anything important, which suits me just fine.

I talk about important big issues enough with everyone else. I’m the Prince, after all, so people want to talk about the big problems facing our country, never about the good things my family and I have done for the people. Nobody wants to talk about how much money I’ve invested into the Bellestanian economy over the years, how I single-handedly brought Wi-Fi and wired internet into every single town and city and village in Bellestan. No, they just want to talk about what I’m going to do next. It’s never enough. Back home, it’s only marginally better. I’m the CEO back home, so I’m always dealing with some new crisis or another.

But with an old friend like Aleks, it is enough. I can just be a person. It’s nice that I don’t have to play any one of my numerous roles with him. I can just be a person, nothing special, just another guy.

When we finish, I step out into the hall and head back to the room. I barely get twenty feet before my Prince role reasserts itself in a very unpleasant way.

“Prince Branimir.” I look over and notice Blaz Perko stepping out from a side room and coming toward me. He smiles his creepy little smile and we shake hands. “How nice to see you.”

“Minister,” I say. “What are you doing down in the caves today?” The ministers don’t typically stay in the royal quarters for too long.

“Oh, just state business. I have a meeting with your father later today.”

“Well, have a good meeting.” I turn to leave, but Perko keeps pace with me. My guards fall back in step with his aides, and for a second we’re alone.

“I must say, Prince Bran, I’m surprised that you’ve come home.”

“Bellestan is always close to my heart,” I say, frowning.

“Yes, well, you certainly have invested enough money here, of course. Nobody can complain about that.”

“And why would they?” I ask him, annoyed.

“It just seems like the timing is very interesting. I supposed your parents are more worried about my party than I realized.”

I don’t break stride or show that his comment shook me. “Just a coincidence, Minister,” I say. “Your little ideals aren’t a concern to my family.”

“They should be,” he says softly. “The people want the royal family gone. Your old ways of doing things aren’t going to work anymore.”

I stop and face him. His aides and my guards keep their distance, just out of earshot. “You always were a fool, Perko. Do you really think your insane ideas are going to work here? You’ll gut this country for your own profit.”

His grin is wicked. “And the profits will be sweet,” he says softly. “Maybe as sweet as that girl you’ve brought.” He leans closer to me, his voice pitched softer. “Your little American whore.”

It takes everything I have not to hit him right here, but I know I can’t. His aides would make a big thing of it, and I’m sure my guards wouldn’t be happy about it. He probably wants me to get physical with him. It would be great for his cause.

No, I keep my shit together. I can’t be a fucking child. This is royal politics, not some backwoods bar.

“Careful, Perko,” I say. “I may not be able to touch you here, but I have more power than you realize.”

“More money, maybe, but you’re in Bellestan now, Prince. You’ve been gone a long time. Don’t forget that.” He turns to leave.

“Have a wonderful day, Minister,” I say loud enough for everyone to hear.

He smiles and gives me a short bow before returning to his aides. They quickly walk back the way we just came.

Aleks appears beside me, frowning at Perko’s back. “What did the toad want?” he asks.

“To threaten me,” I say. “And to threaten Mila.”

Aleks bristles. “Should we do something about it?”

“No,” I say. “But double Mila’s guard. I want her safe, and I don’t think Blaz is above hurting her.”

“It’ll be done, my Prince.”

I sigh and turn away. “And stop with the Prince shit.”

“Of course.” He hesitates and grins. “My Prince.”

I shake my head and walk back toward my room, thinking about my little impromptu meeting with Perko.

My father should tell me when he has meetings with Perko and the opposition. I need to be kept in the loop if I’m going to be able to help him. Of course, my father isn’t the easiest man to work with. He’s been King for a long time, and he does things his own way. I barely get to see him, and I’m his own damn son. He’s a busy man, running the country himself.

Part of me wishes he’d just jail the whole lot of the opposition, execute Perko, and be done with it. But that’s not how we do things in Bellestan. We may be a monarchy, but we’re not a dictatorship. The King has final say, but the ministers craft and pass legislation that my father can then choose to accept or deny. He’s more powerful than the American President, but he’s not all-powerful like in the old days.

I don’t know what my father is meeting with Perko for, but it can’t be good. Maybe it’s just some minor legislation that needs to be gone over, or maybe it’s something to do with the coup. I just have to trust him sand keep doing my part in all this, which is basically just putting on a good face. I’m here for public relations, I can’t forget that. I’m not here for governmental reasons.

I get to Mila’s door and hesitate. I hate playing this fucking game of pretending to be her husband and going into the other room. I wish we could just share a single space, but this is how she wants it. Sighing, I unlock the door and step inside.

“Mila?” I call out. She’s not in the living room or the kitchen. Her bedroom door is shut. “Mila, hey,” I call again. “You awake?” I walk up to her door, smiling to myself. “I guess you slept in today.”

I pull open her door. The room is dim, with only one lamp lit. I quickly spot a pair of panties on the floor before looking up at Mila. She’s sitting in the bed, her hair a bit of a mess, her face completely flushed. She has the sheets pulled up to her chest and she’s breathing fast and deep.

She stares at me for a second, her eyes wide with surprise, and it hits me. I know what she’s been doing. Holy fuck, I really do know.

The scepter, the royal dildo. I sent that to her as a fucking joke. But as she looks into my eyes, I know the truth. I know what she’s been doing in here.

“It’s not what you think,” she says.

“Yes, it is,” I say, smirking.

“I was just, uh, reading. In bed.”

I raise my eyebrow at the panties that are clearly on the ground. “Without underwear?”

She hesitates. “I like to be comfortable,” she says.

I laugh, shaking my head. “Get dressed. We’re going for a little walk.”

“A walk?” She looks totally confused.

“Get dressed,” I repeat. “Meet me out here in ten minutes.” I turn and shut the door behind me.

I’m hard and grinning but I know better than to push. I’ll get what I want, and sooner rather than later. But now I know she’s frustrated and she wants it just as badly as I do. All I need is the right moment to undress her and finally taste her the way I need to.