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"Because you think you should have a say in who I marry?" Rio demands, sounding every inch the prince I know him to be.
"Your wife has an important role to play in this country. An inappropriate match could do damage to our political and economic standing."
Not wanting to offend my new father-in-law right off the bat, I stifle the derisive laugh that wants out. Rio marrying the daughter of Miguel Menendez is no hardship for Isole dei Re.
My father's voice says almost those exact words in a frigid tone I have rarely heard in my life and never directed at me. Not even this morning.
The king looks nonplussed for a moment, though nowhere near cowed.
Queen Therese interjects calmly, "The point is we were not given the opportunity to know her before the deed was done."
"The deed can be undone easily enough." The king glares at both me and Rio. "But not without scandal."
"No one is undoing my marriage," I say with my own version of my dad's frigid tone.
King Claudio shakes his head. "You did not marry merely a man, young lady, you married a prince."
"She marriedme," Rio argues, his hand releasing mine so that he can wrap his arm around my waist. "If Tanzi is deemed unsuited for the role of my wife, I will abdicate my place in the succession to the throne and give up my role in the company."
Rio should sound upset saying something like that, but he doesn't. He sounds absolutely sure of himself.
The entire room erupts into arguments and exclamations, but I don't care how anyone else is taking his announcement.
I turn and look up at the man who married me and claimed our child without hesitation. "You would do that for me?"
"Sì. T'amo. You belong to me, and I love you. That means your happiness is paramount to me. Above duty. Even above the others in my family."
"Are you sure you are not using my daughter to justify abdicating responsibilities you do not want yourself?" Dad's tone is scornful.
For the first time in my life, I want to kick him. But mom's furious admonishment is even better. Especially when she steps away from my dad and moves to stand on Rio's other side.
The look on my dad's face is worth admission. The expression on the king's not so much. I guess it's okay for him to deride his son, but not my dad.
I’m not thrilled with either of them.
"You will apologize, Miguel," Tanzi's mom demands.
"It is a legitimate question," the king says before my dad can decide if it is worth it to defy the love of his life.
So, that look isn't for my dad, but his son? Oh man, I want to just hug Rio because while I didn't know his dad was a king, I do know how much Rio cares about the older man's good opinion.
This time the giggle escapes. It's not a sound of scorn, but amusement. Maybe even hysterical laugher, but really? The whole situation is taking on farcical proportions. If it were not for the pained expression on my beloved's, I would burst into real laughter.
"Amate?"Rio's beautiful dark eyes say he does not see the humor in this situation.
At all.
Unexpected exhaustion washes over me, but I grin up at him tiredly. "Our dads are like two peas in a pod. It's almost scary. Bet you want to kick yours too."
"If I did, I would not say so. Threatening the monarch is against the law in Isole dei Re." Which is as good as an admission.
"Vittorio!" His father's chiding bark says he knows it too.
I narrow my eyes at the king. "If you don't want your son feeling some kind of way toward you, then maybe don't say awful things about him."
Nausea swirls in my tummy and I don't think it's from this situation, but then again, I doubt the stress is helping it either.
"You look pale, Tanzi." Rio turns to face me fully, his expression deeply concerned. "Are you all right?"
