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"About that," Miguel butts in. "Explain how you were able to get my daughter pregnant while in a relationship with another woman and why I shouldn't beat you to the point of death for doing so?"
At least he's giving me the benefit of the doubt. His fury this morning is understandable in light of the tabloid stories circulating about mine and Tanzi's elopement.
Royal Heir Abandons Marriage Plans to Run Away with Billionaire Heiress
Prince Vittorio Follows in Playboy Brother's Footsteps
Prince cheating on fiancée before the wedding?
He made sure I saw the headlines while Tanzi was occupied consoling her mom about a lack of a formal wedding. I told him they weren't true, but until now, there has been no time to expound on that.
"First, I am not and have never been in a relationship with Giannetta Bellini." I glare at my father "I told you I wasn't interested in her. Any impression she, or her family had to the contrary is all on you.""
He's the one that pushed the idea and if those headlines hurt my wife, I won't forgive easily.
"Because of this girl just out of college?"
"She's exactly two years and eight months younger than me." There is no culture in the world where that is considered a significant gap after the age of consent. "And at twenty-two, Tanzi is a woman not a girl."
"Who you did not have the guts or the courtesy to approach me for her hand in marriage," Miguel slots in.
I refrain from rolling my eyes. Barely. "I won't tell her you said that. Tanzi isn't a piece of property for you to give away. Your daughter doesn't need anyone's permission to marry—"
"But you do," my father inserts.
"Perhaps, but as I said, if you attempt to exercise your power to dissolve the marriage, I will abdicate my place in the royal family and marry her all over again." Not that my father decreeing the marriage invalid would hold legal sway anywhere but Isole de Rei.
But I am making a point.
"Let's get back to the other woman," Miguel says.
"There is no other woman," I tell him between gritted teeth. "Even if I was not in love with your daughter, I would have no interest in marrying Giannetta Bellini."
"You never gave the idea due consideration," my father says with disapproval.
I don't like disappointing him. Or my mother. But I'm not living my life to please them either, so it is inevitable.
"I am not your heir," I remind him. "I'm not even the spare. Who I marry has no bearing on the throne of Isole dei Re."
"Is that what this is about? You not being the first or second born? Do you think you are less important to me and your mother, or to this country, as your sister and brother are?"
"Yes. And before you go all emo dad on me, I am okay with that. I prefer a life over which I have more control."
Emo dad?Miguel mouths.
I grimace. My father locks it down well, but he's a passionate man and every bit as capable of over dramatizing as my grandfather. It runs in the family. Something Tanzi has to look forward to.
"A life away from your home." My father's already unhappy visage goes darker. "Do you think we have not noticed how much time you spend away from the palace?"
"It's normal for an adult child to move out on their own. You and mom may live in the same palace with your father, but your brothers and their families don't." Whoever demanded their presence for this confrontation didn't do me any favors.
My guess is my grandfather. My father would have preferred to keep the situation under wraps until he heard my side of the story. But none of us was given that opportunity because of whoever leaked the story to the press.
My marriage is still a secret as far as the media is concerned, but me taking Tanzi to the Caribbean on one of our private jets is now common knowledge. Losing their job will be the least of their problems for whoever told a reporter about the trip.
How many of my brother's exploits got blown up in the press the same way? We thought we plugged the leaks, but we were wrong.
"You are as much a part of the crown as your sister or brother." My father's return to an earlier point while ignoring the valid one I made is textbook negotiation tactics.
