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The problem here is that there is no negotiation. I'm not giving Tanzi up. Ever.
"Not true. Elena is your heir. She is the Crown. And until she has a child, Adamo is her heir. Pivotal to the Crown. I am a prince of this country, but progeniture of the Crown is not dependent on me." And if it was?
Tanzi and I are ahead of the curve. We're already pregnant.
Being the youngest of triplets is a pain in the ass. Because there is no actual difference in ages, but the birth order dictates behavior in a big way. But the single benefit is thatI am not key to the Crown.
"You had to know that eloping would cause more trouble than it resolves," my father changes the subject again.
Good call. Pushing to prove his point requires him being willing to acknowledge there could come a time that neither of my siblings is around to become monarch. And my dad is never going to speak that thought into existence.
"That is not possible," I assure my father. "No matter what the fallout, Tanzi and I deserved a private wedding that was about us."
Yes, more for Tanzi's sake than mine, but I'm not giving my dad any ammunition against the woman I love.
"Our marriage is not about her dad's billionaire empire." I give my father-in-law a harsh look. "And it's not about my family royal lineage.Our marriage is us."
"Do not be naïve, son. Royal marriages do not happen in a vacuum. Marriage alliances are arranged for a reason."
"That reason isn't good enough to justify arranging them any longer," I say urgently. "Just because you and mom started off as an arranged marriage, and turned out for you because you fell in love, that doesn't mean your children want, or should be forced, to endure a marriage of convenience."
My dad winces and there is a memory lurking in his gaze he's never shared. The press treats my parents' marriage like a love match, but it wasn't one. I don't know when they fell for each other, or what came before, but I doubt it was anything like my instantly intense relationship with Tanzi.
"Think about it," I urge my father. "Elena deserves to pick out her own husband."
"That is not—"
I interrupt my father in a way I i never do. "She is not a fool and would not marry someone who would make a poor consort to the queen."
Honestly? I would not blame my sister for following in my footsteps and keeping a relationship secret from the family until she is ready to make it permanent.
Living under the microscope of being a modern royal is not easy. Yes, there is a reason I spend so much time away from Isole dei Re. Because I am not as well-known as my siblings outside of it.
My sister because she is heir to the throne and my brother because he can't seem to stay out of the tabloids.
I can live the normal life of a corporate shark when I'm away from the country that only sees me as a prince.
CAPTER 15: Tanzi
A Fly in the Royal Honey
The following days are filled with frantic activity.
A diplomatic reception that's been in the works for over six months is suddenly a party to announce our marriage.
There was no more talk about my suitability as Rio's wife, or ending my marriage before it has even really begun. Which I'm glad about, but the amount of work involved in spinning the story of the elopement is daunting.
Rio makes sure I rest, and I make sure he decompresses.
My brothers leave to handle business, one for California and the other goes to Spain. I understand the necessity, especially with momanddad insisting on staying in the small island country until after the reception.
We're waiting to announce our pregnancy until I reach my second trimester. It's not an uncommon practice, and will hopefully minimize speculation on the reason for our elopement.
The PR teams are spinning it as a whirlwind romance that culminated in an even more whirlwind marriage. Which it kind of is. The best PR is based on parts of reality.
At least that's what my parents always say.
I guess the palace's public relations department agrees.
