Page 4 of The Billionaire's Royal Challenge

Elena nodded. “Exactly. And I expect he will do something to make me see the light.”

Caroline raised her eyebrows toward her hairline. “Really? You don’t actually expect His Majesty would…sabotage your relationship, do you?”

Elena stalked to the French doors, gazing out over her balcony overlooking the sprawling gardens that transitioned into the lush valley that housed the city of Cresthaven. The bustle of the small capital city was a stark contrast to the rigid schedule of her gilded cage. “Yes, actually, Caroline. I do.”

Her mind assessed their conversation again, deciding that she had to be vigilant. Her father may have agreed to allow the Kingsleys to visit, but she still did not believe he’d allow their engagement to stand.

And she had to change his mind. Or she had to do something drastic.

CHAPTER 2

NATE

Nate’s stomach twisted into a knot again as he stared down at the two shirts, one clutched in each hand. At the last minute, he’d torn his suitcase apart and repacked it…twice.

Now, he stood frozen, trying to decide between two blue shirts. Would royals even like blue shirts? Maybe they preferred white. Or off-white. Did they dress formally all the time?

His mind whirled with questions. What he’d known of Elena hadn’t been anything like what he expected of a stuffy royal.

In fact, he’d never suspected the shell-shocking news that had been delivered after he’d proposed.

He eased into his armchair, the shirts still clenched in his white-knuckled grip. The moment he’d proposed raced through his mind.

She’d scared him for a minute when he thought she wouldn’t accept. Then, she had, but she’d insisted she had something to tell him that would change his mind.

She never got the chance.

Instead, her royal father had arrived, making the shocking announcement for her. His Ellie, the woman he’d spilled coffee on, the woman who had enchanted him from the moment they’d met, the one who had shared a hot dog with him, who had giggled with his sister over a slice of pizza, the woman who had changed his life, was Princess Elena Montclair of Eldoria.

And not only was she a princess, but she wastheprincess who would ascend to the throne, the person who would one day reign as Queen of Eldoria.

The thought made his stomach clench even tighter. He wanted desperately to marry her. But the pressure of her royal life frightened him. Could he be a good husband for her?

Funny, how when he’d assumed her to be a normal woman, he’d thought he could give her the world. Now knowing her royal status, he wondered if he’d drag her down.

His faith in his ability to win over her royal family and showcase his ability for royal duties was waning. Fast.

He puffed out his cheeks as he let his chin sink to his chest. The knock at his door pulled his attention from his own ruminations.

“Yeah?” he called, rising and stalking back to his suitcase with a frown.

The door creaked open, and his mother and sister peered in. “Still packing?”

“For the eighth time,” he said with a sigh.

Victoria flicked her eyebrows up as she stepped inside and stared at the mess in his suitcase. “Eight?”

“I suddenly understand women when they say they don’t have anything to wear. I feel like none of this is going to pass muster with the royal family.”

Victoria chuckled as she pulled both of the shirts from his grasp. “I don’t think they walk around in gowns and royal mantles all the time, Nate. They’re normal people, too.”

“Yeah, didn’t Ellie wear jeans when we went for pizza?” his sister, Maddie, chimed in.

“Yes, when she was…pretending to be just Ellie. What does she wear when she’s Princess Elena? Probably not jeans.”

“Which one of these did you want?” Victoria asked, holding up the shirts.

“I don’t know. Neither. Both.”

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