Page 74 of The Billionaire's Royal Challenge

“Yeah, I’m not selling her face cream, Mom, I’m trying to make her like me so I can marry her daughter.”

Victoria pinched his cheeks. “It’s impossible not to love you.”

“Says my mom. Okay, I’m going to talk to Maddie. She loves to remind me that this is all going to work out because Ellie and I are meant to be.”

“Have fun. We’ll see you for the parade.”

With a kiss to his mother’s cheek, Nate left his parents behind and continued down the hall. Knocking on his sister’s door was a far easier task than the one he’d already faced, at least.

She answered it within a few seconds, her features tugging into a frown.

“What’s that look for?”

“I thought maybe you’d be Alexander coming to ask me to go to the parade with him.”

Nate rolled his eyes at her. “I’m not going to the parade with Ellie, and I’m way closer to her than you are to him.”

She wrinkled her nose. “But still…”

“Come on, what do you say we go for a walk? It’s really pretty outside. Let’s enjoy it.”

She nodded as she grinned at him. “Okay. Let me grab my hoodie.”

When she reappeared at the door, she said, “Maybe we’ll run into Alexander.”

“Oh, Maddie…”

“What?” she asked as they meandered down the hall.

“Nothing. Maybe we will. And then I’ll probably end up walking through the gardens alone while you hang all over him.”

They stepped into the bright sunshine outside and headed for the garden.

“What do you think the town’s like?” Maddie asked.

“We should check it out.”

“Yeah, especially if you’re going to be living here,” Maddie answered.

He gnawed his lower lip, wondering if he would be or if he’d lose Elena’s hand to Prince Eric.

“You okay?” Maddie asked.

“Yeah, I just…” He heaved a sigh. “Prince Eric wants to marry Elena.”

Maddie’s features registered shock and dismay. “Really? How do you know that?”

“He told me this morning. Fair warning that we’re battling for her hand.”

“Aw, Nate,” Maddie said, sliding a hand onto his shoulder. “You’ll win. Ellie loves you so much.”

Nate offered her a tight-lipped smileas he patted her hand, grateful for her unwavering support. In that brief moment of connection, he felt a surge of affection for his sister, realizing how much her encouragement bolstered him. “Thanks, Maddie. I know she does. I have to keep believing that everything is going to be okay.”

“It will be. I know it. You two are perfect together.”

“You always know how to make me feel better.”

She grinned at him. “That’s what sisters are for.”

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