Page 27 of The Billionaire's Royal Crown

Elena shook her head as she rose and crossed to the door. “No. I want to go, too. I could use the walk to help ease my mind.”

Caroline bobbed her head, sliding her arm around Elena’s shoulders. “You will sort it out, Your Highness. I have never known His Majesty to not be able to solve a problem, nor you.”

“I certainly hope we do. It would be a terrible shame forthis country to go to Julian. He will ruin it just as the Corinthian royal family seems to have done in their country.”

“I quite agree,” Caroline said as they snaked through the halls.

“I just wonder what tricks Julian has up his sleeve to ensure the vote goes his way.”

“Do you think he has the votes?” Caroline pulled a carton of milk from the refrigerator and added it to a saucepan.

Elena rubbed her lip as she considered it. “I think Julian doesn’t do anything without some assurance he can win.”

Caroline glanced up from whisking in the chocolate bits as they melted. “Surely, the legislature will not go along with this. Your Highness, they know you!”

“Yes, I know,” Elena said with a sigh, “and he may not win in the end, but I believe Julian has enough support to make things incredibly difficult and cast a pall over the engagement announcement and possibly the wedding.”

Caroline shook her head as she poured the steaming chocolate milk into two mugs, added a dollop of whipped cream and passed one to Elena before she fished a tin of cookies from a shelf.

Elena pulled one from the container and bit into it. “Leave it to Julian to find something like this. What luck.”

“It is rather aggravating,” Caroline agreed.

The chiming of Elena’s phone interrupted their conversation. She tugged it from her pocket and checked the display. “Oh, it’s from Nathan.”

“At this time? It must be quite early there.”

“Yes,” Elena answered with a nod. “But he often leaves me a message to find in the morning.”

“That’s sweet.”

Elena’s brows knitted as she read the message. “Yes, but this message is not.”

“What does it say?” Caroline asked.

“I have some bad news,” Elena read. “Don’t we all. I wonder what his is?”

She tapped the virtual keyboard, returning his message.Oh, no. What is it?

With another sip of her hot chocolate, she drummed her fingers on the counter, awaiting a response.

Her phone chimed, and she snatched it from the countertop.

“What does he say?” Caroline asked.

Elena’s shoulders slumped. “He’s asking why I am up. Why can men never answer the questions posed to them?”

Elena typed her response.I can’t sleep. We’ve had some…less-than-desirable developments on my end, too. What is your news?

Elena heaved a sigh, her thoughts racing. “And now we wait. I wonder what Julian has told the legislators about Nathan? Do you believe he’s badmouthed him?”

Caroline mulled it over, taking another sip of her hot chocolate. “Possibly. Oh, do you think he’s told them of his problem with the drinking?”

“I wonder. Nathan has put those days behind him. This is so unfair.” Elena let her head fall into her palm until her phone chimed again. “Perhaps that is the answer.”

She swiped to read the latest message, her stomach clenching and her eyes going wide. “Oh my!”

“What is it, Your Highness?”

---