Page 17 of The Prince of New York

I’d also learned to dodge and escape being grabbed in the first place. In some ways, my antics had spared my siblings.

When my parents had been focused on me, they hadn’t been worrying about my siblings.

“I’m sorry.”

I nodded, accepting the intent behind the words. “They weren’t ideal people, and it got to the point even everyone outside of the palace realized it. The only thing I’m possibly at fault for was making the decision to take the brunt of it so others wouldn’t.”

“You antagonized them on purpose?”

I shrugged. “I’m technically the eldest of their children, but I’m not the eldest prince. I don’t know who my brother’s father is, and honestly, I don’t care. He doesn’t care, either. He just wanted to escape everything that is being a prince of New York. I gave my blessings for all my brothers and sisters to stay and go as they wished, promising they’d always have someone to go to if the going got tough. My sister did the same.”

It bothered me that all my older half-siblings had opted to disappear quietly from public life and New York, clearing the way for Rachel and me to take over. I hadn’t wanted the position of New York’s heir, but I also hadn’t wanted Rachel’s future child to be burdened with the role from an early age. As such, I’d accepted the responsibility.

Rachel worked hard to minimize how much I needed to do, allowing me to have a life outside of the palace.

In some ways, I’d squandered the opportunity.

“I’d wondered. Still, I’m sorry. That must be hard.”

“It hasn’t been easy. But Rachel’s doing better now, which is all I care about it.” Above all, I wanted my sister to be happy. I trusted Ethan to do his best. Of all the men I knew, the Californian was the only one I trusted with her.

Sometimes, I put on a show of doubting him, but I did it understanding I spurred him into showering my sister with the sort of love she deserved for the rest of her days. One day, Ethan would catch on to my trickery, but until he did, I would continue to scoff at him every rare now and again to enjoy the fireworks.

“You don’t mind being in her shadow?”

“Not at all. Until now, she had lived in everyone else’s shadow. New York will prosper with her holding the reins. That much I believe.”

“And you are New York’s crowned prince.”

I grinned at that. “Only until one of Rachel’s children is of age, and I’m certain Rachel will pick the next monarch based on who is best suited for the position rather than birth order. And I don’t doubt for a second that Rachel is better suited for ruling New York compared to me.”

“You don’t want to rule?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. Anyone who wants to rule a kingdom is quite possibly insane. It’s an incredible amount of work—work I have to be prepared to do at any time. And honestly, after this trip to California, I’ll be preparing to do my fair share of the work so my sister can take some time off with Ethan. I’m confident if I give those two time off, there will be a little nephew or niece on the way in a hurry. Then, in twenty years or so, I might have a chance of dodging any close encounters with the New York throne.”

Madelyn tilted her head to the side, regarded me through narrowed eyes, and then grinned. “If you could do anything at all, what would you do and why?”

“Do you mean career or just anything?”

“Both professionally and for entertainment purposes.”

The woman didn’t pull her punches, and I considered how I’d spent my entire life, wondering what it would be like to be just another person in the world. After some thought, I said, “You know those people who direct traffic at airports?”

“Air traffic controllers,” Madelyn replied.

“Yeah, them. I’d like to do something like that. Their job is important, and it helps people come and go anywhere they want safely. It’s an important job. I’d like to do something like that, something that has substance and meaning and does good for a lot of people. It also looks complicated, so I wouldn’t have time to get bored. Well, unless I was working at a small airport.” I braced myself for her disapproval. “That’s probably a little crazy.”

“Not at all. I never thought about it that way before. Doing something useful and important is a good goal. And you’re right about air traffic controllers having important jobs. I always thought it was magic how they coordinate all those planes at one time.”

“I bet I could get somebody to let us up there to watch how it works,” I muttered.

Madelyn raised a brow and stared me down. “Why would you?”

“It would be interesting, we’d learn something, and it would beat sitting around and waiting for the inevitable headache to go away.”

“Ah. Right. Your concussion will make it so you’re basically stuck at the palace for at least a few days.”

I nodded. “I’m hoping I’ll get approved to do some work at my shop, but if not, it can wait until I’m back from California.”

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