Page 43 of Shock Heir for the Crown Prince

‘Uh huh.’ Busy not pursuing anyone else, by the sound of things. ‘Do you know that Moriana’s heart isn’t involved?’

‘I’m sure.’

She wanted to believe him.

‘You don’t believe me,’ he murmured with a half-smile. ‘I am very charming, it’s true.’

He could be. That was the problem.

Charming. Forceful when he wanted to be. Not to mention confident and assured. ‘Are you nervous about the press conference?’ she asked.

‘I’m not concerned about giving the speech. I’m well prepared. The aftermath could get interesting.’

‘Will there be question time?’

‘Yes.’

She could only imagine the kind of questions he’d be fielding. ‘Good luck with that.’

‘Like I said, I’m well prepared.’

Clearly, arrogance could be an asset at times. She looked out of the window at the grey and rocky plains beyond the valley. It was desolate country. Water, or the lack of it, was an issue here. ‘If you need a scapegoat today, it’s okay to use me. My reputation’s disposable. Blame me for not telling you that you had a daughter if you need to. It’s the truth.’

He looked strangely offended by her offer. ‘You don’t think any of the blame here is mine?’

‘That’s not what I said.’ She looked down and laced her fingers together. ‘You have a crown to claim, a monarchy to protect and a daughter to present in the best possible light. They’re all important things.’

‘And you think your reputation’s not important?’

‘I already have a reputation as a young single mother. People often assume certain things about me because of that. All I’m saying is I don’t have a monarchy to lose. You do.’ He’d started working on it at his father’s side when he was eight years old. ‘So be ruthless if you have to. I won’t hold it against you.’

He looked down at his own hands then and the rest of the trip passed in silence until a city came into view at the far end of that barren tableland. It was a walled city, medieval in approach. Red roofs and grey stone walls dominated the cityscape and a palace sat clear in the middle of it like the pupil of an eye. There were no skyscrapers—it wasn’t that kind of place. There were no big bodies of water. Instead, a series of circular canals ribboned outwards from the palace. What greenery there was looked carefully tended. ‘Where does the city’s water come from?’ she asked.

‘A river to the north,’ he said. ‘Water’s precious here. We need more of it.’

‘Did you ever build that dam in the mountains?’

‘No.’ His beautiful lips thinned. ‘That project never went ahead. We’ve a project afoot between Byzenmaach and three neighbouring principalities to jointly address our water shortfall using new technologies and old. I’ll be speaking about it today. Selling it.’

‘Will it be hard to sell? If it’s needed?’

‘Ask me tomorrow,’ he said with a smile that bordered on mocking.

* * *

The royal palace was grander and more ornate than the winter fortress. Soaring spires and covered walkways surrounded a central courtyard big enough to host several football games at once. Ana walked with Casimir and, beyond a curious glance or two from some of the palace staff, no one paid any attention to her at all. They entered an office and the bodyguards stayed outside. Rudolpho waited for them inside the room with a slender file in hand.

‘The list of journalists and cameramen attending the press conference,’ he said and handed the file to Casimir, who opened the file and began reading.

It was barely nine a.m. and the speech wasn’t until twelve. Ana was used to being discreetly present in a room, but never before had she had absolutely no role to play at all.

They knew she was there. Rudolpho’s narrowed gaze practically eviscerated her. ‘I can arrange a private tour of the palace for you this morning, should you be interested.’ Polite words to mask her removal.

‘Perhaps later,’ she murmured. ‘Don’t mind me. I’m fine where I am for now.’ Doing nothing. Feeling wholly out of place and of no use whatsoever. She headed for the bookcase behind the desk. ‘I’ll read a book on…’ she looked closer ‘…international monetary policy.’

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