Page 37 of Royally Matched
“As serious as they’re not meant for one another.”
“Let me get this straight. You want us to somehow stop our respective siblings from going through with this thing because you think this is all a farce and your sister should be marrying somebody she fancies the… err, pants off.”
She gives a single nod of her head. “Precisely.”
“Amelia—” I begin but get cut off.
“And don’t forget about your brother. He should be in love with whomever he marries, too,andfancy the pants off them.”
I pull my lips into a line. Of course, everything she’s said is right. She’s only echoing what I think myself. Neither of them are in love and neither of them look particularly like they’re enjoying getting to know one another. “Grim determination” is the term that springs to mind when I look at the two of them. Is that any basis for a relationship?
But it is interesting that a member of Princess Sofia’s family feels the same way as I do. That’s got to be worth exploring. Hasn’t it?
“Why?” I ask simply.
“Because it’s the right thing to do, of course. As I said, my sister is too scared to actually get out there and find the right man for her, so she’s hiding behind this whole arranged marriage thing, mainly because she’s always wanted to be Father’s heir, but of course that’s going to go to Max, so she’s missed out completely.”
I hold my hands up in the air. “Wait. What’s your father naming his new heir got to do with Sofia marrying my brother?”
“Only absolutely everything!”
“You might need to clue me in a little.”
“It’s no secret that Sofia has always wanted to be Father’s heir and that she thinks the Ledonian laws of succession are completely outdated and sexist.”
“They are.”
“Which would mean that being the first born, she would be the next monarch, instead of Alex or Max.”
I narrow my gaze at her. “I understand that but what does it have to do with Sofia and Enzo?”
“Don’t you see? This whole thing is one big marvelous distraction from what she really wants.”
“So, you’re telling me that if your sister gets what she really wants, which is to be named as your father’s heir,she’ll stop this whole thing and not become engaged to my brother.”
“That’s exactly what she’d do, yes.”
“With all due respect, how do you know that?”
“I know my sister.”
I press my lips together and glance at the roomful of people once more. Sofia is now speaking with a woman in a dark pants suit, her smile genuine for the first time today. Enzo, for his part, is chewing the ear off some poor diplomat, who looks like he’d rather be talking to anyone else.
I turn back to Amelia. “What did you have in mind?”
Her pretty face lifts in a smile. “So, you’ll help me?”
“I’m not saying that. Let’s hear your idea first.”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? We need to find the perfect people for them both. Their soulmates. The people theyshouldbe with. Then they’ll both forget this silliness when they see how amazing love actually is, and how it’s never good to give up on it because it’s so, so wonderful.”
I draw my eyebrows together. “Your idea is that we find soulmates for Princess Sofia and Enzo?”
“Exactly that,” she replies eagerly, her face bright.
“Sure. And while we’re at it, why don’t we organize world peace and find a cure for cancer, because both of those are about as likely as finding people’s soulmates for them.”
Surely, she can see the impossibility of the task she’s suggesting?