Page 2 of Learning to Rule

My father knows full well Elodie’s experience of Janastria solely comprises of the short journey from the airport to the palace, which is nothing compared to what the rest of the country has to offer.

“It’s vastly different from Florida.” Elodie takes my father’s questioning in her stride, and I want to give her a big kiss. Her chin is held high now in a regal pose. We bow to no one. “I can’t wait to explore more of it, though. His Highness, Prince Dalton, has expressed a particular wish to take me to the mountains.”

“They’re one of our country’s best features,” my father mutters, checking his watch.

There’s a knock on the door.

“Enter,” my father commands.

I turn to see who it is, and I’m surprised to see my childhood friend Marianne standing there. She’s a member of the royal court and has been through as much hassle with her over-bearing father as I have with mine. This was especially true when she decided she was more into girls than boys at the age of fifteen. Her father is one of my father’s oldest friends.

She comes forward and curtsies to my parents before turning to me and doing the same. Elodie looks at me to see if she needs to curtsy to Marianne when the latter turns to her. I shake my head, and both women give each other a smiled greeting.

“It’s lovely of you to join us, Marianne. Miss Nash, Marianne is my goddaughter and is living at the palace.”

“You’re living here, Marianne?” I interrupt my father, who coughs his displeasure.

“I am, Your Highness,” Marianne replies.

When away from the formality of court, she would never call me ‘Your Highness’, and it sounds as strange on her lips as it does on Elodie’s.

“Why?” I ask.

Marianne turns to my father. I can’t read the emotion on her face. It’s not happiness, but it’s not anger either.

“Because Marianne is due to marry you next year,” my father responds.

“What?” The bottom falls out of my world.What the hell is going on?I look at Elodie, and she’s gone white as a sheet. “I’m not marrying Marianne.”

“You will do what is best for your country,” my father informs me.

“And we both know Marianne isn’t it,” I shout back at my father. “Are you seriously involved in this charade, Marianne?”

Marianne doesn’t answer me. She can’t look at me either. I can’t believe she would agree to this. There’s something going on here that I don’t understand.

“Elodie.” I turn to look at the woman I love but find her missing. She’s not there.

“Typical non-royal,” my mother slurs. “They run away at the first sign of trouble.”

“Do you want to know why that is? It’s because they aren’t constantly drunk to keep themselves immune to their feelings.” I stare accusingly at my mother before turning on my father. “And they have respect for people.”

I shake my head at them both before striding from the room.

“Dalton, get back here. Where are you going?” my father shouts after me. Hinchbootie and Felix jump aside as I storm out. “Dalton,” my father shouts again. “I demand you come here, at once.”

I turn back and spit out at him, “No, I’m beyond your demands. I’ve found something more important than duty—I’ve found love. I’m going after the woman who you’ll accept as the future Queen of Janastria or lose me as your heir forever.”

One

Elodie

I’ve never felt so angry in all my life…no, not angry, livid. I’ve been brought here under false pretenses. How could Dalton not tell me he was betrothed?

Without glancing back, I storm out of the throne room. The low heeled pumps I’m wearing echo loudly on the wooden floors as I rush past a concerned looking Mr. Hinchbottom.

“Elodie,” Dalton calls from behind me, and I quicken my pace.

I should have known from the start he was a jerk. He even showed me he was by being a complete dick over the yoga studio.