Thus, there was no way out.
The air evacuated the lobby of the inn.
Max pressed his palms on the cracked linoleum of the inn’s check-in counter and tried not to show he was drowning in emptiness.
If Pierre had indeed finally ordered Max’s execution, his only choice was how he behaved in these final minutes of his life.
Thoughperhaps,he could talk his way out of it.
Maxence turned back and stared, unblinking, at the wall. Neon blue afterimages of the idols and pictures of Hindu gods tacked up there appeared and floated over the white paint, and he watched them drift to the left.
The bright blue streaks began to spin in Max’s vision, and his statement was an eruption of everything in his mind.“I abdicate.Right now, Irenouncemy place in the line of succession. I renounce all my titles and property. I renounce my goddamn citizenship.”
Quentin said, “No.No, Prince Maxence, Your Highness. Youcan’t.”
“Oh yes, Ican.Attorneys have advised me on how to do this. If I give up everything—my titles, my property, and my citizenship—you have no hold on me nor jurisdiction over me. So,I renounce.”
“Your Highness, youcannot,”Quentin said.
Max’s voice rose.“No.Irenounce.I renounce itall.”
“You would renounce your birthright so you can bea priest?
“To be aJesuit.I will be aJesuit,not a parish priest. Andyes.I want nothing more in life than to be a member of the Jesuit order.”
Quentin Sault’s voice became a bit dry. “If I may be so bold, sir, you arenotcut out to bea priest,Your Most Serene Highness.”
Max would not relent. If he renounced, hemightsurvive. And if he did convince Sault and his men not to murder him, the assassins would not look any farther in the inn to eliminate witnesses to their assassination. He said, “St. Augustine struggled with worldly temptations, as do I. It’s not unusual. He wrote, ‘Lord, grant me chastity and sobriety,but not yet.’”
Sault said, “I won’t take your abdication back to the Crown Council.”
Maxence whipped his head around and stared at Quentin Sault. Violence rose in his chest. “You can’trefuseto accept it. You’re a military officer and the director of the intelligence service. You have noauthorityin the government. You aren’t in the line of succession or even the royal family.Youcan’t refuse my abdication. Legally, no one can, but that won’t stop them.”
Quentin told him, “Your Serene Highness, my prince, youneedto go back to Monaco to stand for the Crown Council’s election of the next sovereign prince.”
“Youcan’trefuse to take my abdication back. I’ll turn on my phone and call Pierre to abdicate. He might accept my renunciation, and maybe he’ll countermand your order to kill me.”
Sault’s gray eyes flared open. “What are youtalkingabout?”
“My brother, Prince Pierre, will accept my renunciation now that my uncle has died. Uncle Rainier has died, right? Dear God,pleasetell me his suffering is over. The doctors said his stroke was neither survivable nor recoverable. He should never have been intubated or had that feeding tube placed. It wascruel.Pierre insisted on doing it so he would have time to consolidate his position with the council.”
Quentin Sault said, “That wasa monthago. No one notified you when your uncle passed, either?”
Either?
No one notified him when his uncle had passed,either?
That was an odd choice of words.
The commandos by the exit hovered their hands near the oddly square bulges in the side pockets on their pants.
Maxence barreled on, determined to convince Quentin Sault that there was no reason to execute him. “Besides, Princess Flicka has returned to the palace. I saw that before I turned my phone off. Pierre has had more than enough time to dispel any stray rumors about divorce and ensure he has enough votes when the Crown Council finally meets. I’m surprised he hasn’t called for the vote already. Pierre can do it without me. I’ve told everyone I’ve left that life behind and plan to take Holy Orders as soon as Pierre allows it. I will do ittomorrowif Pierre informs His Holiness.I will not stand in the way of Pierre taking the throne. You don’t have to do this.”
Sault asked, “Did you say you turned your phone off?”
“Of course, I did,” Maxence said. “There’s no mobile phone reception out in the Himalayas. My phone has been shut off for a month.”
“Fora month?”Quentin asked, his voice breathless. “My God. You haven’t heard. I thought you must have seen it on the news anddecidednot to come back, or thought it too dangerous, or had been threatened. That’s why we’re here toescortyou homesafely.”
