“You are the heir apparent. If you don’t host the gala, people will talk.”
Max sighed. “Let them talk. When I abdicate, as I have said so many times, their suspicions will be seen as errors.”
“And yet,” Jules said, “the Sea Change Gala is one of the most important fundraisers for Monaco’s climate change program, and preventing or reducing the effects of climate change is one of Monaco’s most important global initiatives. If you aren’t hosting, people will cancel.”
That stopped Maxence. The Sea Change Gala was vital for Monaco’s stature and program funding, and Maxence couldn’t let guests cancel and lose that revenue. “That’s a good reason.”
“I understand not enjoying these enforced social outings,” Jules said. “Why don’t you engage Marie-Therese as your co-host? That would give the gossip columns something to talk about, and it would take some of the social strain off of you.”
Maxence raised an eyebrow at Jules. “I thought you said you weren’t talking to her.”
“No, I said she’s not talking to me, which is an entirely different situation. As her father, I will continue to promote her interests, whether it’s investing her trust fund in certain financial vehicles or,” his voice dropped in sardonic distaste, “allowing her to display herself as asocial media influencer.”
Maxence chuckled at that one. “When has Marie-Therese ever been dissuaded from doing something she wanted to do?”
“Indeed. If you stall much longer on calling the next Council of Nobles meeting, she might end up as the sovereign princess because all of us who are ahead of her will die of old age.”
Maxence laughed louder at that one. “I’m sure you have a good decade or three left, Uncle.”
“But the Council meeting should be soon. A week here, a week there. I’m surprised France isn’t massing troops on our border.”
“Such hyperbole, Uncle Jules. TheParlement françaiswould send a registered letter to annex us, not tanks.”
“Let’s make sure it doesn’t come to that. Once the French National Assembly begins delving into our treaties with them and they get their claws into Monaco, they might not let go.”
Maxence was careful not to roll his eyes, but he kept his gaze level. “I am not concerned that France would commit an act of war to take over less than two square kilometers. We have too many wealthy citizens who enjoy our lack of income tax. We would not want for friends in the World Court.”
Jules bounded out of his chair like a portly French bulldog with a sudden case of the zoomies. “I leave it to your discretion, Prince Maxence, but don’t wait too long to call a meeting of the Crown Council. Some might find it suspicious, like you’re attempting to hold onto unelected power longer than was right. You may not want people’s votes, but it seems that you do want your influence felt.”
Maxence allowed himself to smile benignly as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him.
“So, it is settled then. You and Marie-Therese will cohost the Sea Change Gala.”
“It appears I have been conscripted,” Max said.
Jules inclined slightly from the waist. “I’ll take my leave then. Thank you for a pleasant conversation, Prince Maxence.” He straightened and turned his head to look at Dree. “And it was a pleasure to see the lovely Miss Andrea Clark again, too.”
Maxence did not allow his expression to change and shook Jules’s hand before he left, even though Max’s blood had become a rushing river of ice slush through his body.
When Jules had left the room, Dree looked up at Max, her blue eyes laughing.“Ahn-DRAY-uh.Can’t anybody pronounce my name properly in this place?”
Maxence nodded, preoccupied.
She said, “And I can’t believe you’re taking your cousin to the prom.”
Jules’s entire visit had been a pretense for that one moment when Jules revealed that he had information about Dree, which meant that he knew she was worthy of gathering information about. Saying her name had been a direct threat. His uncle Jules was a venomous snake coiled inside a deceptively harmless-appearing garden gnome, waiting for a soft, fleshy hand to pick it up. “Dree, I’m going to have to ask you to be more careful. I’m worried because Jules knows you’re important to me.”
She smiled. “I’m important to you, huh?”
He met her eyes. “You know you are, and I need you to be careful when you leave the palace.”
Dree shrugged. “I don’t go that many places. When I do, it’s with Chiara and the other girls from below stairs. I’m in a crowd, just another anonymous girlie in a group of girlies.”
He considered whether he should task a security detail for her, but he didn’t trust his security team, either. Plus, surrounding her with bodyguards would affirm her importance.
Damned if he did. Damned if he didn’t.
“I’m careful,” she told him. “I promise.”
