“I like you too, Georg. But I’m afraid your mother does not like me.”
His shoulders sank. “Ja, that is true.”
“Why does she hate me so much?” Adelaide asked innocently. “I have done nothing to her.”
“Ha! Nothing, you say?” He leaned toward her, pointing to her diamond necklace. “That is not nothing, mein lieber.”
She didn’t like him using her father’s term of endearment but continued to smile just the same. “But don’t you think a princess should wear fine jewelry?”
“Ja, I do. If you were my princess, I would give you bigger, better jewels.”
“I believe you would.” She tilted her head to one side, playing the coquette. “But tell me something, Georg, and please be honest with me. Do you really, truly want to be king?”
His brow furrowed as he pressed his lips into a tight line, as if thinking hard. And then he smiled again. “If you were queen, Adelaide, I would want to be king.”
“But your mother wants to be queen, Georg. She would never let me be your queen.” She tapped him on his chest. “You would have to be king without me. But you would have your mother acting as your queen.”
He puffed out his chest. “I wouldn’t let her be queen.”
“She might not wear the crown, but she would be ruling. And what about our uncle? Prince Farcus may be coming back.” She studied him closely, but his expression looked sincerely surprised.
“Coming back here? To Montovia?”
“Yes. That’s what I heard.”
“My mother said Farcus was gone for good.”
“How would she know that?”
He shrugged. “She just knows. That’s all. Now, Adelaide, please say you’ll be my queen.”
“I can’t be your queen. Your mother won’t allow it. You know that, Georg. Even though you’re a grown man, she rules over you. She tells you what to do.”
“No.” He frowned deeply, then downed the remainder of his drink. “If I am king, my mother cannot tell me what to do.”
“Oh, but she will.” Adelaide was sincere with him now. “You know she wants to rule Montovia through you. You would be king in name only. Just a figurehead. Your mother would rule the principality. You must know that by now.”
He grabbed one of her hands. “That is why I need you, Adelaide. If you were queen, my mother couldnotrule.”
She slowly nodded. “That is true, but that’s not what your mother wants.” She spotted Anton returning with their drinks. “Would you ever be able to stand up against your mother, Georg?”
He just stared at her, but the answer was written in his eyes.
“Here’s your drink.” Anton handed her something pink with a cherry in it.
She took a cautious sniff. “Thank you.”
“How are you, Georg?” Anton asked with genuine interest.
“Mad as Krampus.” He glared at Anton.
Anton leaned back a bit. “At me?”
“No. Just mad is all. I need another drink.” Georg turned back to Adelaide. “I meant what I said.”
She just nodded. “I know you did. Take care now, Georg.”
As the prince stomped off, Anton asked what he had been talking about.
