“You don’t know that,” Nadia said.
“What I do know is that you cannot forbid me from marrying Kyle. I love him, too. This is the perfect solution to the problem. You should be happy for me not to enter a marriage with a perfect stranger.”
Nadia wagged a finger at me. “That is not true. The list includes several people you have met multiple times.”
I clicked my tongue, rolling my eyes. “Stop. I’m not marrying an acquaintance.”
“He hasn’t been properly vetted.” Nadia shook her head.
“Are you joking?” I said with a chuckle. “Are you saying that all the vetting you did before allowing me to tell him about Papa wasn’t enough?”
Nadia’s jaw tightened. “I am telling you that he is still a wild card, and that is the last thing we need.”
“I would never hurt Nattie. Like ever. This is a dream come true for me. I’m not going to do anything to mess this up.”
“Aww,” I said, rubbing his cheek. “Thank you, darling.”
He kissed my cheek. “Yeah, anytime, sweetie.”
“You’re making me sick. Fine,” Nadia agreed with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Marry him. But this does not mean you are trusted fully yet, doctor.”
The memory of the rest of the discussion faded from my mind, leaving behind a tiny shred of doubt that had been planted in my mind from Nadia. Would this all work out?
I glanced in the mirror, adjusting my earring. “I hope they bring me luck, Papa. We’ll need it.”
The glass showed more than my dress and styled curls—it reflected the weight of a crown I wasn’t ready to wear, and the future Kyle was about to step into. Would he come to resent me for drawing him into a world of politics and danger? Or would he rise to meet it—and become the partner I’ve always hoped for?
A quiet knock sounded at my door, and I called over my shoulder for them to enter.
Nadia slipped inside, crossing to me as I rose. “You look stunning as always.”
“A dress,” I teased, “well, this wedding must be a very special occasion for you.”
“Very funny,moya sestra,” she said as she pulled me into a hug.
She took a step back, her hands finding mine. “Are you sure about this, Natashka?”
“I am as certain as one can be about these things,” I answered.
“That does not sound very sure,” she said. “If you are having second thoughts, we can call this all off. Stefan and I will go back to our list, negotiate an acceptable contract with–“
“No,” I said, my voice firm. “No, Nadia. A contractual marriage is not what I want nor what we need. Nadia, if that comes out into the public–“
“It won’t. I will make sure of it.”
“You cannot. And it leaves us far too open to issues in the future…blackmail and the like.”
She studied me for a moment, her features pinching as a rare flicker of sentimentality floated in her eyes. “I only want the best for you. And this is not an ideal situation.”
“No, it is not. But marrying Kyle makes it as palatable as it can be. He is my silver lining.”
Nadia pulled me into a tight hug before she kissed my cheek. “I suppose if you are pleased with this, I cannot object. Although, I have paid your doctor a visit to warn him against hurting you in any way.”
A soft chuckle escaped me. “I expected nothing less from you,moya lyubov.”
With a shake of my head, I flicked my gaze to the mirror, making one last check of my makeup. “Poor Kyle.”
“Poor Kyle is marrying royalty. He’s making out like a bandit.”
