Secretly Pregnant Princess
Lorraine Hall
CHAPTER ONE
Princess Evelyne Lucia Martina Lidiahad been summoned to her father’s office often in her almost twenty-four years. It wasnevera good thing.
Still, today, she was lighter than usual. Because tonight, her brother was to be married. And a royal wedding for the heir meant a respite for Evelyne. Whatever complaints her father levied against her this morning, whatever punishments for petty infractions about to be doled out, they were small prices to pay for a little bit of freedom.
It wouldn’t last forever. No doubt Father would be back to scheming her into the marriage mart soon enough—but Alexandre’s wedding, and hopefully a royal baby soon after, should take the heat off for at least a year.
Within a years’ time, she could convince Jordi to either stand up to her father or run away with her. He loved her. Said so all the time. As a royal aide, she knew he had a deep fear of upsetting her father, and who could blame him? King Enzo was a volatile, violent,evilman.
But with enough time, Evelyne was sure…she wassureshe could convince Jordi to be as brave as she was willing to be.
For love, she thought dreamily.
But all dreams died when walking into King Enzo’s grand office. Luxurious, gleaming gold that always gave her a headache, and her father always dressed in some uniform or another. He’d never actually trained or served in the Alis military, but he liked to stomp around in his role asleaderas though he had.
Mostly, it was to intimidate. Such was Enzo’s way. No one loved or respected the king, his children included. He was a mean, petty man full of spite, hate, and obsessed with retribution. Evelyne did not remember her mother as she’d been told the queen died in childbirth, but Evelyne wouldn’t have been surprised to find Enzo had killed her.
He was that horrible. And on those occasions he beat her—something she knew her brother did his level best to stop—she could see it in his eyes. The fact was hewouldkill, given the right opportunity. Evelyne would have run away long ago, but her father was powerful, and his little spies were scattered across their small country. He ruled with the iron fist of a dictator, and everyone fell into line. Even her.
For now, she told herself.
All who existed in their little country waited for the day that King Enzo would die, and Prince Alexandre would take the throne. There was no doubt in Evelyne’s mind that Alexandre was the best man in the world, and everything would be all right once her brother was the king.
Whether it be true or not didn’t matter. What mattered was hope.
But for this morning, as she walked into her father’s office, she found her hope a little unsteady. Because yes, her father was there in his usual military uniform with his usual smug expression on his face, but Alexandre was here as well. He was not yet dressed for his wedding, nor did he wear an expression fit for a soon-to-be-groom. His mouth was in a grim line, his dark eyes flat.
She knew he did not love his fiancée. He was doing his duty.Thatwas Alexandre. She might have hated him for being so good, so perfect, but in doing his duty, he often protectedherfrom whatever plans their father had for her.
Still, she felt sorry for Ines, because it was unclear whether the soon-to-be-bride believed her marriage into the Lidia royal family was one based on money and power, or one based on love.
There was no love in this kingdom as long as Evelyne’s father ruled.
Father glanced at the large watch on his wrist. “I summoned you ten minutes ago, child.”
She didn’t point out that the palace was huge, that it tooktimeto get from one end of it to the other. She’d learned her lesson about arguing with him as a young girl.
Eventually.
“My apologies, sir.” She gave a regal curtsey. Mostly for Alexandre’s benefit. Because he was here and it was his wedding day, and she knew her father was justitchingto punish her in some way to make Alexandre’s day even more miserable.
Father eyed her, which would have been enough for the warning alarms in her head to sound, but then he eyed Alexandre, and smiled.
“On this happy day where Alexandre submits to his duty and marries, I would like to inform you that you will soon follow.”
Evelyne did not allow herself to react outwardly. She kept her expression placid and bland. She did not look Alexandre’s way like she wanted to. She didn’t even dare clasp her hands together or demand to know what he meant. She stood, settled into her regal bearing and waited for the bomb to drop.
“I have long sought the right man for you to marry, Evelyne. It has been quite the ordeal since you prefer to be so…rebellious.”
Evelyne couldn’t remember the last time she’drebelledagainst him, unless he knew about Jordi. Which made her cold all the way through.
“He must be strong, of course. Powerful. Someone worthy of being the father of royal children, but someone who would not simply do whateveryoutold him to do.” Father came around to rest a hip on his desk. He surveyed her with analyzing eyes. “Someone unafraid to use whatever methods might keep you in line.”
Might.In line. This time Evelyne could not resist looking back at her brother. Who stood exactly as he had been, but his expression had moved far closer to fury than it had been.
