“I mind,” I interrupted firmly. “I do not need help in the romantic department, nor do I wish for it. I already have someone I wish to court. You can leave me be on this, please.”
Her face fell. “Oh. Already?”
I gave her an exasperated look. My life didn’t begin in this palace, Queen Beatrice.
Victor snorted and went back to stabbing his steak. “It’s not like anyone will want to marry an adopted prince, anyway.”
King Patrick cleared his throat and gave his son a reproving look. “If either of my sons were worth their weight, I wouldn’t need to adopt a third son todo their work.”
Both Victor and Royce flushed. Since it was true, there wasn’t much I could say. Let’s just move this conversation along…
I turned to Helena. “Would you do me the honor of helping me meet everyone? There’s very few of the aristocracy I can put a name and face to.”
Her head jerked back, but she smiled politely. “I’d be delighted. I’m surprised, however. I know you’re very active in social circles.”
“Yes, but those circles haven’t truly included aristocracy and were for business reasons, after all. My first five years in business, I found myself too busy to even socialize, so now I’m at a loss on who is who.”
Lies. I knew everyone at this point, but I shouldn’t know anyone at all. Having Helena introduce me would kill two birds with one stone—I could re-meet people and spend more time with her, which hopefully would facilitate a stronger relationship.
“I see. Well, I’m quite glad to do so.” Her expression grew wistful. “What’s it like, building a business?”
“Well, thankfully, I didn’t build one from the ground up. I expanded an established business, which was hard enough. I spent an ungodly amount of time in the office to get everything off the ground. It was thrilling, seeing the success of my ventures. Fulfilling in a way that’s hard to explain.”
Her wistfulness turned to sadness. “I suppose it’s something I’ll never experience.”
Before I could encourage her, King Patrick stepped in. “Helena, you’re a princess. Your duties lie elsewhere.”
She nodded silently and went back to eating.
I couldn’t strangle her parents, as much as I wished otherwise. Stop sidelining the poor girl. She’s the only child you have with any common sense about ruling! “I’m afraid I disagree. Just marrying and having children is the least of what my new sister is capable of, I’m sure.”
Helena looked up in surprise and then a true smile took over her face. “You mean that?”
“I do.”
Clearly, I would need to get her alone before I could have any kind of meaningful conversation with her. Royce as well. Perhaps a luncheon with just the siblings. Naturally, I did not include Victor in this invitation.
Queen Beatrice snorted in disagreement but said nothing, instead shifting us to another topic.
The conversation continued to be lighthearted, with nothing substantial added. Eventually, dinner ended, and a wave of relief swept through me. There were several things I wanted to do tonight, thinking being one of them, and it looked like I was finally done with the social obligations—
King Patrick lifted a staying hand. “James, speak with me for a moment.”
I side-eyed the door in longing—I had clearly thought too soon—before pasting on a smile. “Of course. What is it?”
He twisted in his chair to face me more directly, and even though his children and wife had left the room, he oddly kept his voice low, as if even the walls had ears. “I’m very glad you agreed to this proposition of mine. I always disliked how my uncle treated his bastard children. Adopting you in feels like a way to make up for it.”
Rich, considering he let his son father children irresponsibly and wouldn’t acknowledge them. I also knew there was no point in saying so aloud. I had tried in the first life, to no good end.One of the first things I’d done upon becoming king was to set up funds and housing for those illegitimate children. King Patrick spoke flowery words he didn’t mean.
Still, I smiled like I believed him. “I’m happy to have a family once more, since, as you know, mine are all in the grave.”
“Yes, that’s very unfortunate, but don’t think of it as having lost all your family. You’re still my cousin and now my son, are you not?”
“You know it sounds strange when you say it like that, right?”
He softly chuckled. “True, even though it’s fact. But be at home here, James.”
“I shall.” And this time, I would make it a home to suit me, not the other way around. “Also, please have my back if Mother starts having grand ideas of marrying me off. I was quite candid with her earlier.”
