"If this marriage helps stop Putin from invading more countries, then I guess I can survive six months of being married to some stuffy prince.How bad can it be?"
Famous last words.
Relief flickered across the Grand Duchess's features."I knew you'd understand."
"I don't understand any of this.But I'll do it."
"Excellent.There are some documents to formalize your agreement to the arrangement."She pulled out a thick stack of papers from her desk drawer, official-looking documents in what appeared to be multiple languages."Standard for international marriage agreements, inheritance rights, diplomatic status.All perfectly routine."
I flipped through the stack.There was text in English, Italian, and what looked like legal Latin."There are a lot of pages here."
"Royal marriages involve complex legal frameworks.Property rights, succession laws, treaty obligations."She handed me an expensive-looking pen."I know it's overwhelming, but it's all standard diplomatic language."
"Should I actually read all of this?Because I have to admit, legal documents in three different languages aren't exactly my specialty.Neither is Latin.Or international law.Or being a princess, now that I think about it."
"The lawyers have reviewed everything thoroughly.It's all perfectly standard, just formalizing your status as Princess of Valdoria and establishing the terms of the marriage alliance."A slight cough interrupted her."Though if you insist on reading every clause, we could be here until Putin invades the Mediterranean."
I looked at the stack of papers, then at the Grand Duchess's expectant expression."You know what they say about not reading the fine print.But I suppose I should trust that European royalty has better lawyers than most people."
"We have the best lawyers money can buy."
I signed where she indicated, feeling like I was signing my life away.Which, I supposed, was.For six months, anyway.
"There will be preparations, of course.Protocol lessons, wardrobe consultations, briefings on Solmarina's political situation.You'll need to be ready to convincingly play the role of a princess in love."
"In love."
"The marriage must appear genuine to be effective.An obviously political arrangement would undermine the message we're trying to send to the world."
Great.So not only did I have to marry a stranger, I had to pretend to be in love with him.Maybe I could take acting lessons alongside the training.A whole royal makeover montage.
"What's he like?”
"He was educated at Oxford, speaks four languages, excellent horseman.He takes his duties to his country very seriously."
That told me exactly nothing about his personality."Is he nice?"
"He's a prince, darling.Nice isn't really the point."
Right.I was going to marry someone based on his political utility rather than whether he was a decent human being.Very romantic.Very fairy tale.If fairy tales were written by diplomats with security clearances.
But as I looked at the Grand Duchess, really looked at her, I noticed the subtle signs of strain I'd been picking up throughout our conversation.The way she occasionally pressed her hand to her chest, the slight tremor in her fingers when she reached for documents, the careful way she moved.
"Are you all right?"I asked."You seem..."
"I'm fine," she said quickly, but the response came too fast, too defensive.
"Grand Duchess, if there's something wrong..."
"Nothing that can't wait."She stood, effectively ending that line of conversation."I'd like to show you to your room now.You must be exhausted from the journey."
"Yeah," I said."I am.I need to process all of this.Possibly with a large glass of wine.Or several."
"Of course.Captain Steiner will show you up."
Captain Steiner appeared as if she'd been waiting outside the door, which she probably had.We walked through more marble corridors and up a grand staircase that belonged in a museum, finally stopping at a door that opened onto a suite larger than my parents' entire house.
The room was beautiful in an intimidating way: antique furniture, silk wallpaper, windows that looked out over gardens that probably employed a dozen people.And there, hanging above a delicate writing desk, was a portrait.
