"How's that going?"
She laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound."About as well as you'd expect.Yesterday I was making lattes and worrying about rent.Today I'm living in a palace and engaged to a prince I've never met.It's a bit of an adjustment.Also, apparently I walk wrong.Did you know there was a wrong way to walk?"
"There's a wrong way to do everything, according to palace protocol," I said, which was truer than she knew.
This was my opening."What do you know about him?Your fiancé?"
She paused in her brushing, considering the question."Not much."She shot me a sideways look."You probably know more about him than I do, working in royal stables and all.Give me the real scoop."
"I might have heard a few things."
"So what's the real story?Is he a decent person, or am I marrying some entitled royal brat who thinks the world owes him everything?"
The directness of the question caught me off guard.Most people asked about titles and wealth and political connections.She wanted to know if I was a good human being.It was refreshing and slightly terrifying.
"From what I've observed," I said carefully, "he takes his responsibilities seriously.He's not the sort to abuse his position or treat people badly."
"That's something, I guess."She resumed grooming, but I could see her processing this information."What about personality?Is he at least capable of normal human conversation, or does he speak exclusively in diplomatic speeches?"
I almost laughed at that."He can carry on a conversation when the situation calls for it.He even makes jokes occasionally.Bad ones, mostly, but he tries."
"Good to know.I was worried I'd be spending six months married to someone who only communicated in press releases."
Six months.So she believed the temporary marriage story.Interesting.
"You're planning to divorce after six months?"
She glanced up sharply."That's the arrangement.Why, is there something I should know?"
"Just curious about the political implications.Marriage alliances usually aren't temporary."
"This one is."But there was something in her voice that suggested she wasn't entirely certain about that."At least, that's what I've been told."
I filed that information away for later consideration."And you're okay with marrying a stranger?Even temporarily?"
Her hands stilled on Celeste's coat, and for a moment her composed expression cracked."I'm okay with doing whatever it takes to stop Putin from steamrolling smaller countries.And to protect my parents."
"Your parents?"
"My adoptive parents."Her voice turned bitter."Apparently harboring a kidnapped child for twenty years makes them criminals, even though they had no idea.The Grand Duchess made it very clear what would happen to them if I refused to cooperate."
Heat flared in my chest."She threatened them?"
"International kidnapping charges.Possible conspiracy charges related to my birth parents' deaths.Complete nonsense, but she has the resources to make their lives hell even if the charges don't stick."Betty's jaw tightened."My parents are the most innocent people on the planet.They volunteer at animal shelters.They make casseroles for sick neighbors.They don't deserve to be destroyed because some European duchess decided she needed a political marriage."
I had to grip Celeste's lead rope to keep from saying something that would blow my cover entirely.The idea of my future wife being coerced through threats against innocent people made me want to march straight to the Grand Duchess and demand an explanation.Or possibly throw something.Throwing something seemed appealing.
"That's..."I struggled to keep my voice level."That's unconscionable."
Betty looked up, surprised by the anger in my tone."You sound like you actually care."
"Of course I care.Threatening innocent people to force a political marriage is medieval.And not in the charming castle-and-jousting way.In the actual terrible way."
"Well, medieval tactics are alive and well in modern European politics."She resumed brushing with more force than necessary."But if six months of my life helps prevent another Ukraine situation and keeps my parents safe, then it's worth it."
That surprised me.Most people her age barely paid attention to international politics, but she understood the stakes involved.
"You follow European politics?"
