"The Americans have been negotiating a forward base agreement with us for months.Destroyers stationed permanently in Solmarian waters would cut NATO response time from two days to six hours.It would make any Russian action in the Mediterranean strategically impossible."
"But."There was always a "but" with my mother.
"But the agreement requires Congressional approval, and the American Congress won't authorize military deployment without a formal alliance treaty that demonstrates permanent commitment between our nations."She closed the folder and looked directly at me."Princess Bettina's return creates that opportunity.She’s both American and a Valdorian.A royal marriage would create an alliance.The alliance creates the treaty.The treaty creates the base rights.The base rights prevent Russian control of Mediterranean shipping lanes.And both Valdoria and Solmaria would be protected by your marriage."
There it was.The reason I was sitting in this chair instead of grooming Azzurra.
"You're asking me to marry a stranger."
"You have to get married anyway.”
I made a face. “I thought I had a few more years.”
“You thought wrong,” she said wryly. “And unless you prefer the other marriage candidates you’ve been dancing with, this American is a perfect way for you to protect our country and our allies from economic strangulation."Her voice was steady, but I could see the strain in her posture.
I thought about Azzurra in her stall, peacefully awaiting the birth of her foal in a world where the biggest concern was whether she'd have enough hay.About the life I'd built within the constraints of royal duty, where my greatest rebellion was learning to make pasta in Marcello's kitchen and occasionally wearing jeans without a belt.
The weight of centuries of royal responsibility settled on my shoulders like a familiar but unwelcome cloak.Or perhaps more like a wet wool sweater that someone had accidentally shrunk in the wash.
“What does she think about all this?”I asked.
“I’m sure she finds it wildly romantic. Rags to Riches. A Cinderella story come to life.”
"When do I meet her?"
"She arrives tomorrow morning.Assuming the initial negotiations go smoothly, we're looking at a wedding within a few weeks."
"A few weeks?"I repeated the words because surely I had misheard."You want me to marry a complete stranger by then?"
"I want you to marry a princess by then.The stranger part is unfortunate but unavoidable."
“What if she doesn’t want to marry me?”
“Nonsense. Every girl wants to marry a prince.”
I wasn’t so sure about that.
"I’d like a little more time to get to know her. For her to get to know me. Maybe we’re not compatible.”
"I don’t think we have the luxury of time or that Putin will change his mind about Mediterranean expansion."The bitter edge to her voice made it clear she didn't consider that likely."It’s not as if the American Congress was interested in approving a defense pact up until now.”
“And they’re interested in one now?”
“It’s Grace Kelly and Meghan Markle all over again."
"They at least were actresses and used to being in the spotlight.This woman makes coffee for a living."
"She's a princess who happens to currently make coffee for a living.There's a difference."
"Is there?Does she know how to curtsy?Has she ever been to a state dinner?Can she tell the difference between a fish fork and a salad fork?"
"That's what staff are for."My mother's tone suggested I was being tedious, which, to be fair, I probably was."She'll be trained.She'll learn.And in the meantime, you'll do your duty to this country just as every member of this family has done for the past eight hundred years."
I stood up, suddenly needing to get back to the stables, back to the simple problems of pregnant mares and feeding schedules and concerns that could be solved with patience and care instead of international treaties and loveless marriages.
"Archibald."
I paused with my hand on the doorknob.
