"And maybe because you keep acting like my attempt to know you was some kind of unforgivable betrayal instead of a man trying to find something real in an impossible situation!"
"It was a betrayal.You let me think I was doing something wrong by having feelings for you."
"And you let some guy parade your private moments around international media without thinking about how it might affect the people you're allied with!"
We stared at each other across the room, both breathing hard, both looking like we'd been through a war.
Viktor, who'd been silent during our entire fight, cleared his throat."If I may offer a perspective?"
"No," Betty said, her voice flat."You may not."
She turned to me, and I saw something in her eyes that looked like defeat."You want to know the truth about Chilly Baker?He was a guy I went on three dates with during my sophomore year of college.We went to a couple of movies, got coffee a few times, and went on that skiing trip with a group of friends.I didn't sleep with him.I didn't even kiss him.And when he asked me to be exclusive, I said no because I didn't feel that way about him."
"Then why is he saying that?"
"Because he's lying!Because someone probably paid him to lie!"She gestured at the tablet."Look at the timing, Archie.This comes out the same day my Italian lesson gets sabotaged?The same week as all the other incidents?You think that's a coincidence?"
She had a point.The rational part of my brain knew she had a point.But the jealous, hurt part was still looking at those photos and seeing her with someone else.
"I don't know what to think," I said, and it was the first honest thing I'd said since this conversation started.
"Well, when you figure it out, let me know."She walked toward the door, her shoulders rigid."In the meantime, I have an Italian lesson to not attend because someone keeps sabotaging my schedule."
"Betty."
"Don't."She stopped at the door but didn't turn around."Just don't."
She left, and the silence that followed was awful.
Viktor moved toward me with an expression of concern."Your Highness, I'm deeply sorry you had to endure that.These situations are never easy."
I sank into one of the chairs, suddenly exhausted."She's telling the truth.About the photos being innocent."
"I'm sure she believes that."Viktor's tone was gentle, almost paternal."Though perception often matters more than reality in these situations.The public will see what they want to see."
"The public doesn't know her."
"No, but they know what they expect from royalty.Standards of behavior that may seem antiquated to an American college student but matter greatly to the stability of the alliance."He paused."The Grand Duchess is concerned, Your Highness.She's already received inquiries from several allied governments questioning whether the Princess is suited to her role."
"Because of some tabloid photos?"
"Because this follows a pattern.The speech incident, the wardrobe malfunction, the various difficulties."He spread his hands."Individually, these could be dismissed as growing pains.But together, they paint a picture of someone who may not have been adequately prepared for royal life."
"She's been here two weeks."
"I understand.And I want to be clear, I'm not questioning the Princess's character or intentions.I'm simply concerned about whether she received proper vetting before the marriage was arranged."Viktor's voice took on a note of frustration."The Grand Duchess was eager to secure this alliance quickly, given the political situation.Perhaps too eager.A more thorough background check might have uncovered potential issues before they became public scandals."
The words settled into my gut like stones.Viktor was voicing concerns I'd had myself, doubts I'd been trying to ignore.
"You think the marriage was a mistake."
"I think the marriage was necessary for political reasons.Whether it was wise is another question."He moved toward the door."I'll coordinate with your communications team about damage control.We'll need a unified response across both royal families."
"Viktor."I stopped him before he could leave."The other incidents, the sabotage attempts.Do you think they're connected to this?"
"It's possible someone is orchestrating a campaign to undermine the Princess.It's also possible these are simply the inevitable complications of asking an unprepared young woman to assume a role she was never trained for."He met my eyes."Either way, Your Highness, you may want to consider whether six months is long enough to determine if this alliance is truly viable."
After he left, I sat alone in the Red Salon, turning his words over in my mind.Viktor had a point.The incidents were piling up, each one creating more doubt about whether Betty could handle royal life.And now this scandal would follow her, follow us, for months, maybe years.
