Page 19 of Mistaken as His Royal Bride
She put half a croissant in her mouth to stop herself from blurting anything out. She had a habit of speaking whatever was in her head. It was a miracle Aristedes hadn’t figured her out as an imposter sooner.
When she’d swallowed the croissant, she said, ‘What if I don’t want to stay here as your guest?’
‘But I insist.’
‘You mean, you’re going to keep me here as a prisoner?’
He made a face. ‘So dramatic... Nothing like that. Considering the fact that you’ve offered yourself up in place of Laia, I’m merely accepting your offer.’
‘Offer...? I haven’t offered anything.’
‘The moment you stood in front of me and let me believe you were Princess Laia, the offer was made. Everyone here believes you are Princess Laia, and that’s how it shall remain until she assumes her rightful place by my side.’
Maddi went cold inside. She hadn’t really thought ahead to what would happen if she was found out. ‘You can’t keep me here against my will.’
‘Oh, you’ll stay, and it’ll be your choice—as it was your choice to come here. You’ll be doing what’s best for Princess Laia and Isla’Rosa and her future marriage.’
‘How’s that, exactly?’
‘I could expose you in a second. That would cause lurid headlines for Princess Laia and potentially draw her out of her hiding place... But it would also be a scandal for me, and I don’t particularly relish adverse headlines—I never have.’
No, he hadn’t. Contrary to his younger brother’s behaviour, since Aristedes had ascended to the throne on his father’s death he’d always stayed within the margins of propriety and respectability. If he took lovers they were from a pool of socially acceptable peers. The moment it looked as if things might be getting serious, he cut things off. He’d never jeopardised the wedding pact with Princess Laia. As much as she’d wished he would.
But he hadn’t lived as a monk, and along with his brother he’d garnered a reputation as a skilful lover. His reputation, of course, was less lurid than Dax’s—whose lovers invariably kissed and told. In vivid detail.
He went on, ‘There’s no need for anyone to ever know about this. You’ll keep up the fiction that you are Princess Laia, and you will accompany me to all the events she was scheduled to attend during her time here.’
‘But...’ Maddi’s brain felt foggy. ‘What if someone notices I’m not her?’
‘They won’t get close enough to see the small differences. You fooled me, and I’ve met her. You really are very similar.’
‘Doppelgangers,’ muttered Maddi.
‘When Laia gets here no one will be any the wiser and we can all get on with our lives.’
His calm self-assurance made Maddi feel prickly—or was it his insistence that as soon as Laia arrived she’d be jettisoned in favour of her half-sister, even when there was this palpable...thingbetween them, like a current of electricity?
‘You’re very certain it will all work out in your favour.’
‘Things generally do.’
That made her even pricklier. ‘And what’s to stop me from leaking the truth and flushing Laia out so I can let her know what your plan is?’
His gaze narrowed on her. ‘Do you really want to see your future Queen embroiled in more salacious headlines than the ones referring to her insatiable appetite for partying? No matter what happens, she turns twenty-five soon and she will be Queen. Do you think this stunt will really inspire her people to believe she’s ready to rule?’
Maddi was silent. Maybe he had a point. Laia’s privy council knew that she was hard-working and hadn’t let her responsibilities slide, in spite of her social life. And the people of Isla’Rosa were fiercely loyal to their Crown Princess. But negative press so close to her birthday and the coronation could be damaging.
Then Aristedes said, ‘Not to mention the peace agreement. Do I need to remind you of what’s at stake if the marriage doesn’t go ahead?’
Maddi felt sick. ‘But there are other options...’
‘Options that I’m not willing to entertain when this dynastic marriage will comprehensively ensure peace for generations to come. To be perfectly frank, whether or not Laia becomes Queen of Isla’Rosa before or after our marriage isn’t really all that important, but the marriage must take place.’
Maddi felt defeated by his determination. He’d obviously come to terms with the fact that Laia might be crowned Queen of Isla’Rosa before they married, but he still expected her to marry him. He didn’t know Laia had other plans, but Maddi had met him now and could appreciate how persuasive he was.
Laia could still find herself getting backed into a corner where she might feel she had no option but to go ahead with the marriage. What if he refused to discuss peace plans unless they were married? If anything, the stakes would be even higher if she’d already been crowned Queen! Then all of this would have been for nothing.
Maddi longed to warn Laia. But she had no way of contacting her now, after throwing her phone away. She couldn’t reveal to Aristedes Laia’s plans for another route to peace—he would do something to thwart them. It was more urgent than ever that she do all she could to protect Laia and make sure she got to her birthday and the coronation. She had to trust that Laia had considered all this and knew what she was doing.