Chapter 20

twenty

ALEXANDER

Vallerian Royal Palace

Royal Wing, Main Sitting Room

A lex tossed the newspaper on the table and sat down beside his wife. Several people had been arrested in the U.S. for planning a terrorist event, though thankfully nothing had happened during their tour. "How many times will we need to deal with these assholes before we can actually do something about them?"

"The leader's claiming those were just rogue members and that E.A.M. is about ‘peaceful protest' and that's it," Marcello countered as he poured Alex a drink. "Unfortunately, they're good at covering their tracks because we haven't been able to find something concrete that will hold up in court that can be used to dismantle the entire group and prosecute every member. We're working on setting a trap for them, but it takes time."

"Will Rebecca and I be safe?" Alex asked as he gripped Rebecca's hand. "Mama and Papa? All of you? They could easily kill the entire royal family in one fell swoop at the coronation since they'll know where we'll all be."

"Should some of us stay back then?" Rio asked. "We haven't officially announced the pregnancy, but we could and use it as an excuse to stay at the palace. Sarah could make her allegiance to you separately, and we could post it online so it's public."

"I'm inclined to wonder if Charlie and I should do the same." Nate asked as he rubbed Charlie's back. She'd been recovering well from the birth, and currently cuddled the newest Santoro in her arms while he slept.

"I think we need another solution," Gabriel interjected. "You must all be there to show support for Alexander. I understand that security is the primary concern, and it should be. But months after the coronation, no one will remember security concerns and the press will only report who was and wasn't there, which will infer that members of the family don't support you, so why should they."

"Then we need to move it somewhere more secure. I can't think of anywhere but the palace, but we don't have the space for everyone we've invited."

"Well, actually, I think we do," Charlie said as all eyes turned to her. "We only really use three wings of the palace regularly, but the unused wing has a fairly large ballroom and event space that would fit the amount of people we need. It—and the kitchens and some other rooms around it—would need some renovations if we were to use it, which would add to the coronation costs, but it's doable."

Alex exchanged a look with his father, who nodded. "Let's take a look after dinner. I don't think I've been in that part of the palace for years."

"Probably at least a decade, I'd wager," Gabriel corrected. "We've only used it sporadically since my father's death. It's a good idea, Charlotte. Would you come with us if you're feeling up to it? I'd like to get your input on the state of the kitchens there."

Charlie flushed but seemed pleased. " Of course. I'd love to help."

Nate glanced at Charlie. "I'll arrange for a car to drive us around to that part of the palace."

Charlie rolled her eyes. "I'm perfectly all right walking."

"Maybe I'm tired and wanted to use the car."

"You weren't invited."

Nate sighed. "Charlotte."

"Nathaniel," Charlie countered.

Gabriel chuckled. "Ordinarily, I'd say let it go, Nathaniel, but actually, I would prefer the car to walking."

"Then we'll take the car," Charlie agreed immediately.

Marcello handed Alex a glass of whiskey. "There's also the Council to deal with, who are requesting a delay in the coronation on the basis of those photos you posted. They say the photos prove you're not ready to be a world leader."

"While it is a bad time to make a mistake in global politics, I don't think those photos qualify as such."

"The world will forget about the photos, then they'll remember again, and forget again," Gabriel said. "Nothing stays in the public consciousness for long, and the coronation will certainly overshadow the photos. Once it goes off perfectly, and the transfer of power is complete, we'll improve our public image and silence the Council, at least for a while."

"More and more people are wondering about the future of monarchies," Charlie said, then quickly continued. "I hear about it all the time. People talk around ‘staff' and don't censor their words as much. Even people who work in the Palace wonder if it's still a good long-term prospect."

"I think we should enact your plan early, Alexander," Gabriel said. "Make the Council positions public and electable ones."

Alex shook his head. "I did think about that, Papa, but you'd get the brunt of the hate, and I'd still have to deal with it later. I do agree we should do something. What about making their salaries and other information public? That we could do in a few months, after we've shifted Nate and Marcello's positions, and that could distract the Council until after the coronation."

"Do you want to leak it?" Nate asked.

"No. We'll be upfront about it, or Papa will when he announces it. Even though your two positions won't qualify, we'll still share the information for transparency."

Marcello gave a terrifying smile. "I can't wait to see what those assholes do once they see the disparities in pay."

Gabriel huffed a laugh. "I think it'll be more shocking when the public sees you and Nathaniel only receive one dollar in pay per month, and you donate that to charity, effectively doing the job for free."

"We wouldn't take the dollar if we weren't legally required to take some monetary salary," Nate added, and Marcello nodded. "We have plenty of our own funds and don't need a palace salary."

"Dinner is served, Your Majesty," the butler announced.

Once they were settled in the dining room, conversation turned towards the coronation.

Alex shook his head. "You're not all going to bow and curtsy one-by-one. It would take forever."

"It's not like we're looking forward to it either, brother dear, but it must be done," Nate said. "Though I'd prefer to do it by couple or family at least so I can be there with Charlotte."

Charlie nodded. "Charles will also still be pretty young so, depending on how long the ceremony lasts, I'll need to come back for a feeding."

"And I'd rather not leave Liliana to curtsy on her own," Lorenzo said, Lily nodding beside him.

Liliana leaned over and grabbed her father's arm. "I can do it, Papa!"

"I know you can, but we should do it as a family."

Rebecca tilted her head. "Hmmm. Even in families, it would take time. Maybe there should be just one big bow and curtsy at the end."

"It would certainly save time, and be less…pomp," Alex agreed .

Genevieve shook her head. "That could work for everyone else, but your father and I will l need to bow and curtsy before you and Rebecca. Though we could do it together."

"Let's see how I feel closer to the day," Gabriel said. "Though that may be the best solution."

"What about me?" Anda asked. "Should I sit separately from all of you since I'm not technically part of the family?"

"The hell you aren't," Ethan replied with a bite of anger. "Who said you aren't family?"

"Language, Ethan."

"Sorry, Mama. But if one of my idiot brothers said something?—"

"No one said anything," Anda said, soothing Ethan by taking his hand and giving it a kiss. "But the public might wonder if I'm there with the rest of you."

"Then they'll be wondering about me too," Lily added.

Eddie raised a hand. "And me."

Rio nodded. "And me."

"Things are different with you three. At least you're all engaged to your partners." Genevieve gave Ethan a pointed look.

Ethan rolled his eyes. "You don't need to be married to be in a committed relationship. We'll get engaged if or when we're ready, not when you or the public think we should. And," he continued as his mother opened her mouth to speak. "She'll sit beside me, where she belongs."

"Some on the Council might feel that?—"

Gabriel put a hand over his wife's arm, gently silencing her. "Let's hear what Alexander thinks."

Every face at the table turned to Alex, and silence fell.

Holy fuck. His father had essentially just handed over official control of family discussions to him.

He glanced at his father, who gave him a slight nod and a smile.

Alex cleared his throat and shifted slightly in his seat. "I think, on this one very rare occasion, that Ethan is right. Anda should sit with him. "

The silence held for another moment before Ethan broke it. "What did you mean ‘rare' occasion? I'm right all the time."

The rest of the table broke out in conversation and rebuttals, and the chaos that was their typical family dinner returned.

Rebecca grasped his hand under the table and squeezed it, understanding what a massive moment that had been. Alex couldn't say he was looking forward to mediating their sibling disputes, but he was glad this moment was over.