‘Is that what your grandfather said?’ Honestly, she didn’t much like the sound of the old man.
‘I’m the last one.’
She snorted. ‘That’s impossible. The King is dead, long live the King, right?’
He drew a breath. ‘Not yet. There’s no clear successor. It’s on me to declare one.’
‘Or have an heir of your own—your own children.’
‘Not happening.’
She looked back at him, realising he was utterly serious. ‘So when you die...’
‘The monarchy will become extinct. Our elected representatives will have full power. We’ll become a democratic republic.’
She gaped. ‘But Silvabon loves its monarchy.’ They loved him. ‘They won’t let it happen. Won’t let some distant cousin crawl out of the woodwork, claim the crown and cause all sorts of chaos.’
‘Not if I say there’s no crown anymore. Not if I’ve relinquished the excessive power the Crown currently has.’
Thatwas what he planned to do? Elsie was shocked. ‘But you could choose to appoint someone—’
‘No.’ He flashed a tight smile. ‘I’m not declaring a successor.’
No children? No successor? ‘Because you think it’s a poisoned chalice?’ She frowned, not understanding him at all. ‘But you’re so popular. Everyone loves you and you do all those things.’ She’d seen it in all the coverage—the effort he went to for his country, promoting his people, the causes. ‘You love it here.’
‘I do,’ he said simply. ‘I want nothing but the best for Silvabon. And I will do nothing but my best for it.’
‘Then to leave the country without a monarch when it’s such a part of...?’ She slowly shook her head. ‘Can nobody better you, Felipe?’
A husky, bitter laugh. ‘You don’t agree with my plan?’
‘No. I don’t.’ She slowly climbed the curling wooden staircase. ‘You’re so arrogant, Felipe. Can no one else help you? No one keep you company to help shoulder the burden and keep you warm?’
‘I have too much power.’ His gaze narrowed. ‘You don’t understand what—’
‘Oh, I understand. The great King Felipe. Determined to be an isolated martyr to the end...’
His jaw dropped and she laughed at the expression in his eyes.
‘Lie there and listen to the truth, Felipe. If you’re so trapped, I guess you’re stuck there?’
She was suddenly angry with both of their circumstances and she didn’t want to waste any more of their precious minutes dwelling on things that couldn’t—or wouldn’t—be changed. She could have it all tonight but only tonight. And it seemed it was the same for him.
Felipe stared in shock as this nymph ascended the curling wooden staircase with a dramatic flair he should’ve anticipated sooner. His body was hard and his heart? Racing.
‘King Felipe,’ she said softly. ‘The man who sacrifices everything for his country.’
‘What are you doing?’ His heart wouldn’t stop pounding and her fiery reaction was confusing the hell out of him.
‘I’ve had enough talking.’
Oh. But he was hurt for her—for what her family had done. For her losses. But now? Now she’d flipped on him and she was full of fury and strength and he wanted her. ‘Then come back down here.’
He’d been the one to scoff at virgin princess brides, yet she’d been innocent and her naive assumption revealed she was a believer in fairy tales. This wasn’t going to be one. But he also knew she understood that. Hence, this.
Now she’d hit the balcony and she peeked over the railing. Her skin flushed. ‘Oh. Okay.’
‘What?’