“He was in the military with you?”
“He was in an American unit that worked closely with our Mirrusian one.”
“So, not such anoldfriend.”
“My last combat tour was six years ago.”
“That’s not even a whole decade,” she chided with humor.
“You can die in an instant and live a lifetime in a year.”
Jenna couldn’t argue that bit of wisdom.
“I have no desire to get married anytime soon either,” Dima said, picking up the thread of their conversation before the waiter’s arrival with their starter, like they hadn’t had a whole other chat between times. “No matter what plans my father might have.”
“You’re saying Prince Evengi would never convince you to sign a contract like he got Konstantin to do.”
“No.”
“You’re so sure.” Jenna wasn’t as certain as he was. “You are every bit as duty-driven as either of your brothers.”
“And I will do my duty,” he readily agreed. “On my own timetable.”
Laughter burst out of her. “I did not think it was possible, but you are possibly even more stubborn and arrogant than your older brothers.”
“The privilege of being the youngest.” His tone was as good as a shrug.
“You don’t deny being arrogant?”
“I would term itconfident, but I do not see arrogance as an undesirable trait.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“It takes confidence to achieve one’s goals.”
“Sometimes it takes patience.”
“I have plenty of that when I need it as well.”
She made a scoffing sound.
“If you doubt me, ask any of the men I served with. War requires a lot of waiting.”
“Does it?” Jenna knew very little about life in the military.
“Yes. Especially on the types of missions my elite team was sent on.”
“It always surprised me that you were actually in combat. Neither of your brothers was allowed.”
“As the youngest, it was my duty.”
The very concept horrified her, but Jenna did her best to keep her expression neutral. Royal families did things differently. “I don’t understand. Why was that your duty?”
“Neither of my brothers could be risked by serving in a war zone, but not to have a member of our family serve in an active unit when we asked other members our military to do so would be cowardly.”
“What if there had only been two brothers?”
“Then Konstantin would have waited to do his military service until after Nikolai had fathered his first child.”