Chapter Two Hundred-Thirty-Seven
Amelia watched Keira slight hesitation at the threshold, that familiar deer-in-headlights expression she recognized all too well from her own early days at the palace. Blonde, petite, with cornflower blue eyes that darted around the room assessing, Keira Warner was nothing like Alexei's usual conquests. This woman had substance. You could tell by just looking at her, there was intelligence in her gaze.
"She's nervous," she whispered to him. "I remember how terrifying this was but trying not to show it."
Niko's mouth twitched in what might have been a smile. "You handled it perfectly, as I recall."
"I was petrified," Amelia admitted under her breath as Alexei and Keira approached.
"Niko, Amelia," Alexei said with uncharacteristic formality, "may I present Keira Warner. Keira, my brother Prince Niko and his wife Princess Amelia."
Amelia watched as Keira executed a curtsy. The poor woman was trying so hard to do everything right that Amelia couldn't help but feel an immediate kinship.
"Miss Warner," Niko said, offering his hand with typical royal restraint. "Welcome to Wystovia."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Amelia couldn't bear the formality another second. She stepped forward and pulled Keira into a warm embrace, ignoring protocol entirely. "Oh, forget all that formal nonsense. It's so good to meet you."
The surprise on Keira's face was worth breaking the ice with their first meeting.
"It's lovely to meet you both as well." Keira was clearly surprised by their warm welcome.
Niko smiled, "In privacy we are just Niko and Amelia, please."
Amelia linked her arm through Keira's, guiding her toward the table. "Come, sit next to me. I want to hear everything." She shot Alexei a look that said, You did well with this one.
Once wine was poured, Amelia couldn't resist diving in. "So, Alexei tells us you were his assistant?"
"For about two years, yes."
"That must have been... interesting," Niko said. She knew he was talking about keeping Alexei in line, but she hid her smile.
Keira laughed. "That's one word for it. Your brother can be quite… demanding."
"Hey," Alexei protested. "I prefer focused."
"You prefer getting your way… always," Keira shot back without hesitation.
Amelia felt her eyebrows rise, delighted by the young woman's boldness. A moment of silence fell, and she could see Keira suddenly realizing she'd contradicted royalty at a formal dinner. But before Amelia could reassure her, Niko laughed, a delighted sound she hadn't heard from him in weeks.
"Oh, I like her already," he said, eyes crinkling. "It's about time someone called you out, brother. Not having a woman fall at your feet."
"She's been calling me out from day one," Alexei admitted with evident pride. "It's become a professional hazard."
Amelia relaxed into the conversation, sharing some of her own adjustment stories to make Keira feel less alone. The easy rapport between them felt refreshing after months of tension with Niko. Here was someone who understood what it meant to be an outsider in this world, who might become a true ally in navigating royal life.
Her pleasant mood evaporated the moment Maria swept into the room. Amelia stiffened, noticing how Keira's expression closed off at the sight of the dark-haired woman.
"Cousin," Alexei greeted her coolly.
"Alexei," Maria replied, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I was so sorry to miss your arrival earlier. I was... showing Miss Warner to her accommodations."
Amelia narrowed her eyes, catching the underlying hostility immediately. Maria's games were so transparent they were practically see-through.
"How thoughtful of you," Amelia interjected, watching Maria like the snake she was. "I'm sure Keira appreciated the welcome." She regretted not being the one to show Keira around herself.
"Oh, we had quite the chat, didn't we?" Maria turned to Keira with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I was just explaining some of our... traditions here at the palace."
"Traditions," Keira repeated flatly, taking a sip of wine.
Before Maria could continue her passive-aggressive performance, Theodore entered. Amelia rose automatically, dropping into a curtsy as ingrained habit.
"Your Majesty," she said, watching Keira follow her lead with a credible curtsy of her own.
"Miss Warner," Theodore acknowledged. "I trust you've found the palace accommodations satisfactory?"
"Very much so, Sir. Thank you."
The first course arrived, Amelia watched Maria and her barely concealed hostility. God, the woman was a bitch.
"Miss Warner," Theodore said as they moved to the second course, "I understand you have quite an accomplished family. Your sisters have both married rather well."
Amelia tensed, recognizing the trap in his words. Theodore was testing whether Keira was after Alexei's position or wealth. But Keira surprised her with her composed response.
"My sisters married for love, Sir. The fact that their husbands are successful is incidental. Both my sisters are excelling in their own careers as well. My sister Blair is CEO of Warner Industries."
"Of course," Theodore replied neutrally. "Though one must admire the... fortuitous nature of such unions."
Amelia had endured enough. "Theodore," she interjected with gentle firmness, "surely we can discuss something else during dinner? Keira's had quite enough interrogation for one day, don't you think?"
Theodore lifted an eyebrow at her, but Amelia held his gaze.
"You're absolutely right," Niko agreed, backing her up. "Father, perhaps we could discuss tomorrow night?"
Before Theodore could respond, Maria leaped into the opening like a shark smelling blood. "Actually, I think it's fascinating to learn about Keira's background. After all, if she's to be part of the family..."
Amelia felt her jaw tighten as Maria continued her thinly veiled attack.
"Well, for instance, your previous relationship experience. It must be quite different, dating a prince after... well, regular men."
A silence fell and Amelia shot a glance at Niko, who looked equally uncomfortable.
"Maria," Alexei warned, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.
"I'm simply curious," Maria continued with false innocence. "After all, royal relationships are so... public. So scrutinized. I imagine it takes a certain type of woman to handle that pressure."
Amelia held her breath as Keira set down her wine glass and met Maria's gaze directly. She could see the fire in Keira's eyes.
"You're right. It does take a certain type of woman. The type who doesn't feel threatened by other women's viper tongues and snide remarks."
Amelia nearly choked on her wine, hastily covering her mouth to suppress a laugh. Across the table, she saw Niko's eyes widen fractionally, his equivalent of open-mouthed shock.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Maria replied, but her flushed cheeks told a different story.
"Don't you?" Keira tilted her head with deceptive sweetness. "Because it seems like you have some very specific opinions about what type of woman belongs here. I'm curious about your qualifications to make that determination."
Theodore's quiet "Ladies" cut through the tension before the exchange could escalate further. But Amelia caught the almost imperceptible twitch at the corner of his mouth that suggested he wasn't entirely displeased with Keira's spirited defense.
As they finished dessert, Amelia leaned toward Keira. "Remind me never to get on your bad side," she whispered, unable to hide her admiration.
"She started it," Keira whispered back.
"And you finished it beautifully. Theodore looks almost impressed, which, trust me, is saying something."
When Theodore dismissed them to the garden while summoning Niko and Alexei to his study, Amelia was secretly relieved to leave Maria behind. She needed fresh air and a chance to speak with Keira alone.
"God, I needed that," she breathed once they were outside, linking her arm through Keira's. "Formal dinners with Theodore can be suffocating even on good days." It really wasn't that bad, but she wanted to put Keira at ease.
They strolled through the palace gardens, their conversation growing more relaxed with each step away from the palace walls. Amelia found herself being more candid than she'd intended, especially when the topic turned to Maria.
"Can I ask you something?" she ventured, glancing sideways at Keira. "What did you think of Maria?"
"I think she has strong opinions about who belongs in your family," Keira replied carefully. "I think her opinion about me is stronger."
"That's diplomatic." Amelia stopped walking, turning to face the younger woman fully. "I'll be blunt since we're going to be sisters soon enough. I can't stand her."
The admission felt liberating. For three years, Amelia had maintained perfect princess decorum, never voicing her true feelings about Maria's transparent ambitions toward Alexei.
"Amelia—" Keira began, looking surprised.
"No, seriously. I know I'm supposed to be the perfect princess, whatever that means, always gracious and supportive, but Maria drives me insane. She's been gunning for Alexei for years, and watching her go after you tonight... it took everything I had not to throw my wine at her."
As they continued walking, passing under an archway of climbing roses, their conversation turned to Maria's interest in Alexei. Amelia found herself relaxing into this unexpected friendship, glad to finally have someone who understood the complexities of royal dynamics from an outsider's perspective.
They reached a secluded bench overlooking a reflecting pool, and Amelia sat down heavily, suddenly exhausted by the evening's tensions.
"I shouldn't be telling you this," she admitted. "It's not my place to criticize others, especially to someone who's essentially still a stranger."
"But?" Keira prompted.
"But I like you. You stood up for yourself tonight without being cruel about it. You showed Maria exactly what she was doing without stooping to her level." Amelia met her eyes. "That takes class. Something Maria could learn from."
They talked about Theodore's interrogation, about the pressures of royal life, and gradually, Amelia found herself sharing more than she'd intended about her own struggles.
"If you don't mind me asking," Keira said after a comfortable silence, "how does an American woman end up marrying the future king of Wystovia?"
The question brought back memories of her own whirlwind introduction to royal life. "My family has roots here. My mother was a lady of Wystovia until she met my father from America and fell in love. My grandfather was one of the King's most trusted advisors."
She picked absently at a rose she'd plucked earlier. "I'd known for years I was intended to marry Niko, and he knew about me. But we actually met only four days before our wedding."
"Alexei told me you only met four days before, and wow…" Keira's eyes widened. "That's..."
"Terrifying? Archaic? All of the above?" Amelia laughed hollowly. "We didn't love each other, but we learned to like each other well enough. Duty first, feelings second. That's how most royal marriages work. Unfortunately."
Keira studied her face for a long moment before saying quietly, "You love him."
The simple observation cut straight through Amelia's carefully constructed defenses. Her composure cracked. "What I feel doesn't matter. What matters is that I can't give him what he needs."
"Amelia..."
"Three years of marriage, Keira. Three years of trying and hoping." Amelia's hands fisted in her skirt as pain washed through her. "Nothing. And every month that passes, every failed attempt, the pressure grows. From Theodore, from parliament, from the entire bloody country watching and waiting. I can't…"
"It's only been three years. Why the rush? Surely you still have time," Keira reasoned.