Not-So-Perfect Princess

by Melissa McClone

  Alejandro’s frustration rose.

  If she returned to Aliestle, her sense of duty would lead her to marry whatever nobleman her father picked out.

  Alejandro couldn’t allow that to happen. She had to stay on the island. No matter what. “Your Majesty, if I may…”

  King Alaric glared at him. “Haven’t you done enough already?”

  “Sire.” The old-fashioned word felt weird coming off Alejandro’s tongue, but perhaps it would resonate with the misguided and medieval King Alaric. “Julianna needs to remain on La Isla de la Aurora.”

  “Why?” Scorn laced King Alaric’s word.

  “Because I want to stay here, Father,” Julianna said.

  She smiled softly at Alejandro.

  His heart turned over. And that hurt like hell because to do the right thing, he had to let her go.

  “The people are wild about her, sire.” Alejandro had been in his brother’s shadow his entire life, but this time he belonged there. Only Enrique could give Julianna the kind of life she was raised for, the kind of life she wanted. She wanted to use her position as the crown prince’s wife to influence change and give her people a better future. She could accomplish all she desired and more as the future queen. “Julianna has touched their hearts with her compassion and friendliness. They’ve embraced her as their princess, and one day they’ll love her as their queen.”

  “My daughter was raised to be a queen,” Alaric admitted.

  “Everyone can tell she has received the finest training.” Alejandro fought the desire to claim her for himself. But too much was at stake. He could never give Julianna what she wanted and make her happy, even if she wished to be with him. He swallowed around the lump of emotion in his throat. He had to push aside his own desire and do what was best for her. “You say her actions have caused chaos, sire. But her countrywomen see someone they can relate to and rally around. A respected and beloved leader. As the future queen of La Isla de la Aurora, Julianna will be able to do that for women not only in Aliestle and here on the island, but all over the world.”

  “Please consider my youngest son’s words.” Appreciation gleamed in Dario’s eyes. “Alejandro may not be a conventional prince, but he is wise for his age and speaks the truth.”

  That was the first compliment his father had ever given him. And the words couldn’t have come at a better time.

  “Julianna has enchanted the entire island,” Enrique added. “And all of us.”

  Especially Alejandro. But his feelings didn’t matter. Julianna would get what she wanted and by default, so would he. He wanted freedom from the monarchy, not a princess bride who dreamed of happily ever afters.

  His thoughts tasted like ashes in his mouth. But he had to be realistic. He didn’t want to be a prince. He avoided romantic entanglements like the plague. It would…never work.

  King Alaric looked at each one of them, but his assessing gaze lingered on Alejandro. “So it seems.”

  “I stand by the marriage contract,” Enrique announced. “I want to marry Julianna.”

  Her face showed no change of emotion, but his brother’s words crushed into Alejandro like a left hook. He resisted the urge not to carry her off to his boat and sail away. But he was the second son, the spare. He wasn’t what Julianna needed.

  “I don’t know.” King Alaric’s gaze bounced between Alejandro and Julianna. “There seems to be a strong…connection between these two.”

  “Friendship, sire.” Enrique sidled closer to Julianna, as if to reclaim his prize. “They both enjoy sailing.”

  Alaric looked doubtful.

  Perceptive man, Alejandro had to admit. Other than passion, there wasn’t anything binding him to Julianna. There couldn’t be. “We are friends, sire.”

  “There will be complications if Julianna has done more than sail with her friend Alejandro,” Alaric said. “If there is any reason to doubt the paternity of an heir, the embarrassment to our family name…”

  Julianna flushed.

  Anger surged. Alejandro couldn’t believe her father was questioning her virginity. He balled his hands into fists. “I assure you, sir—”

  King Alaric cut him off. He stared at his daughter as if she were a peasant, not a princess. “Is there any reason you shouldn’t marry Enrique?”

  The question mortified Julianna. Her heart pounded in her chest, so loudly she was certain everyone could hear it. But no one said anything. They stared, waiting for her to answer.

  Her father with his dark, accusing eyes.

  King Dario with compassion.

  Enrique with panic.

  And Alejandro with hope.

  Is there any reason you shouldn’t marry Enrique?

  Yes, a big reason. A six-foot-two-inch-tall reason with dark hair and dark eyes.

  Alejandro.

  Jules loved him, but couldn’t understand why he kept talking about her being a future queen. She wanted to stay on the island, but with Alejandro, not his brother.

  She made a silent wish from her heart.

  Claim me.

  Jules wanted Alejandro to forget about everything. His family, her family and their two countries. She wanted him to declare his love and claim her for himself.

  Alejandro gave her an encouraging smile filled with warmth.

  Relief washed over her. Her tense muscles relaxed. He would come to her rescue once again and claim her. Everything would turn out fine.

  “You can still do your duty and help your country,” Alejandro insisted. “All you have to do is tell your father that marrying Enrique is what you want.”

  Emotion tightened her throat. Her body stiffened with shock.

  No. She didn’t want that. She loved Alejandro. His actions told her he had feelings for her, too.

  There was something between them. Something special.

  Yet he wanted her to marry his brother. Jules struggled to breathe. She stared at him.

  His smile disappeared. His expression turned neutral.

  Why was he doing this?

  And then something clicked in her mind and she remembered…

  Once you and Enrique marry and have children, I’ll be free from all royal obligations. I can concentrate on business and not have to worry about any more princely duties.

  The truth hit her with stark clarity. She didn’t want to believe it, but nothing else made sense.

  Alejandro might have feelings for her, but the feelings didn’t run deep enough. He chose not to act upon them. He wasn’t willing to sacrifice what he wanted. His freedom was more important than duty. Love. Her.

  Julianna’s heart froze, leaving her feeling cold and empty.

  Despair threatened to overwhelm her, but she didn’t give in to it. She needed to answer her father’s question.

  A million thoughts jumbled her mind. But one kept coming back to her. Her actions on the island had created the very sort of change she desired in Aliestle.

  Was that enough reason to marry Enrique?

  She looked at Brandt. If she didn’t go through with the wedding now, the repercussions would reflect badly on her brother. He was the one who was supposed to be escorting her safely to marriage. The Council of Elders would blame him, so would the press. Their plans to help their country would never come to fruition if she returned home.

  Before Alejandro and getting caught up in a fantasy, she’d had a plan—a life outside of Aliestle, helping Brandt and her country, falling in love with her husband and becoming a mother. She might not achieve all of those things now, but she could have some of them.

  That would have to be enough.

  Shoulders back. Chin up. Smile.

  “There isn’t any reason I shouldn’t marry Enrique, Father.” Jules sneaked a peek at Alejandro. The gold flecks in his eyes burned like flames. Somehow she would have to learn to live with Enrique as her husband and Alejandro as her brother-in-law. And be satisfied with that. She swallowed a sigh. “No reason at all.”

  “I am satisfied.” Alari
c proclaimed after a long minute. “The marriage contract will be honored, provided Julianna not sail in the Med Cup tomorrow. I’ll be here to see to it that she remains in the palace all day long.”

  Every one of her nerve endings cried out in protest. Jules had earned the spot in the final, but she remained silent as any proper princess would.

  “As will I,” King Dario said.

  “Me, too,” Enrique agreed.

  Alejandro nodded. “Julianna is a skilled helmsman, but I agree it’s best she doesn’t sail.”

  Even he was taking their side. Her heart shattered into a million pieces, each one jabbing into her at the same time. If love and passion brought this kind of pain, she would rather go back to how she lived before arriving on the island.

  With what strength she had left, Jules forced all her emotions to a deep, dark place. She’d survived before by sleepwalking through life. That was how she would survive again.

  The dullness in Julianna’s eyes struck at Alejandro’s heart. He knew she was upset at being banned from the race. Competing in the Med Cup had been important to her. At least she was getting what she wanted. She could help her brother and her country now.

  But the lack of emotion on her face and her lifeless eyes bothered him. Concerned, he turned toward her. “Jul—”

  “There’s no reason for you to remain at the palace, Alejandro.” King Dario interrupted him with a pointed glare. “Return to your villa and prepare for tomorrow’s race.”

  Alejandro didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay near Julianna. “I don’t mind staying here.”

  “Go.” His father touched his shoulder. “Keep your distance until the wedding.”

  Julianna didn’t glance Alejandro’s way. He knew why.

  She’d put her princess mask back on.

  He wanted to reach out to her, to shake some sense into her, but he couldn’t. He’d pushed aside his own feelings to help her be a proper princess again. A mistake, probably.

  But that was what she needed. More than she needed him.

  Alejandro had to let Julianna go so she could fulfill the royal duty that was so important to her. She wouldn’t disappear from his life. She would disappear into being his distant sister-in-law. Thinking about it now, having her leave the island might have been easier to deal with.

  “Perhaps you should stay away after the wedding, too,” King Alaric said. “I’ll see to it you’re well compensated, Alejandro.”

  His temper flared. He wasn’t about to allow Julianna’s father to pay him off to stay away. “That isn’t necessary, sir. I know my place.”

  “You’re now free from your royal obligations, my son,” Dario announced. “I know this is what you’ve always wanted.”

  Alejandro nodded. But he didn’t feel any relief. No happiness. “Thank you, Father.”

  He’d gotten what he set out to get—his freedom. He’d never have to step back inside the palace or appear at openings, dinners or charity events. He was free to live his life as he wanted—building boats, racing and turning around the island’s economy. No more royal orders. No more royal interference.

  But it felt…anticlimactic. Wrong.

  Julianna moved closer to Enrique.

  Sharp pain sliced Alejandro. A black void seemed to engulf his heart. Seeing her so willingly embrace her future with Enrique shouldn’t hurt so badly.

  Alejandro shook off the feeling. He was jealous and feeling guilty for what he’d done. That was all.

  Enrique had won again. No doubt his brother would punish him for going behind his back.

  “Under the circumstances,” Enrique said. “I do not think it wise for you to be my best man.”

  “I agree.” Alejandro looked at Julianna. “You’re the best helmsman I’ve had the privilege of sailing with. You’ll be missed.”

  “Thank you for allowing me to sail on your boat.” She spoke politely as if he were some hired help.

  The ice princess had returned. But he knew she wasn’t cold and heartless, but warm and genuine. He wanted to rip the mask off her face so he could see the real Julianna.

  “Good luck with the race tomorrow,” she added.

  She’d earned La Rueca the spot in the finals tomorrow. But she had known her father would never allow her sailing to continue once the truth was out.

  “I know you want to sail, Julianna,” Alejandro said. “But it’s best if you resume your life and do what is best for your country and mine. I don’t see any other—”

  “No explanations are needed, sir.” She emphasized the last word with a haughtiness that put him in his place. “I know my duty. I always have. I was using you as a means to an end, one last hurrah before settling into the life I’ve chosen. No hard feelings, right?”

  Each of her words pierced his heart like a dagger. He had hard feelings, ones that were becoming difficult to ignore and fight.

  Using him? Okay, he’d used her to do well in the race.

  Alejandro hated to think what she said was true. They’d shared good times, their hopes and their dreams, and hot kisses. Maybe she didn’t have feelings for him or maybe she was back to pretending. It didn’t matter.

  The next time he saw her, they would be required to wear polite faces and share a meaningless conversation. Everything in the past would seem like nothing more than a dream.

  No hard feelings, right?

  “Right.” Alejandro bowed. “I wish you much happiness. All of you.”

  With that, he packed his bag, picked up Boots and left the palace feeling worse than he’d ever felt in his entire life.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  THE TWO KINGS, satisfied to have the marriage between their children moving forward, retired to the library to have a brandy. Jules sat in the sitting room with Enrique. He’d wanted to talk with her alone. She didn’t blame him. She figured he wanted to talk about his brother. Alejandro.

  Her heart ached.

  Who was she kidding?

  She felt as if her heart died when Alejandro left. The raw hurt in his eyes made it hard for her to breathe. She’d hurt him with her words. Worse, she’d done it on purpose. She’d lashed out in her own hurt because he’d been unwilling to make a commitment to her.

  She wanted to scream and cry, but instead she sat showing no emotion on her face. The way she’d done her entire life, except for the time she’d spent with Alejandro. Sailing, talking, building castles in the sand.

  The best time of her life.

  Don’t think about him. As he’d said, she had to resume her life…

  “I understand how easy it must have been to get carried away with the sailing, but I must know…” Enrique rose from the damask-covered settee. He stood in front of her, towering over her while she remained seated. His mouth narrowed into a thin line. “Did you have sex with my brother?”

  It wasn’t as much a question as a demand. An easy one to answer, but she hesitated.

  Jules knew her life on the island would be better than life in Aliestle, but not by much. Enrique would see to that. He only cared about himself. She would always be an extension of his persona to be controlled so she wouldn’t embarrass him.

  She stood and raised her chin. “I didn’t have sex with Alejandro.”

  The tension on Enrique’s face disappeared.

  “But I’m in love with him,” she admitted.

  “I’m not surprised.” Enrique sounded more amused than angry. “Alejandro has seduced many beautiful women and left a trail of broken hearts on this island. Someone as innocent as you never stood a chance. Do not worry. Once we’re married, you’ll forget him.”

  Surprise echoed through her. “You still want to marry me knowing I love another man?”

  “Of course,” Enrique said. “I thought he might have wanted sex from you. I realize he wanted to win the race so he could promote his business. But now that he received so much publicity today, winning the race, and therefore you, are no longer necessary.”

  His words took the wind out of
her sails. “I’m a necessary part of his crew.”

  Enrique shrugged. “If that’s true, why didn’t he argue to have you race with him tomorrow?”

  Feeling like she’d hit a reef and was taking on water fast, she struggled to breathe. To think. “Because of my father. And you.”

  “Believe that if it makes you feel better, but one day you’ll realize the truth.”

  Jules knew the truth. Alejandro had told her it himself.

  If La Rueca places in the top five, the resulting publicity will boost my boatyard’s reputation and raise the island’s standing in the eyes of the yachting world. To do that I need you steering the boat.

  She narrowed her gaze. “Your brother wanted me so he could win the race. And you want me for my dowry.”

  Enrique grinned wryly. “Your royal bloodline doesn’t hurt.”

  The two brothers were similar. Both men were selfish.

  The realization hit her full force, the pain soul-deep.

  But she couldn’t entirely blame Alejandro for pursuing the freedom she was too scared to reach for herself.

  She had let him go, but she couldn’t let herself go. Surrendering and being obedient wasn’t going to bring real change and happiness. She had to find her own path like Alejandro had done.

  Effecting change meant not passively waiting and hoping, but required real, risk-taking leadership. The women’s rights rallies weren’t occuring because she’d been a dutiful princess, but because she’d been a defiant one who sailed in a race like her mother.

  If she married Enrique, she would perpetuate the same repression her father had returned to in the wake of her mother’s death. Jules wouldn’t be an example for change, but of the status quo.

  She’d been sleepwalking through life out of duty, but there was a higher duty: to be true to one’s self.

  However much we love people or have loved them, we still have to be the person we are meant to be.