Not-So-Perfect Princess (15 page)

“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.” Alaric 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

T
HE 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.

Alejandro had been talking about his family when he’d spoken those words to her. Jules hadn’t realized how much the words spoke to her soul until now.

Being true to one’s self had more power to improve lives than she realized. Alejandro had taught her that. And she wanted to teach that to any children she had, both sons and daughters.

It was time for her to wake up for good. She needed to stand up for herself and go after what she wanted. She wanted to be the person her mother wanted her to be, the kind of person the women of Aliestle could be proud of.

She squared her shoulders. “La Isla de la Aurora might be more progressive, but you and Alejandro are as selfish as the men in Aliestle. Neither of you value women for who they are, but for what they can provide you.”

“Why are you so surprised?” Enrique asked. “You agreed to an arranged marriage. Did you think this would turn into a love match?”

“Yes. I hoped it would.” Ridiculous fantasy that it was. “Like my parents’ arranged marriage.”

Enrique laughed. “Love is a childish notion that royalty cannot indulge in.”

His words strengthened her. “I appreciate you wanting to marry me, but I can’t marry you. I ask to be released from our arrangement.”

His eyes flared with surprise. “Because of Alejandro.”

“No. He doesn’t want me.” The knowledge bit into her, but she refused to give it any measure. She’d awoken to possibilities thanks to Alejandro for which she would always be grateful. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t find love, a real love I can count on.”

“What have you done?” King Alaric looked as if one of the blood vessels in his forehead might burst. “You march back in there and tell Enrique you were mistaken.”

“I’m not mistaken about this, Father.” All she’d learned while on this island paradise empowered her. “Enrique only wants my dowry.”

“So?”

She boldly met her father’s gaze. “So I want more from a marriage than that.”

“You’ll see what you end up with when we return home and you marry an Aliestlian.”

His words unleashed something deep inside of her, something lying dormant for too long. “I’m not returning to Aliestle,” she said with a new sense of conviction. “I’m not going to be forced into a marriage I don’t want.”

“This is your duty.”

“Perhaps once, but no longer. I believe my mother would’ve understood.”

“I will not stand for this impertinence.” He stood, his nostrils flaring. “You will obey me or I will disown you. You will lose your title, your home, your allowance. I will strip you of your passport. You will have nothing left. No money. No home. No country.”

The thought of losing everything hurt, but she had to follow her own path. Her own heart. Jules didn’t need to be claimed by a man or rescued. She could take care of herself. “If that is what you must do, Father, go ahead.”

“You are dead to me,” he screamed.

Tears stung her eyes. She felt an odd mix of sadness and joy. But she held firm. For the first time in her life, she was completely free of duty. Until now, everything in her life had been planned out, dictated by others. “Father…”

He turned his back on her.

She would have to make her own way, create a new life for herself. She was in charge now. She got to decide who she would be.

But Jules already knew.

She was like her mother, Queen Brigitta. Jules was a sailor, and a sailor sailed. She needed to get back into the Med Cup race even if Alejandro didn’t want her. She needed to do it for herself, her mother and for all the women in Aliestle.

“I’ll always love you, Father.”

And she walked out of the room to an uncertain future.

Alejandro barely slept. Early the next morning, he wandered through his villa, unable to shake his uneasiness and loneliness. Strange, given he was back home, free to race and do as he pleased.

Boots meowed, sounding sad as if he knew Julianna and her treats were gone.

Gone.

He’d let Julianna go so she could be happy. Now he was miserable.

Alejandro dragged his hand through his hair. He missed her already. He’d done everything on his own for so long and been self-reliant, but this past week and a half, he’d been in a partnership. One, he realized now, he didn’t want to end.

Everything in his life—Boots,
La Rueca
and his plans for the island—had become built around Julianna. He cared what she thought about things. He valued her opinion. He was happier than he’d ever been when he was with her. She was happy, too.

That had to count for something.

Would it be enough?

He hoped so because he realized that he was willing to fight for it. For her.

Letting Julianna go had been the wrong decision. One he regretted with his whole heart. Somehow he had to show her happiness and love were as important as her sense of duty.

I love her.

His heart pounded a ferocious beat. Feelings he’d tried to ignore burst to the surface. He staggered back until he hit the wall.

Alejandro wasn’t sure when it had happened, sailing or on the beach, but he loved Julianna. Body, heart and soul. He loved the way she could be so prim and proper, but yearn for adventure at the same time. He loved the way she sailed as if her life depended on it. He loved her smile, her laughter and her tears. He loved the way she made him want to be a better man.

He struggled to breathe.

Love might not always last, but they weren’t his parents. Julianna was too important not to at least try. The life Alejandro wanted wasn’t going to work unless she was a part of it.

“I’ve got to go after her,” he said to Boots. “I have to convince her we have a future together.”

Boots meowed.

Alejandro ran out the villa’s front door.

The sun rose as he drove up the windy road to the palace. No red sky this morning, just golden-yellow and orange rays. The beginning of a beautiful day, he hoped.

The only other car on the road was his security detail following him. No matter what time of day, they were always right there behind him. His father must have forgotten to tell them their services were no longer required.

Inside the palace, he ran through the hallway to her room. Yvette wasn’t sitting outside.

He knocked.

No one answered.

He knocked again.

“She’s not here.” Enrique slurred the words. He wore the same clothes as last night sans jacket and held a bottle of wine. “Julianna broke off the match. Alaric disowned her. She’s gone.”

Alejandro’s heart soared. If Julianna called off the wedding and gave up on doing her duty, that might mean she loved him. If she didn’t, he’d show her the feelings between them were real. “Where is she?”

“What is all the noise?” His father walked down the hallway in his robe and slippers. “Do you know what time it is?”

Enrique burped. “His fault.”

“Where is Julianna, Father?” Alejandro asked.

“I don’t know,” Dario admitted. “I offered to let her stay in the palace until she sorted things out, but she said it was time for her to start doing things on her own.”

“Is Klaus with her?”

“King Alaric forbid the bodyguard from going with her,” Dario said. “I thought Klaus was going to cry. Brandt is with him now.”

“Yvette?”

“She broke down.” Dario shook his head. “Elena is with her.”

“I must find Julianna, Father. I need to know she’s safe.” Alejandro had spent much of his life rebelling and retreating from his duty, wanting to be alone and doing everything himself. But not today. “I love her. I need to tell her that even if she doesn’t feel the same way.”

“She’s an ice princess.” Enrique swaggered down the hallway. “All that money gone. Gone. Gone.”

“Alaric took away Julianna’s passport so she’s on the island,” Dario said in earnest to Alejandro.

“It’s a start.” But where on the island would she go? She didn’t know anyone that well.

His father placed a hand on Alejandro’s shoulder. “I was wrong trying to control everyone. That is what drove your mother away. I didn’t want to lose you, too, so I wouldn’t allow her to take you. But I fear I have lost you anyway, Alejandro. We don’t always see eye to eye, but I hope you know I love you and am proud of the man you’ve become.”

Alejandro choked up. That was all he’d ever wanted from his father. “I love you, too.”

“We’ll have to start listening to each other as a family. Perhaps you can show me your plans for the properties you’ve purchased.”

Alejandro nodded.

His father smiled. “Good luck with Julianna, son.”

“Thanks.” Alejandro ran to his car. The island wasn’t that big, but searching for her alone would take too much time. The crew was preparing for the race.

The race.

No, Julianna was more important.

He saw a familiar car and sprinted over to his security detail. “We must find Princess Julianna. I don’t care if you have to search every single hotel on the island. Find her.”

For the next two hours, Alejandro searched to no avail. He checked the tunnels, the beach, the dock and the yacht club that was sponsoring the race. The narrow streets grew crowded as the town came alive. Excitement about the Med Cup finals filled the air.

Text messages from the crew asking where he was and why he wasn’t at the boat preparing for the race, grew more frantic. They also wanted to know if J.V. was coming.

Alejandro didn’t want them to know Julianna was missing. He finally sent a reply he never expected to send: Go without me.

He’d regret not looking for Julianna more than he’d regret missing the race.

The race.

He’d checked the yacht club earlier, but she might go to the boat to race.

Hope glimmered, the first time all morning.

Traffic clogged the roads. Impatient, Alejandro parked on the side of the road, exited the car and jogged to the marina.