The Not-So-Perfect Princess

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

Alejandro Cierzo de Amanecer lay in his bed, not ready to start his day. A familiar scratching, however, sounded outside his room at the beachfront villa. The stray kitten he’d found at the boatyard must want something—most likely breakfast. That meant it was time to get up.

Sunlight streamed in through the brand-new floor-to-ceiling windows. Another lovely day on La Isla de la Aurora awaited him. He would sail after he finished working.

The bedroom door burst wide-open.

Heavy boots sounded against the recently replaced terra-cotta tile floor.

Not again.

Alejandro grimaced but didn’t move. He knew the routine.

A squad of royal guards dressed in blue and gold uniforms surrounded his bed. They hadn’t drawn their weapons as they had done last time. Not that he would call another intrusion into his life progress.

“What does he want now?” he asked.

The captain of the guard, Sergio Mendoza, stood as stoic as ever, but he appeared older with gray hair at his temples. “King Dario requests your presence at the palace, Your Highness.”

Alejandro raked his hand through his hair in frustration. “My father requests nothing.”

Sergio’s facial expression didn’t change. He’d shown emotion only once, when Alejandro had been late bringing Sergio’s youngest daughter home from a date when they were teenagers. Despite the security detail accompanying them, he’d feared for his life because of the anger burning in the captain’s eyes.

“The king orders you to come with us now, sir,” Sergio said.

Alejandro didn’t understand why his father demanded his presence. No one at the palace listened to him. He was and always would be the forgotten, the invisible son—the spare.

Which hurt as much as it had when his father explained his role to him at age five.

He might not want to be part of the monarchy any longer, but he wasn’t about to abandon his country. He’d founded his business on the island and continued suggesting economic innovations, including ways to develop their tourist trade. Unfortunately, his ideas clashed with those of his father and older brother, who might as well be clones because they were identical in thoughts and actions.

A high-pitched squeak sounded. The scraggly black kitten with four white paws clawed his way up the sheet onto the bed. The thing had been a nuisance these past two weeks with the work at the boatyard and renovations at the villa, but he hadn’t wanted to leave the tiny cat to fend for itself or drop it off at the overcrowded local animal rescue.

"I need to get dressed before I go anywhere,” Alejandro said.

“We’ll wait while you dress, sir.” Sergio’s words did nothing to loosen Alejandro’s tense shoulder muscles. “The king wants no delay in your arrival.”

Alejandro clenched his teeth. He wanted to tell the loyal captain where to go, but the guards would use force to do the king’s bidding, if necessary. He was tired of fighting that battle. “I need privacy.”

Sergio ordered the soldiers out of the room, but he remained by the bed. “I’ll wait on the other side of the door, sir. Guards are stationed beneath each window.”

Alejandro rolled his eyes. His father still saw him as a rebellious teenager. “I’m thirty years old, not seventeen.”

Sergio said nothing. No doubt the captain remembered earlier…escapades.

“Tell me where you think I would run to, Captain?” Alejandro didn’t expect an answer but needed to ask the question. “My business is here. I own properties. My father’s lackeys follow me wherever I go.”

“They are your security detail, sir.” Sergio’s reply mimicked what the king had said in the past. “You’re second in line for the throne and must be protected.”

Every day, he wished his mother had taken him with her when she left the island. Instead, she’d abandoned him to a father who focused only on the heir to his throne. Alejandro meant nothing to him. Never had.

“Don’t remind me,” he muttered.

“Many would give everything to be in your position.”

Not if they knew what being the “spare” entailed. No one cared about him or what he thought. Even when he tried to help the island, no one supported him. He’d had to do everything on his own.

Alejandro hated being a prince. He’d been educated in the United States, which had formed some of his views. He didn’t want to participate in an outdated form of government where too much power rested with one individual. Still, he wanted his country to prosper, which was why he’d returned with his degree and ideas. His goal was to make a difference, and he was trying.

“Guard the door if you must.” He gave the kitten a pat. “I won’t make your job more difficult for you than it is.”

As soon as Sergio left, Alejandro slid out of bed and showered. His father hadn’t requested formal dress so khaki shorts, a navy T-shirt, and a pair of boat shoes would do.

Twenty minutes later, he entered the palace’s reception room. His older brother rose from the damask-covered settee. Enrique was a younger version of their father with his short hairstyle, tailored designer suit, starched dress shirt, silk tie, and polished leather shoes. His brother acted exactly like their father, as well.

“This had better be important,” Alejandro said.

“It is.” His brother’s lips curved into a smug smile. “I’m getting married.”

About time. Enrique’s wedding would be the first step toward Alejandro’s freedom from the monarchy. The birth of a nephew or niece to take his place as second in line for the throne would be the next big step. “Congratulations, bro. I hope it’s a short engagement. Don’t waste any time getting your bride pregnant.”

Enrique smirked. “That’s the plan.”

“Why wait until the wedding? Start now.”

He laughed. "King Alaric would demand my head if I did that. He’s old-fashioned about certain things. Especially his daughter’s virginity.”

"Alaric.” Alejandro recognized the name. “You’re marrying a princess from Aliestle?”

“Not a princess. The princess.” Enrique sounded excited.

No wonder. Aliestle was a small kingdom in the Alps. With an abundance of natural resources, the country’s treasury was vast, a hundred times that of La Isla de la Aurora. “King Alaric has four sons and one daughter.”

“Father must be pleased.”

“He’s almost giddy over the amount of Julianna’s dowry and the economic advantages aligning with Aliestle will bring us.” Dollar signs practically flashed on Enrique’s face. “Fortunately for me, the princess is as beautiful as she is rich. An ice princess from what I hear, but I’ll warm her up.”

Good luck with that.

Enrique was a workaholic who rarely dated. His few short relationships had been epic failures. His social skills needed fine-tuning. He was also self-centered and expected the world to drop at his feet the way people on the island did. But a crown prince needed a wife—a future queen—and he would need to learn the fine art of romance.

Alejandro would gladly teach his brother how to woo the princess from Aliestle. “If you need lessons—”

“I may not have your reputation with the ladies, but I shall manage on my own.”

“I hope you and your intended are happy together.”

He meant it. A happy union meant heirs. The further he dropped in the line of succession, the better. His being a prince was an obstacle to the real work he wanted to accomplish. By focusing his attention on his business and attracting more investors, he could better help the island’s sluggish economy.

“You are to be the best man,” Enrique said.

A statement of fact or a request? Enrique had few friends. At least ones who didn’t want something from the future king. Perhaps Alejandro was his brother’s only option. Still… “Mingling with the aristocracy is hazardous to my health.”

“You will move home until the wedding.”

A demand.

Anger flared. “Enrique—”

“The royal family will show a united front during the engagement period. Your days will be free unless official events are scheduled. You’ll be expected to attend all dinners and evening functions. You must also be present when the princess and her party arrive today.”

Alejandro cursed. “You sound exactly like him.”

“They are Father’s words, not mine.” Compassion filled Enrique’s gaze. “But please be my best man. You’re my favorite brother.”

“I’m your only brother.”

Enrique laughed, brightening his tired eyes and taking ten years off his face. “All the more reason for you to stand at my side. Father will compensate you for any inconvenience.”

Alejandro’s entire life was an inconvenience. Any compensation would be meaningless. He would never get the one thing he wanted from his father. “I don’t want his money.”

“You never have, but when Father offers you p*****t, take it. Put the money into your boats, buy another villa, donate it to charity, or give it away on the streets,” Enrique advised. “You’ve earned this, Alejandro. Don’t let pride get in the way again.”

He wasn’t about to go there. “All I want is to be left alone.”

“As soon as Julianna and I have children, your wish will be granted. That is why if you do your part to ensure the wedding occurs, Father has promised to let you live your own life.”

Finally. Except that didn’t sound like their father who preferred to command his sons with orders. Affection and love had left the palace when their mother departed. “Did you ask for this or did Father offer?”

Enrique hesitated. “It was a combination. Your disdain for the royal life keeps worsening. We may not always agree, but you are my younger brother and I care about your happiness.”

So Enrique was the one pushing this. Okay, his brother occasionally showed he hadn’t lost his entire self by emulating the king. But one question remained. “Will Father follow through?”

“You can be assured of Father keeping his word. And you have mine that I will see it happens.”

That was enough for Alejandro. “When do I need to move in?”

“After lunch.”

Alejandro swore again. He had a boatyard to run, investment properties to oversee, and the Med Cup to prepare for. Not to mention the kitten who expected to be fed. “I have a life. Responsibilities.”

“Ones you have chosen.”

That was true. He’d dumped his assignments and work as a prince on Enrique years ago. “You’ve never complained, and you said you want me to be happy.”

“I haven’t and I do, but if you would do more than play with your boats—"

“I’m not playing. I’m working.” Seething, Alejandro kept his tone even. “If you and Father would see the upcoming Med Cup race as an opportunity to promote—”

“A royal wedding will do more for the economy than your expensive ideas to improve the island’s nightlife, build flashy resorts, and attract the sailing crowd with a little regatta.”

“The Med Cup is a big deal. It’ll—”

“Whatever.” Enrique brushed Alejandro aside as if he were a bothersome gnat. Like father, like son. “Be here after lunch or Father will send you on a diplomatic mission. His decision, not mine.”

As if that made a difference.

The threat was a punch to his gut. Not unexpected, given the way his father operated. That meant Alejandro had to do as told to secure his future—his freedom. “I’ll return before your princess arrives.”

But he would do a few things his way.

Once the black sheep, always the black sheep.

And he didn’t mind that title at all.