Chapter 4 - Shadows of the Crown
The news of the canceled royal wedding sent shockwaves across the globe. News outlets from London to Tokyo aired non-stop footage of the black convoy arriving, the abrupt cancellation announcement, and the removal of Rachel’s belongings from the resort.
For two weeks, my quiet townhouse in Virginia was surrounded by reporters, camera crews, and curious onlookers. I took temporary administrative leave from my naval post at Norfolk to manage the fallout.
My father stayed with me, while my mother stayed at a private facility in Ohio, unable to cope with the public humiliation and the pending legal charges against Rachel. Rachel herself was placed under federal house arrest, awaiting trial for fraud, forgery, and grand larceny.
On a rainy Tuesday evening, a sleek black sedan pulled up to my driveway—not a convoy this time, just a single vehicle with tinted windows.
The doorbell rang.
I opened the door to find Prince Alexander standing on my porch, dressed in a simple dark trench coat and sweater, holding an umbrella.
"May I come in, Emily?" he asked softly.
I stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. "Your Highness. You shouldn't be here. The press will trace your car."
"Let them," Alexander said, removing his coat and placing it on the coat rack beside my Navy dress cap. "I didn't come here as a prince. I came as a man who owes you an explanation—and an apology."
My father walked out of the kitchen, holding two mugs of coffee. He stopped when he saw Alexander, nodding respectfully before retreating back to his room to give us privacy.
We sat down in the living room—the same room where I had been sitting alone two weeks ago, watching the wedding on mute.
"How are you holding up?" Alexander asked, taking a sip of coffee.
"I’m used to high-stress situations," I replied, leaning back against the cushions. "But dealing with public scandals is a different kind of war. How is your father?"
"Relieved, but angry," Alexander confessed, looking down at his hands. "He blames himself for not vetting Rachel thoroughly. But the truth is, I was blinded, Emily. When I met Rachel in New York, she presented herself as this sweet, grounded woman who didn't care about royal titles. I was so desperate for something real that I ignored every red flag."
"She’s very convincing when she wants something," I said quietly.
"She told me you hated me," Alexander revealed, looking directly into my eyes. "She told me you refused to come to the wedding because you despised the monarchy and thought I was using her. She built a wall between us before I even had the chance to meet you."
I felt a faint smile touch my lips. "I don't despise the monarchy, Alexander. My life is dedicated to service and chain of command. I respect duty more than most things."
"I know," he said softly, reaching out to lightly brush his fingers against the golden navy ribbon pin sitting on my bookshelf. "My father remembers your bravery every day. You didn't just save my uncle ten years ago; you saved the entire line of succession. My uncle went on to have three children who are now vital to our state administration."
May you like
He looked at me with a intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.
"The Crown owes you a debt, Emily. But more than that... I want to know the woman behind the medals. The sister who stayed home and watered her tomato plants while the world celebrated a lie."
