Chương 3

Louis followed them into the garden because staying at the bar would have looked too much like defeat. The night air was cool and smelled faintly of jasmine. Angelique and Malcolm had not gone far. They stood beside the long reflecting pool. Angelique held her drink in one hand. Malcolm leaned toward her, speaking low. She listened, polite and still. Louis approached without hurrying. He let his shoes sound on the stone. Malcolm saw him first. His smile paused before it returned.

"Louis," he said.

"I did not realize you wanted air as well."

"I didn't," Louis said.

"But then I thought about what you said." Malcolm smiled.

"I am not sure I said anything profound."

"You made me think that if we are all meant to inherit the Dominion's future, we should probably know each other better." Louis nodded toward Angelique.

"Don't you agree?" Her lips pressed together. Malcolm inclined his head.

"Of course. We are all part of the same circle."

"Exactly."

"Please. Join us." Malcolm kept smiling. Louis moved to stand beside Angelique. She shifted half a step, enough for him to stand there. Her expression remained composed, but her eyes stayed on him for a while. Malcolm took a sip from his glass.

"We were discussing your father's timing." Louis raised an eyebrow.

"What about it?"

"Announcing Philip today, before the Texas visit, is bold." Malcolm looked from Louis to Angelique.

"Many see it as a provocation."

"Who?"

"The European Union." Malcolm did not smile.

"They have always been uneasy about His Majesty. Now they will see the appointment as an open subversion of the Republic of Navarre."

"My father does not care about their unease," Louis said.

"He never has."

"That is the problem," Malcolm said.

"The EU is still the largest trade partner we have. If they begin to feel threatened, they can turn those connections into leverage."

"Philip is competent," Louis said. Angelique spoke quietly, her eyes on the water.

"Competence isn't the issue. Legitimacy is." Louis looked at her.

"You think he is illegitimate?"

"I think a king in exile serving as minister of foreign affairs for a state that acknowledges his crown is... complicated." She met Louis's gaze.

"Brussels won't like it."

"Are we going to talk about politics all night?" Louis smiled.

"Because I thought we were standing out here to avoid that." Malcolm gave a short laugh.

"You never take politics seriously."

"I take it seriously," Louis said.

"I just prefer to enjoy other things."

"Of course you do." Malcolm looked at him.

"Everyone knows that. You prefer entertainment to responsibility." Louis shrugged.

"I would rather be honest than fake duty. My father has ruled this country for fifteen years. He will rule it for another fifty. I'm not in a hurry to take his job." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Not all of us are lucky enough to have that freedom." Malcolm glanced at Angelique.

"Some of us have obligations."

"I never said you should abdicate yours." Louis gave him a pleasant smile.

"I only think you would be happier if you stopped pretending to enjoy them." Malcolm's smile disappeared. Angelique turned to Louis.

"What makes you think he doesn't?"

"Because he is not good at hiding it. It's written all over his face when he talks about policy. He sounds like a man reading from a manual." Color rose high in Malcolm's cheeks.

"And you think you could do better?"

"I think I would sound less bored doing it." Angelique let out a small laugh. She covered her mouth quickly, but amusement stayed in her eyes. Malcolm looked at her sharply, his mouth parted, then closed again. He stared at Louis instead.

"Louis," he said.

"You may find everything to be a joke, but some of us understand what is at stake."

"Of course you do," Louis said.

"That's why you practice your speeches in the mirror."

"Responsibility does sound boring to people who have never been given any," Malcolm said. He turned to Angelique before Louis could answer.

"I should find my father. Enjoy the air. It is easier than the work." She nodded once.

"Of course." He gave her a short bow, then turned and walked back toward the ballroom. Angelique smiled despite herself.

"You are terrible."

"I'm honest," he replied.

"There's a difference."

"You didn't need to insult him."

"I didn't insult him. I just pointed out what he already knows." She took a sip of her drink.

"You are going to make enemies."

"I already have enemies," he said.

"One more won't change much." She shook her head.

"You haven't changed at all since you fell off my pony."

"I've gotten taller." She laughed.

"Yes. That much is obvious." Her smile faded.

"Why did you follow us out here?"

"I wanted to see how long you would let him talk before you got tired of it."

"And?" He shrugged.

"You lasted longer than I thought." She raised an eyebrow.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you're more patient than I remember." He took a step closer.

"Or you like him more than I expected."

"Do you care if I do?" Louis smiled.

"No." She studied him for a moment.

"You don't care about anyone, do you?"

"I care about some people." Louis spread both hands.

"Just not about Malcolm Lancaster." She looked back at the water.

"He is not a bad person."

"I didn't say he was. I just said he's boring." Her mouth twitched.

"You are impossible."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true."

"If you say so." He looked up at the sky.

"Malcolm was right, you know?" she said.

"About what?"

"Almost everything."

"Then why were you laughing?" She glanced at him.

"Because correctness is not the same as charm." He smiled.

"So I have charm at least."

"You have something," she said dryly.

"I am not sure it is charm." He laughed. She did too. The ballroom music was faint behind them.

"So," she said, "how does it feel to have my father working for yours?"

"I think he's more qualified than anyone else for it. But you probably already know that." He shrugged. She smiled thinly.

"I know he's capable. Whether he enjoys taking orders from your father is another question." She paused.

"No offense."

"None taken," he said.

"My father tends to get what he wants."

"Yes, so I've noticed." She looked at his bow tie.

"Does that ever get tiring?" He raised an eyebrow.

"What? Being related to the most powerful man on the continent?"

"If you prefer to put it that way." She folded her arms.

"I imagine people only ever see you as an extension of him. Or they spend the whole time trying to impress you." Louis did not answer at once. He had heard versions of that before, though never put so plainly.

"And you don't?" he asked. Angelique looked into his eyes.

"I knew you before you were the President's son. You were just some boy in the mud, yelling at my pony. It's hard to be impressed after that." He laughed.

"You know," he said, "I think that might be the first time anyone has ever said something like that to me and meant it."

"I suppose that's what happens when you grow up like this," she said.

"You spend your life around people who never say what they mean."

"Maybe," he said.

"Or maybe you've just spent too long around my father's staff."

"There's that too," she said. The ballroom music changed behind them. She looked toward the doors.

"We should probably go back," she said.

"Before people notice we are missing." He nodded.

"Of course." They walked back along the stone path, side by side. By the time they entered the ballroom, Malcolm was already inside, standing straight among a group of ministers. He looked over as Angelique and Louis entered, then walked toward her, his smile already in place.

"Angelique," he said, reaching her side.

"I was hoping you would dance with me." He looked at Louis.

"Unless you are taking up all her time." Louis smiled at him.

"That's the plan." Malcolm's nostrils flared once, then he nodded.

"I see. Well, perhaps another time." Angelique gave him a polite nod.

"Of course." Malcolm bowed slightly and went back into the crowd. Angelique turned back to Louis.

"Are you really planning to take up all my time?"

"Yes. Dance with me." He held out his hand.