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‘I can get you that evidence today.’
Her fingers itched to reach for her phone but now wasn’t the time. He was right, there was more at stake than a single infrastructure project.
‘Do that. Nothing will proceed until it’s reassessed.’
Relief was a mass of butterflies in her stomach. ‘Once you have proof of the true situation you’ll stop the project.’
She made it a statement, not a question.
Yet instead of agreeing, he stepped up to her, making her pulse thrum and her breath catch.
‘I could say the same to you, Annalena. You know the precarious situation created by your claim to the throne. Unless it’s settled definitively the country faces a possible power vacuum and uncertainty in all levels of government. That could take ages to sort out. Just when we need stability and good leadership more than ever.’ He leaned close and the air between them fizzed with energy. ‘If you’re as principled as you imply, you’ll do your part to rectify that once and for all.’
She swallowed, almost choking on the knot of dismay clogging her throat.
‘By marrying you.’
Her tone was supposed to be scoffing. Instead it was a raw whisper. But he heard it. How could he not when he stood so close that his body heat made her temperature spike?
‘Exactly.’
What worried her most wasn’t that he looked triumphant or smug. He didn’t. This wasn’t the expression of a man whowantedto marry her. He looked determined and expectant.
Her brain whirled with all the reasons marriage was impossible. But every objection she could raise faded before the need to put her country first.
And he knew it. She saw it in his eyes.
Her upbringing had centred around duty. To family, to her people, to Edelforst, and yes, to Prinzenberg.
From a child she’d learned to put others first. Her grandmother had seen to that and had provided a strong role model, counselling, leading and representing her people for decades.
Annalena had always known at some point in the future she’d carry on that role after her grandmother. That was why she’d come here.
But not to marry a stranger!
‘There must be another option.’
The lift of one dark eyebrow told her what Benedikt thought of that. ‘If you can come up with a better solution, let me know.’
He didn’t look any more impressed by the idea than she was. After all, he’d already chosen a suitable bride. He didn’t want Annalena any more than she wanted to tie herself to him.
Maybe she could use that to her advantage.
‘Marriage between us wouldn’t work.’
‘We’d make it work.’
Annalena looked away. ‘We’re not compatible. That would make for a very uncomfortable marriage.Andeveryone would see through the sham of it once we were in the spotlight together. The days are long gone when royals marry solely for dynastic reasons.’
‘Not compatible?’
His voice held a note she couldn’t identify, but it made her turn to meet his stare.
Instead of looking argumentative, his expression was even blanker than before. As if he couldn’t even be bothered to argue the point. Those brief moments of connection she’d felt earlier must have been in her head.
That bland stare riled her.
Once or twice, early in her career, male colleagues had tried to blank her, pretending her input wasn’t as valuable as theirs. They’d attempted to undermine her confidence and others’ belief in her. It didn’t happen any more because she refused to be put down.