Page 3 of Twins for the Secret Prince (Even More Babies #8)

PIETER

“ W as it something I said?” Pieter asked Derek as they walked away from the huddle of young soldiers to whom he had just been introduced.

“What do you mean?” Derek asked.

“I get the feeling I’m about as welcome on this base as a contagious disease.”

“Don’t take it personally. We tend to be a little more reserved on this base than other places you’re used to.”

“So it will get better when people get to know me?” Pieter asked, looking around at the mountains surrounding the base, and the Alaskan wilderness beyond — the proof that he hadn’t been bluffing when he’d told his father he would leave.

“It might even get worse, if your track record is anything to go by.”

Pieter shot Derek a look of mock-anger. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“I’m joking. Just give it time. And anyway, you’ll meet plenty of people who are happy to have you here. New blood and all that.”

They walked in silence for a few minutes as Pieter replayed the conversation he’d had with Derek earlier that morning, when he’d arrived at the base and met his old college friend for the first time in years.

After greeting each other warmly, the two had caught up briefly on their lives after college.

Pieter had focused on his military career, leaving out details about his royal duties.

“Your parents are happy that you’re here?” Derek had asked.

“They don’t know I’m here. I mean, not here in Alaska. They insisted I leave the military and move back to the palace, and I refused. We’d reached an impasse, and when I told them I would join the military here, they called my bluff.”

“Ouch.”

“They don’t seem to understand that the military is my life now. I’ve found my calling, and I don’t plan on leaving.”

“I hear you. I can’t imagine another life for me.” Derek took a deep breath and added, “I’ve been thinking that it’s probably best if we don’t share your real name and identity with anyone else here.”

Pieter nodded. He’d been expecting to be told not to divulge his royal identity. “Have you chosen an alias for me?”

“We have. During your time here, you’ll be known as Sergeant Pete Billings.”

Pieter nodded again, then extended his hand. “Sergeant Billings, sir, reporting for duty.”

Derek smiled. “It suits you. Good. Now, you’re not going to go all royal on us and ask for a footman to wash and dress you in the morning, are you?”

“I thought it was understood that I would need one,” Pieter deadpanned. “I’m incapable of washing and dressing myself.”

Derek laughed. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I roomed with you for two years, so I know you’re capable of it. I still haven’t forgotten about those schedules you used to make up for cleaning our place. I never understood why you thought the kitchen and bathroom needed to be cleaned so often.”

“Do you understand now that you’re a civilized human being?”

“Let’s just say I’m ashamed of my formerly slovenly ways.”

They both laughed, and Pieter gave silent thanks that he’d been stationed on this base with his former roommate. Derek was about as good a man as it was possible to be, and Pieter was looking forward to spending time with him again.

If anyone could understand where Pieter was coming from with the conflict with his parents, it was Derek.

His parents weren’t royals, but they were wealthy — even more so than Pieter’s parents — and overprotective.

They had demanded that Derek have extra security and protection in his college dormitory, which was how he and Pieter had ended up roommates on their own floor.

Even though they’d grown up in different countries, they had so much in common that they’d become great friends.

Pieter knew he could trust Derek with his secret, and he could rely on him to be a true friend during his time in Alaska.

As Derek gave him a tour of the base, Pieter realized it was going to take time to build camaraderie with people who didn’t know him or trust him yet.

As he was thinking about working hard to build new relationships, Sergeant Bailey’s beautiful, icy features appeared in his mind.

She had the dark hair and porcelain skin of a woman in a fairy tale.

Pieter had seen the flinty determination in her eyes as Derek introduced him, which switched to a weary acceptance that he was going to be the main thorn in her side as they fought for the same promotion.

“What can you tell me about Sergeant Bailey?” he asked.

“Eva?” Derek was quiet for a moment as he thought about the question.

“She’s one of our best people. Hands down the best at training our new recruits.

She’s tough, but our drop-out rate has fallen to almost nothing since she was put in charge of them.

She’s got something that drives them to be the best and makes them believe the military is where they belong. ”

“Wow, if that could be bottled and shared across the military, it would be quite something.”

“Agreed. You’ll see her in action this afternoon, so you can see for yourself.” Derek had a smile on his face that made Pieter wonder just how much of a chance he actually had at getting the promotion.

“She didn’t look very happy when you told her I’d be up for the sergeant major job too.”

“She loves a challenge,” Derek said. “But let’s face it, she’s probably sick of losing out to men.”

Pieter shot his friend a look, wondering at his meaning. “It sounds like she’s got this promotion in the bag, being so well-respected. But I like a challenge too.”

“I’m aware.” They walked for another minute, and then Derek said, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“What if your parents phone you in a week’s time and tell you to come back to Laagestein, that all is forgiven? Will you stay or will you go?”

It was an astute question. Pieter had thought about the very issue since deciding to come to Alaska. He knew his parents, and he fully expected that they would call him back home once their frustration at his ongoing noncompliance faded.

He didn’t want to lie to his friend, nor did he want to admit that he thought the moment would arrive sooner rather than later. “The truth is my focus right now is on settling in here and doing the very best job I can do. You know me, Derek. When I’m in, I’m all in.”

“Good answer,” Derek said, smiling.

Pieter smiled, too. He meant what he’d said, but he also knew he couldn’t ignore his parents forever.

His brother Jan, the heir to the throne, had sent him a series of messages, trying his best to mediate the situation.

The first message asked where Pieter was and if he was okay.

When Pieter replied with the details, Jan had written:

Alaska? This really is an international situation, then. Pieter, I know they seem unreasonable to you and their attempts to steam-roller you have backfired. Just promise me you’ll keep safe while I try to work things out on this end.

Working things out with their parents was Jan’s way.

He was the more laid-back brother, the calm one.

Jan was the kinder one, if Pieter was being honest. Jan always acted as though he was ashamed to be the heir to the throne, that simply by being born first, he’d stolen something that Pieter should have had rightful claim to.

Jan also fully accepted and understood Pieter’s love of the military life.

He was proud of Pieter and regularly told him so.

Pieter had been present at many family meetings when Jan had urged their parents to let Pieter have his career without royal obligations outside of a few official engagements every year.

It would have been an ideal arrangement, but their parents had refused to go for it.

A short time after he’d sent the first message and after he had spoken to their parents, Jan sent Pieter another message:

Like two stubborn old mules, they’re insisting you’ll see the error of your ways and come back to the fold soon.

Mother’s about to cave, I’m sure of it. She misses you terribly and wants you home.

Father’s being more pig-headed. He thinks the longer you stay in the States, the more convinced you’ll be that Laagestein is paradise on earth.

Pieter snorted out loud at that. Their tiny nation was a kind of paradise, but royal duties definitely were not, or at least not for him.

He hated people fussing over him, waiting for him to tell them what he wanted so they could do his bidding.

He didn’t like or excel at small talk, and felt awkward at the many functions and events he had to attend.

Jan, on the other hand, had a way with people.

Although naturally shy and serious, he had a kindness and warmth that people responded well to.

Pieter watched him at events and gatherings and never failed to be impressed by his older brother.

He would, one day, make an excellent and well-loved King of Laagestein.

Thinking fondly of his brother, Pieter sent him a reply:

Really sorry you are caught in the middle of this. Again. Maybe I shouldn’t have run away without trying to talk to them again, but I was backed into a corner. Don’t tell Father, but I’m not very popular here, and it’s only day one. I guess things can only get better.

Jan replied that he missed Pieter and would keep in touch to let him know how things were at home.

Those words caused the same uncomfortable reaction in Pieter.

His military barracks in Laagestein had felt like his true home, not the palace.

He would have to work hard to make this base in Alaska feel like his home, and Pieter told himself to shake off thoughts of conflict with his parents and focus on getting settled into his new life.

They had arrived at Major Aston’s office, and Derek knocked on the door and announced himself.

“Come in!” the major called out with a voice like rolling thunder. He stood up behind his desk when Derek and Pieter walked in, and Pieter saw that he was very tall and very well-built. His face was square and severe, giving all indications that he was not a man to be messed with.

“Sir, I’d like to introduce Sergeant Pete Billings. He’ll be in charge of our second squad of new recruits.”

“Welcome. It’s good to have you here. It’s an important role, sergeant. Are you up to it?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve run boot camps and basic training for years. And I’m looking forward to it, sir.”

“You don’t need to butter me up, sergeant. The role is yours because no one else around here wanted it. Except Sergeant Bailey, of course. I’ll be honest with you, she’s the best with new recruits I’ve ever seen. You’ve got your work cut out, keeping up with her.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t tell her I said that. I’m expecting you to hold your own with her and get your squad into shape as quickly as possible. Do you understand me, sergeant?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Make us proud to have you here. Dismissed.”

Back out in the corridor, Pieter said, “I think you should take me to my squad.”

“You want to meet them now?”

“The major left me under no illusions that I’m going to be spared any harsh criticism if my recruits don’t cut the mustard. So it’s time for me to size up the mustard.”

Derek shook his head. “That isn’t even an expression. No one sizes up mustard. Watch what you say, okay? You don’t want people guessing that you’re not from around these parts on the first day.”

“I think they’ll guess I’m not from Alaska the second they meet me.”

Derek smirked. “You’re not really expecting to have your squad as good as Eva’s by this afternoon, are you?”

“They might even be better,” Pieter said, trying to sound confident.

“Don’t count on it.”

“So what’s her secret?” Pieter asked. “What does she have that the rest of us don’t? Surely you can give me some more intel on that.”

Derek shook his head again. “Don’t call it intel. You could get us both in trouble.”

“Fine. But I mean it. What can I learn from her?”

“I can’t really put it into words. It’s not something obvious. It’s more that she has a certain kind of power to intimidate and inspire new recruits in equal measure.”

“Intimidate and inspire. Okay. That’s something I think I can work with.”

Pieter was worried about the limited time he had with his squad.

From the start of their drill practice session, he was relieved to see that they had clearly been taught well.

There was one snag, however: they were going through the motions without the pride that comes with executing the actions together as one single entity.

It was his fault, he knew. The new recruits were doing what he told them to do, but because they didn’t know him yet, they saw him as a mere authority figure, not someone they respected.

They might respect his rank, but not who he was and what he stood for, because they didn’t know who he really was.

After the first hour of drill practice, he told the recruits to stop.

He gathered them closer together and told them he had a story for them.

He asked if any of the new recruits had heard of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, and nearly every single one indicated that they had.

Pieter told them about his experience performing in the Tattoo, leaving out the fact that he had been a member of the Laagestein military at the time.

He described the thrill of being part of a precision performance for a crowd of civilians, who cheered them loudly and enthusiastically. As he told the new recruits about the experience, his memories were so real that Pieter felt like he was transported back to that important time in his life.

“We got to live that thrill every night for three solid weeks. People from all over the world came to see us. Every night I got to look into the stands and see the sheer astonishment on people’s faces at what we were capable of.

Not just us — although we nailed it every single night — but our military brothers and sisters from around the globe.

I have never felt so proud in my whole life, and I doubt I ever will again. ”

He looked into the eyes of each and every recruit, and he could tell that he’d reached them. He’d pulled them into the world of pomp and pageantry, where the drill wasn’t a mundane set of actions you did to show you were disciplined but a display of the triumph of the human spirit.

When his squad returned to practice after his speech, Pieter saw just what he was looking for in their eyes — the fire. They wanted to be the best, to have a taste of what it felt like to have everyone cheering them on. He’d done it; he’d inspired them.