Page 36 of His Hidden Royal Heirs

He was done with conflict.

A staff member opened the large front door, while more staff ushered the royal family inside.

“Your Majesties. Your Highness.” He gave a short bow to the three royals who stood on the threshold of his home. “Welcome.”

He had not met the queen before, but he could see bits and pieces of Zia in her. The green eyes, the sharp chin. Her expression was one of regal distance, but she gripped her husband’s arm so tight the knuckles on her hand were white.

The younger woman who stood behind the king and queen, almost as if she was purposely trying to hide, was Zia’s sister, no doubt. Zia’s twin. For twins, they did not look too much alike. Sure, there was a sisterly resemblance in coloring, but he supposed he’d expected something more like imprints of each other. But where Zia was tall, athletic, regal, Beaugonia was smaller, softer. Her eyes were more hazel, but sharp and taking everything in, even as she kept herself as much out of the center as possible.

“I hope you traveled well. It’s not a long journey, I know, but my staff can show you to your rooms if you’d like to rest up before dinner.”

King Rendall looked down at him with a clearly growing suspicion. “I have come here as a courtesy since you claim to have found my daughter.”

“I appreciate such courtesy,” Cristhian replied with an easy smile. He gestured at his staff who were bringing in the royal family’s belongings. “They will show you the way to your rooms.”

“Where is my daughter?” the queen asked. King Rendall looked down at her with a sharp, disapproving glare, but the queen ignored him, keeping her worried gaze on Cristhian.

“She will be meeting us for dinner. We will have much to discuss.” Cristhian wanted to make sure he had a moment to sit the king down and explain the entirety of the situation to him before they dealt with this...en masse. He would make it clear to the king that Cristhian did not care what lands he ruled, these children would be Cristhian’s responsibility alone.

Cristhian turned his attention to the one person who hadn’t spoken yet. He smiled at Beaugonia, but she decidedly did not smile back. “Zia will be most happy to see you, Princess.”

And still Zia’s sister didn’t speak or look upon him any less suspiciously. No doubt Zia had filled her head with tales. Well, so be it.

He didn’t need anyone’s approval or acceptance. There would be a wedding. Tomorrow.

He heard a strange noise behind him, looked over his shoulder and saw Zia standing there at the top of the staircase. Her stomach was hidden by the balcony. “Beau.” For a moment, there was a flash of true joy on Zia’s face. Cristhian felt a strange stabbing pain in the center of his chest.

Not because he wanted to be the source of such joy. How ludicrous. It was because she’d ruined his plans. Yet again.

But he didn’t scowl. He didn’t chastise her. Simply because it would look poorly in front of the king and queen.

Not because he was mesmerized by that joy on her face as she ran down the stairs and approached her sister. Not because the way they wrapped their arms around each other made him feel...alone. Not because it warmed him to watch them sway in each other’s arms like long-lost friends. So much joy between them, Cristhian could almost feel it himself.

He smiled in spite of himself, in hope for a future where his children greeted each other in just the same way.

Certainly not any hopes for himself in there.

The king and queen clearly did not share this joy. The queen’s eyes were as wide as saucers. The king looked as though he was ready to call for some beheadings.

Because Zia had ruined that gentle announcement Cristhian had planned.

Oh, well. Cristhian had to force himself to look away from Zia’s happiness and turned to face the king. “You see now, sir, why I called you all here. And why a wedding will be happening tomorrow.”

The joy Zia felt at seeing Beau was immediately tempered not just by her parents standing there, but also by Cristhian’s heavy-handed proclamation. By the reality of this situation. Because it wasn’t Beau coming to save her.

It was Cristhian following through with his...utter ridiculousness.

She didn’t know why she’d allowed herself to be fooled by the past two days of quiet, of spending no time with him. She didn’tknow why she’d been foolish enough to think avoiding him was a punishment to him.

The way it had felt to her. Because she’d missed their conversations, his presence. And she didn’t know what to do with that.

Any more than she knew what to do with her father standing there. Looking angry and threatening. Because Cristhian hadbroughthim here.

So he wasn’t at all concerned with if she was afraid of her father or not, even though he’d asked that question and seemed so...genuinely concerned.

What a fool she was. But she couldn’t let herself wilt under the grief of that. She had her babies to protect. From everyone.

“There will be no wedding,” Zia said firmly, though maybe all that firmness was undercut by how hard she held on to Beau. “I don’t know what he’s told you, Father—”

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