Page 69 of A Wise Prince

“President, I think you have something to share with the class,” he says.

The president, who I don’t think could look any paler, turns slightly green. “It’s all my fault,” he whispers, closing his eyes. “I shouldn’t have agreed.”

Jessica pops up out of her chair. “What have you done?!” she screams.

He looks up at her, defeat in his eyes. “They said we’d be safe. If I just passed those rules, we’d be safe.”

Jessica gasps. “You…you didn’t! You sold out!” she cries out. “And after everything…everything I did. You said…you promised!”

I almost turn away, because this seems like a very private conversation. But I can’t stop watching it.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Jackie asks from the wall.

The president stands and runs a hand over his face. “I had an affair with my campaign manager.” Everyone gasps, except Jack, who looks like this is old news. “Jessica knows, but not the girls. Senator Farrington found out. He said he’d kill my chances at the presidency unless I made certain regulatory changes when I was elected. He promised me I’d be elected if I did this. I couldn’t…I didn’t want the girls to know, more than anything, even losing, I didn’t want them to know.” He pauses and looks pleadingly at his wife, who looks away as tears stream down her face. “A few months ago, the senator and his brother visited me. They said I was stalling and needed to finish my end of the bargain or pay a price.”

“What was the price?” Jack asked.

“They threatened my family and said they’d reveal my affair to the public.”

“Threatened how exactly?” Jack prods.

This time the president looks down. “The girls,” he mutters. Jessica gasps and sinks into a seat on the far side of the room. The president gives his wife a pleading look, but she keeps her eyes on the floor.

“Do you know why they did this?” Jack continues to prod.

“I always assumed it was for political gain,” he admits.

“It is, but not in the way you think,” Jack says, and with that, every head in the room turns to look at him. “Senator Farrington is working with someone in your government, Your Highness. Conrad Johansen.”

“What?” Chris and Dad say at the same time.

“Conrad and Farrington are carrying out the goals of one of the oldest anti-monarchist groups in the world, known as the forty-four society. They originally date back to the times of Julius Caesar. Forty-four is the year he was assassinated. It was the first time a person who came to power via family was taken out like that. They have been working to bring down government systems where single people have too much power. Farrington believes the presidency has too much power, meanwhile, Conrad has been working to remove the royal families in Montelandia and Norddale, hoping to start a trend that begins dismantling all monarchies worldwide. The underground auctions have served as a way to gain funds to get the people they want into positions of power. This isn’t a radical political group. This is an organization that has withstood the test of time. They fully expect their plan to take decades, centuries even. They aren’t in a hurry. Every move they make is calculated and planned, sometimes for years. President Bradford, I’m sorry to say it, but you are merely a pawn in their game. Prince August, you finding that diamond, that was planted as well. But, right now, my biggest concern is that Jared has your daughters. Jared is a wild card. His actions aren’t methodical like his father’s. He’s unhinged. They could be in serious jeopardy.”

“What do you mean the diamond was planted?” I ask.

Jack looks at me. His bright green eyes flash with something. “It means, you were meant to see that diamond. They weren’t using it to get money, they were using it to get to you.”

“But why?”

“Think about it, August,” Jack says. His use of my given name takes me by surprise. He raises an eyebrow. I ponder his words. They were using it to get to me. Me? Why would they…it suddenly becomes clear. They want to take down each member of our family, one by one.

“They were going to show the world that I’m nothing but a playboy criminal,” I say dryly.

Jack nods. “Kate being with you…well, that was a wild card they didn’t expect. And it’s not just you, if they can paint the royal family as evil, then…well, it makes their case easier to present to the public.”

I close my eyes, cursing under my breath. I played right into their hands. I’m an idiot. I open my eyes and look at Anna. She was played as well.

Jack follows my gaze. “They knew Anna was searching for this auction. They knew you’d follow the lead. They are two steps ahead of us. Now we need to figure out exactly where they are, and why they are there.”

Anna points to the screen. “The estate is owned by Lord Crane. It’s mostly a museum now. These buildings here, the village, people live in those buildings. But here, she says, pointing to a building off near the forest. That’s a gatehouse that’s for rent. If I had to guess…that’s where they are.”

Jack nods. “I already have people on their way there.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

Kate

Ashlyn’s leg twitches,and she groans. Thank god she’s coming around. The tape isn’t as tight this time. I rub my face against the floor, trying to peel it back. It takes a few tries, but eventually, I get it off.

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