Page 57 of Modern Romance June 2025 5-8

She was serious! Or the best actor he’d ever seen. He read hints of unease despite her raised chin and imperious stare. But she didn’t back down.

For a stunning moment he felt a searing lightness, a dazzle of relief.

Because he hadn’t wanted to be King. Monarchy meant King Karl and he’d never wanted to be like his father.

He’d seen hints of his father’s darkness in his own soul long ago and feared following in his footsteps. The impatient, remorseless part of him that triumphed in getting his own way. In winning no matter the odds stacked against him. The pride. The thrill he got from risk-taking that in the past had verged on recklessness.

But he loved his country. He’d reconciled himself to his duty, knowing Prinzenberg needed him, now more than ever. With his father’s death, he’d shouldered his inherited burdens, despite his old fear that royal power might exacerbate those ruthless tendencies he’d tried to conquer.

‘You’re accusing me of being a usurper?’

She drew a deep breath. Benedikt fought not to notice her breasts rise against her constraining bodice. A tactic to distract him?

‘You’re not entitled to be King. The coronation you’re planning in a couple of weeks is a farce.’

Her words were as good as a slap to the face. Benedikt felt a muscle spasm in his jaw.

Did she really think she could get away with such a ridiculous lie?

He looked at the documents in his hand. The first was a copy of a marriage certificate, the writing old-fashioned but clear. It recorded the wedding thirty years ago between Alexandra Cecile Adelgunde Luise Von Edelforst to Christian Maximilian Eitel Luitpold Von Prinzenberg.

Benedikt’s breath escaped silently, leaving his lungs empty.

Christian of Prinzenberg.

Once the Crown Prince. So much loved by the people that his name still was spoken with reverence, something that had always annoyed Benedikt’s father.

All the country knew Christian had died tragically young and unmarried.

Benedikt sank onto the lounge, head spinning.

He read the certificate again, frowning. It had to be a forgery. He flipped the page over and found a copy of another certificate, this time a record of birth. For Annalena Alexandra Christiane Luise Von Prinzenberg, dated eight months after the wedding.

Von Prinzenberg.

It was the royal name, held only by the country’s ruler and their direct family.

Despite knowing this had to be fraudulent, Benedikt felt a tickle of unease track down his spine.

After Christian then his father the King died in quick succession, Benedikt’s father, Karl, had inherited the title. He was a distant cousin of Christian’s. It had taken almost a year of careful checking and deliberation before he was officially named heir to the throne, his name changing to Von Prinzenberg. The name Benedikt now carried.

He lifted his gaze to the woman opposite. She sat straight-backed, knees bent and ankles crossed neatly. Hands clasped in her lap. Only the rapid and rise and fall of her breasts and the pulse thrumming at the base of her neck betrayed she was anything other than completely composed.

‘You expect me to fall for this fraud?’

She flinched minutely but held his stare with those deep green eyes. ‘It’s not a fraud. It’s the truth.’

Benedikt shook his head. ‘These papers don’t prove anything.’

‘On the contrary.’ She leaned forward. ‘They prove I’m the rightful ruler. I’m the only child of Prince Christian, who should have been King after his father. I’m his rightful heir, born before your father took the crown.’

‘If you believe this fabrication.’ Benedikt’s hand fisted, crumpling the papers.

‘You think by destroying those, you can hide the truth? You believemeso naive as to bring the originals?’ She sat back, eyebrows lifting. ‘Those are copies. The originals are held safe. Don’t think you can bury the truth.’

‘I’m not in the habit of burying anything.’

Her huff of disbelief was loud in the thick silence. ‘Like father, like son,’ she murmured.

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