How to Catch a Queen (Runaway Royals #1) - Alyssa Cole Page 0,65

interloper. He reminded himself that Musoke was not king, and he was.

“I will see what she has to say,” Sanyu said, feeling nausea bloom but ignoring the familiar sensation. “She’s only here because whoever is responsible for the Royal Match account forced her hand with their lack of response. And by searching for wives without my approval. That stops now.”

Musoke’s nostrils flared. “You ignore my advice?”

“We get mad at outsiders for spreading rumors about our rude behavior. If our response to a safety check is threats and anger, is that supposed to disprove them?”

His whole body was taut, straining to maintain the facade of his father’s strength in the face of the man who’d known his father the best. But as he was studying governance it’d become clear to Sanyu that he did have ideas of his own. He did care. And in this one small thing he could put his foot down, no matter what Musoke thought. It didn’t seem weak to treat people with basic respect, and it made him feel better than any of the ways he’d been taught to treat those beneath him.

“When others hear of this, they will know that Njaza is now a kingdom that tolerates having its borders and palace breached. It will be the beginning of the end. And it will be your fault.”

He turned and stomped out and Sanyu took a deep breath. He waved for the investigator to follow him to the balcony, where there were wider seats to accommodate him and fresh air to clear his head. His heart was pounding and he felt a bit sick, but that hadn’t gone as bad as he’d expected.

Ms. Chetchevaliere cleared her throat as she settled into the chair. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m going to be.”

Sanyu knew that his father would have threatened to have this woman hung by her toes; it would have been an idle threat but a terrifying one. That kind of bluster took way too much energy, though.

“Thank you for the advance warning,” he said dryly.

“You’re welcome. Your head advisor unnecessarily catastrophizes and frankly, needs to chill out. I live and breathe monarchical systems and I can tell you that a high-ranking official who resorts to staring contests and tantrums is not an effective one.”

Sanyu inhaled deeply. The investigator was being too familiar, and what she was saying didn’t reflect well on his kingdom, but it didn’t feel like disrespect. He could think clearly and process her words, unlike when he knew Musoke was waiting with his scorpion stinger.

She continued. “And I shouldn’t be telling you this because it is classified information, but top secret is a social construct anyway, yes?”

Sanyu’s forehead creased as he tried to follow her train of thought. “I . . . don’t think that’s how that works, Ms. Chetchevaliere. I’m sure your employer and government don’t think that’s how that works.”

She glanced up and to the side, shrugged, then met his gaze and continued. “Our job is to monitor and promote the spread of monarchical governance and to keep a close eye on the extant ones. Njaza is at the top of our list of kingdoms in danger. I’m not going to try to sell you any of our services because, frankly, the Royal Match app really mines all of the data we could ever need so that your cooperation isn’t necessary.”

“What?” Sanyu leaned up in his seat.

“Listen, Your Highness. Always read the terms and conditions. At one of the meetings someone was floating a clause in the updates that would allow the Federation to intervene in failing kingdoms. That was a wild meeting, I tell you! But it was suggested because of the whole ‘Is Njaza a dictatorship that needs to be toppled?’ debate and—” She pressed her brown lips together, waited a beat, and then continued as if she hadn’t said anything. “Your kingdom needs to get it together. I’m surprised your wife hasn’t been of assistance with that, given the many detailed, and I would say visionary, research papers on systems of monarchical governance she’s submitted to the Federation’s official journal over the years.”

She looked at him pointedly.

“Well. My kingdom has not been entirely welcome to the advice of the queen,” Sanyu said. “Historically.”

“You rule this kingdom,” she said. “Presently.”

“And perhaps you should speak to me as if I do,” he snapped. “I am trying to change things, and I’ve asked for my wife’s help in that.”

“So you like her, Your Highness, sir?” She smiled and