a while to come around. I didn’t commit to the marriage on your behalf.”
“Am I supposed to thank you for that?”
“Yes,” my father answers simply. “You know you need to marry to ascend to the throne, Theo, and time is running out.”
“Why do I need to marry? Have you ever looked into that? Can’t I marry later? Or not marry at all?”
“I don’t write the laws, Theo. I have to live by them just like everyone else. You should know that as well as anyone. You’ll be the guardian of this Kingdom. You must abide by its laws more than anyone else.”
I let out a breath, squeezing my eyes shut. My head is throbbing, sending waves of pain radiating through my shoulder. I press my fingers to my temple to try to make sense of what my father is saying.
“So, you arranged a marriage between me and Cara while we were on the yacht?”
“I didn’t arrange anything,” my father says, waving a hand. “An opportunity presented itself. Selma Shoal suggested it, and my ears perked up. It would work, Theo. It would solve a lot of problems and allow me to step down in peace.”
My heart squeezes. I know I need to step up and be King. I know my status as a bachelor is standing in the way of that. I have responsibilities that need to be attended to.
But I can’t marry Cara. I’d be asking her to give up her life for me. I’d be telling her not to go on her travels, to stay by my side, to betray Luca.
It’s too much to ask.
My father sighs. “Look, Theo, it’s a win-win. Tristan Shoal is the people’s natural leader. He’s the most loved celebrity Argyle has ever had. Marrying his daughter could unite the Kingdom.”
I sink deeper into the chair, wincing as my elbow hits the armrest. My shoulder pulses with pain, and I lean my head against the back of the armchair. Everything hurts. I’ll have to get more meds from the doctor.
Through my haze of pain, I realize that my father’s right. Uniting Argyle will be my hardest task, once I take the throne.
My mother cheated on my father with the King’s brother, my uncle, and then ran off with him. Ever since then, the Kingdom has been divided. Half the citizens think my father drove her out of her home and that he should have shown mercy. The other half of Argylians side with the King, and think the Queen should have been punished with more than mere exile.
And my brothers and me? We’re stuck in the middle. I’m next in line to inherit a divided throne.
Tristan Shoal, on the other hand, is loved by everyone in Argyle. He holds the only Olympic gold medal Argyle has ever earned, and has dozens of world records for his swimming exploits. The day that he earned the world record for longest unassisted open-ocean swim is a national holiday in Argyle every year.
My father is right. He’d be the people’s King, if they had a choice. His daughters are the jewels in his crown. Cara, the youngest and most beautiful, would be the natural choice even if the other daughters were still available.
As much as I hate to admit it, marrying Cara would help unite the Kingdom. It would make the start of my rule a lot smoother.
But it would kill my brother. It wouldn’t be easy for Cara, either.
The King shifts in bed with a grunt, pushing himself off his pillows. His movements are becoming more labored, and I think he’s in more pain than he lets on. He nods to me, his eyes dark.
“You’ll get used to the idea. You could do worse.”
“Let me think about it,” I say, pushing myself to my feet. My shoulder aches every time I move.
“Don’t take too long. This needs to be done.” The King lets out a heavy sigh. His lips pinch, and the weariness in his face is plainly apparent.
He’s suffering. He needs to step down.
Which means I either need to marry Cara, or find a legal reason not to.
“Father…”
“This is your duty, Theo. You have to take the throne, and you have to take a wife. I’ve done my best to make it easy for you. Now return the favor.”
My father levels me with a stare, and I know I can’t protest. With our Kingdom already divided, if the people learned of his condition, it would only weaken our position. Argyle needs a strong leader.