Seduced by a royal knight

CHAPTER ONE

Alessio's eyes widened as his sister's words sank in. He dropped his gold pen, and it clattered onto the floor as he frantically reached for his phone. Ginevra, speaking from New York City, laughed with excitement. "I'm engaged to be married," she repeated, her voice filled with joy. Alessio struggled to process the news. "To whom? And when did this happen?" he asked, his mind racing to catch up. "His name is Fredrick von Hohenberg. We met a few months ago when he was here on business," Ginevra replied, her voice brimming with happiness. Alessio was taken aback by the speed of their relationship. "Just a few months, and you're already planning to get married?" he questioned, trying to comprehend the whirlwind romance. While he knew his sister was not naive, he wanted to ensure her happiness and well-being. "Absolutely," she responded, laughter lacing her words. "Oh, Alessio, I can't wait for you to meet him." Her tone softened. "He's German nobility from a small village in Bavaria. I've never felt this way about anyone before. When he kisses me and we... well, you know," she trailed off, her voice tinged with a blush. Alessio blushed as well, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the explicit details. He silently hoped that Fredrick von Hohenberg had enough financial stability to support their marriage without needing assistance from him. He didn't want his sister to be unhappy, but he also didn't want to be burdened with constant financial requests. "But Alessio, we won't proceed unless we have your approval. Fredrick thought it was the right thing to do," Ginevra said earnestly. Alessio pondered his position as the head of the Imperial Dynasty of Reginaldi. He had the authority to accept or reject alliances and marriages within his family. As the only other members of the royal family were his grandmother and himself, he had decided long ago that if he didn't marry and have an heir, he would pass the title to Ginevra and her future children. He considered himself a modern ruler, but the weight of this decision weighed heavily on him. "Come to New York," Ginevra pleaded. "Grandmother wants you here too. She says you've been driving her crazy." Alessio's eyebrows furrowed. He had been tending to their grandmother's needs since her illness, ensuring she received the necessary care. But perhaps he had been overly involved. Maybe it was time to step back and let others handle her well-being. "What? Right now?" he asked, surprised by the urgency of her request. "Yes, right now. Grandmother insists. She says you're interfering too much and she needs a break," Ginevra explained. Alessio sighed, realizing he had been too overbearing. His grandmother had survived a serious illness, and he needed to trust the professionals taking care of her. "Alright," he finally agreed. "I'll come to New York. I want to meet Fredrick and make sure this is your decision." Ginevra's excitement bubbled over the line. "Thank you, Alessio! I can't wait for you to meet him. You'll see how perfect we are together." Alessio smiled, hoping that his sister had found true happiness and that his worries would be unfounded. Alessio's eyes widened as his sister's words sank in. He dropped his gold pen, and it clattered onto the floor as he frantically reached for his phone. Ginevra, speaking from New York City, laughed with excitement. "I'm engaged to be married," she repeated, her voice filled with joy. Alessio struggled to process the news. "To whom? And when did this happen?" he asked, his mind racing to catch up. "His name is Fredrick von Hohenberg. We met a few months ago when he was here on business," Ginevra replied, her voice brimming with happiness. Alessio was taken aback by the speed of their relationship. "Just a few months, and you're already planning to get married?" he questioned, trying to comprehend the whirlwind romance. While he knew his sister was not naive, he wanted to ensure her happiness and well-being. "Absolutely," she responded, laughter lacing her words. "Oh, Alessio, I can't wait for you to meet him." Her tone softened. "He's German nobility from a small village in Bavaria. I've never felt this way about anyone before. When he kisses me and we... well, you know," she trailed off, her voice tinged with a blush. Alessio blushed as well, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the explicit details. He silently hoped that Fredrick von Hohenberg had enough financial stability to support their marriage without needing assistance from him. He didn't want his sister to be unhappy, but he also didn't want to be burdened with constant financial requests. "But Alessio, we won't proceed unless we have your approval. Fredrick thought it was the right thing to do," Ginevra said earnestly. Alessio pondered his position as the head of the Imperial Dynasty of Reginaldi. He had the authority to accept or reject alliances and marriages within his family. As the only other members of the royal family were his grandmother and himself, he had decided long ago that if he didn't marry and have an heir, he would pass the title to Ginevra and her future children. He considered himself a modern ruler, but the weight of this decision weighed heavily on him. "Come to New York," Ginevra pleaded. "Grandmother wants you here too. She says you've been driving her crazy." Alessio's eyebrows furrowed. He had been tending to their grandmother's needs since her illness, ensuring she received the necessary care. But perhaps he had been overly involved. Maybe it was time to step back and let others handle her well-being. "What? Right now?" he asked, surprised by the urgency of her request. "Yes, right now. Grandmother insists. She says you're interfering too much and she needs a break," Ginevra explained. Alessio sighed, realizing he had been too overbearing. His grandmother had survived a serious illness, and he needed to trust the professionals taking care of her. "Alright," he finally agreed. "I'll come to New York. I want to meet Fredrick and make sure this is the right decision for you." Ginevra's excitement bubbled over the line. "Thank you, Alessio! I can't wait for you to meet him. You'll see how perfect we are together." Alessio smiled, hoping that his sister had found true happiness and that his worries would be unfounded. Alessio's mind was filled with conflicting emotions as he hung up the phone. He couldn't believe his sister, Ginevra, was engaged to this German man, Fredrick von Hohenberg, whom he barely knew. The thought of Ginevra leaving her graduate degree behind to pursue a relationship with him was unsettling. He couldn't fathom the idea of paying for her college education only to have her abandon it for someone she had just met.

Resentment and protectiveness surged through him, and he couldn't help but respond with anger. "Fine, Evra!" he yelled, using her nickname. "I want to meet this German Romeo who believes he's adequate for my main sister. If he's unsatisfactory, fail to remember it! You can complete your graduate degree all things being equal. I'm not paying college educational cost to have you moon over some man you barely know."

Ginevra, her voice filled with determination, retorted, "He isn't some man! He is my man, and I know him well overall." Alessio clenched his teeth, struggling to control his anger. He took a few deep breaths, attempting to calm himself. He feared that if he pushed his sister too hard, she might rebel and elope with this man to Vegas.

Realizing the need for a compromise, Alessio softened his tone. "Assuming that you respect him, Evra, I will be glad to meet him."

Ginevra, sounding slightly conciliated, replied, "Fine. Furthermore, I'm completing my certificate, you know. Assuming I take an extra course every semester, I'll have the option to graduate the following spring."

Alessio, still feeling reluctant but trying to be supportive, looked at his schedule on his office projector. "I can fly into New York Wednesday if you think that would work for you," he said, begrudgingly mentioning Fredrick von Hohenberg's name.

"Great! We'll meet for supper Thursday, simply the three of us," Ginevra suggested.

"Extraordinary," Alessio responded with noticeably less enthusiasm. "I anticipate it."

"No, you don't; however, I'm grateful for saying that at the very least," Ginevra remarked, detecting her brother's lack of enthusiasm.

Alessio, unable to resist a bit of banter, replied, "Dishonesty has its place, Evra. I would see the value in a smidgen more undependable bootlicking from you, for instance. 'Gracious, my august sibling, on the off chance that it satisfies you to meet the contemptible example who has requested my petite regal hand in marriage…'"

Ginevra grunted in response. "Assuming you maintained that I should be petite and dishonest, you ought to have left me in Reginaldi after Mom and Dad died."

"You realize I was unable to do that, Piccina Mia," Alessio said, using the endearing term their father had used for her when she wasn't causing a commotion. Some things never change.

"I know, Alessio, and I love you for it," Ginevra acknowledged.

He made a sound as if to speak, struggling to express his emotions. "I love you, as well," he mumbled. Words of affection never came easily for him, even when it came to his beloved sister.

"Ciao, Alessio," Ginevra said, making a kissing sound on the phone before hanging up.

Alessio turned his seat to gaze at the terraced grape plantations beyond his office window. The land was still green and vibrant in the April sun after a wet spring. The mention of spring and young love brought a wry smile to his face. He recalled the romantic atmosphere of New York City in the springtime. Unlike Ginevra and her whirlwind romance, he had never been tempted or compelled to propose to anyone. He had been focused on his education and preparing himself to return to Reginaldi. But now, he found himself returning to New York after such a long time. The idea began to sound more appealing. He hadn't even had a free day in what seemed like forever, with all his actions in Reginaldi being scrutinized and interfered with by his loyal subjects.