Forbidde to Love You

Chapter Twenty-six- Engagements

Serena found Alexander in one of the palace's quieter corridors, leaning against the stone wall with his arms crossed. She walked straight toward him.

"Help me."

Alexander's eyebrow rose. "That bad?"

"You have no idea."

His mouth curved into an amused smile. "Not a fan of the prince, I take it?"

Serena stared at him. "You already know?"

"Know what?"

"That it's done."

Alexander straightened slightly. "What's done?"

"I'm apparently engaged."

There was a beat of silence. Then Alexander laughed. Serena's eyes widened.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because you're saying that as though someone has announced your execution."

"How else am I supposed to react? Apparently, I am going to marry a prince."

Serena threw her hands up. "How can I be engaged without even being asked? And worse, without even a ring?"

Alexander burst out laughing again.

Serena glared at him. "This is not funny."

"It is a little funny."

"Alex!"

He tried to compose himself. "Relax. Father hasn't agreed."

Serena exhaled.

"Yet," Alexander added.

Her eyes narrowed. "That is not reassuring."

"He won't agree without speaking to you."

Serena paced a few steps. "I came here thinking I was going to have tea with the Queen."

"You did."

"I thought perhaps she wanted to discuss court."

"She did."

"Instead, she told me I was going to marry Lucien."

Alexander looked confused. "You mean Adrian. Already forgetting your husband's name?"

Serena stopped. "What?"

"You know. The future king."

"I mean Lucien. The Queen said I'm too ugly for her crown. Or something like that."

Alexander's expression changed. "She said what?"

"Not exactly those words. But that was the general idea."

Alexander shook his head slowly. "That's not what the King said, though."

Serena stared at him. "What did the King say?"

"That's not the point."

"It is very much the point."

Alexander looked at her for a moment, clearly realizing that they had been discussing two completely different conversations.

Serena groaned. "This cannot be happening right now."

Neither of them noticed the approaching figure until James appeared around the corner. Serena was standing in the middle of the corridor, visibly distressed, while Alexander looked as though he had just discovered the most entertaining secret of his life.

James frowned. "What exactly am I interrupting?"

Neither sibling answered.

James looked between them. "Serena?"

She turned toward him.

"Father, I am engaged to two men!"

James stared at her. Alexander's eyes widened. For once, even he had no immediate response.

James slowly looked at his son. "Two?"

Alexander cleared his throat. "That's... apparently what we're trying to figure out."