“No, no. Of course not.” Hannah gave me a weak smile, then squeezed my hand. “I’ll be fine, Luc. You worry too much.”
Given the way she’d practically had a panic attack not even five minutes ago, I’d disagree, but Hannah had left the room before I could come up with a plausible excuse to accompanyher. I turned back to my family with an aggravated sigh.
“Really, Lucien?” Bastien asked with one eyebrow raised. “I give you one week off from your duties, and you cause a scandal.”
“One, that was no vacation. I had meetings—”
“Most of which you canceled.” Bastien cut in.
“I took the important ones, but I wasn’t going to spend all my time glad-handing every person who maybe wanted to do businesswith Monaco. And two, what scandal? All the news reports I’ve seen have been more than favorable. Because Hannah is an amazing woman. If you spend just the smallest amount of time with her, you’ll see what a remarkable person she is. Everyone who meets her loves her.”
“Including you?” Bastien scoffed. “You’ve only known her a week. A week, Luc! It’s insane, and totally unbecoming for a memberof the House of Greiner. Are you trying to punish me? Is that what this is? I tell you that you need to start considering a union with a woman from an acceptable family, and instead you bring home the first female who runs across your path!”
“Hannah isn’t some random woman I met. She is an amazing person who makes me want to be a better man. She is more worthy than any European princess you couldput in front of me.”
“Make no mistake, you will never get my approval with such a union. At least innotre Grand-père’s case he married someone with a little class. Not a little nobody who cuts hair for a living. I will never accept someone like her into our family, and I’ll remind you that you need my approval if you ever hope to marry her.”
“I see. I guess you need to get busy making yourheir, because it won’t be me for much longer.”
“Lucien, don’t be ridiculous. You can’t—”
“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT!” I roared. “You have made your position crystal clear. It’s nice to know where I stand. And it sure as hell isn’t with you. I am so very happy Julien isn’t alive to hear that little speech. He would be ashamed of you.”
“If Julien was alive I wouldn’t need to make it! You wouldn’tbe here.”
That arrow pierced deep, and I almost doubled over from the pain. I’d often wondered over the past year if my family had wished it’d been me and not Julien who’d disappeared that night withmon Père. Now I had my answer.
Bastien ran a frustrated hand through his hair, then turned to our mum. “Talk some sense into him. I’m going to be late for my breakfast with the Councillor of Finance.”
I shook my head. He was so full of bullshit. “I’ll tell you this. If it comes down to her or this dysfunctional mess, it won’t be a difficult choice.”
Bastien stopped in the doorway and turned back to me. “Do not make threats you’re unable to keep.”
Once he was gone, I turned to my mum, but I didn’t find the teary-eyed parent I’d known over the past year. Mum had her hands clasped in front ofher and gave me the softest look I’d seen from her in months.
“I will do what I can with Bastien for you and Hannah.”
I stared at her in confusion for a few moments. It was hard to change gears from my ugly fight with Bastien, and honestly this was the last thing I’d expected from my mum. Where was the lecture about common blood and diluting the royal lineage? “I, uh, what? What am I missing?You’re on our side?”
“There are no sides, Luc. I love both of you. Equally. If anything I am on the side of making sure the sons I have left are happy and healthy.” She sighed and shook her head. “I did everything that was expected of me—the dynastic royal marriage, I gave my husband an heir and two spares—and I was miserable. Everyone was miserable. It’s a horrible way to live your life, andnow I can see Bastien going down that same path. I don’t want that for my children. I want you to find your happiness, be with the person you love, and build a life with them. So, if your cute American hairdresser is that woman, then I approve.”
I stood there, my eyes burning. This was the woman who loved me unconditionally growing up. The one who chased us through the Mirror Gallery. The onewho kissed our scraped knees. The one who stood strong despite the ugly words in the media. She would always be the woman I had loved first.
And I was so fucking happy to have her back. “Thank you, Mum.” I pulled her into my arms and held her, much like she did with me when I was little.
“I’ve already lost one son. I couldn’t bear it if I lost another. I’ll talk to Bastien, but whatever happens,I want you to know that I support you. I want whatyouwant.” Her words were muffled by my shirt and I suspected by more than a few tears. “I’m so sorry for the way I’ve treated you over the last year. It was just so hard seeing Julien’s face in yours. I miss him. I miss him so much.” Her shoulders heaved with the sobs that she couldn’t hold back.
“I miss him, too.” My burning eyes had becometears streaming down my face. It hurt so much to hear my mum’s sobs. But it was also cathartic. We needed this. Mourning him together made it feel like I wasn’t alone. Like I had for months.
“I don’t wish it was you. Ineverwished it was you. And Bastien doesn’t, either. You must know that. I just wish it hadn’t been him. Julien had so much more life to live. It’s not fair.”
“I know, Mum.I know.”
We stood there holding each other until my mum’s sobs subsided. She took a step back and dabbed at her eyes with my handkerchief. “I’m sorry, Lucien. I hope we can spend more time together now that you’re back. I’ve missed you. And I want to get to know Hannah as well.”
“I’d like that, Mum. Hannah is an extraordinary woman, and she makes me feel alive for the first time since Juliendied. So thank you for giving her a chance.”
“For you, Luc, I will. And I’ll work on Bastien, too. I want both of my sons to be happy.”
“Thank you.” I bent down and kissed her cheek.
She patted the side of my face affectionately. “I love you, Lucien.”
“Love you, too, Mum.”
