PRINCE CHARMING: A Stepbrother Secret Baby Romance(42)

Quincy laughed. When he saw the exhaustion in Lamont’s eyes, his laughter trailed off. “You’re serious? I’ve hardly done anything wrong! Why am I not fit to rule?”

“You spend more time at nightclubs than you do anywhere else in this city, Quin, including Parliament where you are supposed to sit at my side. Every time they meet,” his father said, his words growing louder with each one, “you have let me down time and again by not showing me you want to be a prince. That you want to be king!”

“I do want to be king,” Quincy argued. “Of course I do.”

“You have missed your chance to impress anyone, I’m afraid, and the Pentacrafts have seen their opening. They are pushing for Gigi to become the heir when I retire. Based on their wealth and influence at the moment, if you cannot show to me and the people that you can handle being king, you will lose your crown.”

Quincy’s legs went numb, and he sat down quickly before he fell. “Why didn’t you tell me this? Why keep it from me? I’ve been trying, I have.”

“I know,” Lamont sighed as he sat by his son. “They gave you leniency because of your mother’s passing, but now they want to look at you and see a future king, not a party boy.”

“And they think Gigi will be a better ruler?”

“She comes from a long line of loyal and dutiful parliament members. Her family’s wealth is vast and would add to that of the kingdom’s treasury. Not to mention her father’s contacts with several major nations.” Lamont patted Quincy on the back, making his son look at him. “This is why I want you to marry her. If you do, their claim goes away. She will be queen, yes, but you will be king. You will still be able to rule for me instead of being pushed to the side.”

Quincy didn’t want to hear any of it. Gigi was not the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Olivia was, but now he was trapped by his duty to his kingdom and his father.

Lamont stood and straightened his jacket. “I’m afraid Parliament has also put a time limit on you finding a proper wife.”

“How long?”

“One month after I wed Melinda. I’m sorry, Son, but being royalty is never easy. Your mother and I were an arranged marriage, and look how we turned out.”

Quincy nodded. He knew his parents had found love, but Quincy loving Gigi?

“Come,” Lamont said, thankfully interrupting Quincy’s thoughts. “We should return to the ball.”

Together, they walked back to the ballroom, Lamont putting a smile on his face, but Quincy wasn’t there yet. All he saw was Olivia vanishing from his life forever, being replaced by a woman he loathed.

***

Olivia watched the door, waiting for Quincy’s return and hoping everything was fine. He’d looked upset, but whatever bothered him, he hadn’t spoken to her about it. Not that they did much talking last night. She remembered how many times her body had shattered at his touch when someone cleared a throat beside her.

“Oh, Edric… How nice to see you again,” Olivia smiled.

Edric bowed his head and reached for her hand. “Princess Olivia, you look magnificent, as always,” he said and kissed her hand gently. “My sister says the two of you had quite a good time a few days ago.”

“Yes, Cheree and I are getting along great. She’s a lot of fun, your sister.”

“She says the same about you.”

Olivia had found a good friend in Cheree over the weeks, and Edric was always a gentleman. He was polite and funny, but she only ever saw him at dinners and balls. There never was a chance to have a conversation with the man, but he was one hell of a dancer. She looked again for Quincy and frowned when she didn’t see him.

“Would you care for a dance?” he asked.

She smiled and held out her hand to his again. “I’d love to.” Mentally, she rolled her eyes. He was nice, but she knew what he hoped to find in her every time they met. He was falling for her, but she had already given her heart to another.

Edric twirled her around the dance floor, and she couldn’t help but have a good time, hoping he didn’t take it the wrong way and increase his flirting. On one of the spins outwards, she caught a glimpse of Quincy and the look on his face made her laugh before she quickly covered it up. His eyes glinted with desire at her, but his hands were curled into fists at his side. He was jealous of Edric. As long as he remembered himself and didn’t cause a scene, they’d be fine.

When the dance ended, Olivia paused to catch her breath and saw Quincy take Gigi out to the dance floor.

“Prince Quincy,” Edric said as he approached, “good to see you this evening. Lady Gigi.”

“Edric, always a pleasure,” Quincy said, but his tone was off, and Olivia buried a smile behind her hand as he turned to her. “Olivia.”

She bowed her head to him. The music started, and Edric took Olivia’s hand again while Quincy got ready to dance with Gigi. Edric gracefully guided Olivia across the dance floor, but as she watched, everyone stopped and shifted dance partners. Quincy took Edric’s place and bowed to her, motioning for her to curtsey back to him. He took her hand and wrapped his other around her waist before they set off around again.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“With Edric? He’s quite the gentleman.”