Chapter 3 Unexpected Consequences

Six weeks. After learning the truth about "Gabriel" six weeks prior, Lily returned to Boston and threw herself headfirst into her research. She spent six weeks reminding herself that fairy tales, particularly those about royal deceit, were not real.

From that hotel notecard she couldn't bring herself to discard, she ignored the private email address that occasionally seemed to make fun of her for six weeks.

Now that she was looking at the plastic stick in her shaking hand, she understood that those six weeks had brought about something completely different.

Two lines of pink. It's obvious. Unquestionable.

For the third time, she counted backwards and whispered to her empty bathroom, "This can't be happening." Zurich conference. Three nights with a prince who didn't bother to identify himself as a prince. And now this.

Julia's name flashed on the screen as her phone buzzed on the counter. She left it on voicemail. The laboratory could wait. She needed a moment to regain her equilibrium because the world had just tipped on its axis.

A newborn. With a prince in the crown.

Lily wished the panic away as she pressed her hands to her eyes. She was a scientist with training in methodical problem analysis. She required facts, not feelings.

Firstly, she was expecting.

Secondly, the father was Vallémont's Crown Prince.

Fact three: Other than an email address that might not be legitimate, she had no way to get in touch with him.

Lily forced herself to breathe and splashed her face with cold water. One step at a time. First, get medical confirmation of the pregnancy. After that, choose whether to tell His Royal Highness that he was going to have a child.

Marc slid a folder across the gleaming conference table and said, "Your Highness, the agreement between the eastern provinces is holding." "The separatist movements have been temporarily quieted by the economic concessions."

Gabriel nodded, looking at the paper but not really seeing it. His thoughts continued to stray to auburn hair and difficult questions at the most inconvenient times, even after six weeks in Zurich.

He turned his attention back to the task at hand and asked, "And the Royal Medical Institute funding?"

"As requested, approved. Director Fontaine expresses his appreciation and pledges to make major progress in the study of Valois Syndrome this year.

Gabriel's jaw muscle twitches. With Lily's insightful observations, the research might have advanced more quickly. Even though he had written innumerable emails to the address she had provided on her conference credentials, he had not gotten in touch with her.

How would he respond? I apologize for not mentioning that I am a throne heir. Would you like to talk about royal patronage and enzyme stabilization?

"Your Highness?" His thoughts were interrupted by Marc's worried voice. "The King is not far away."

Gabriel snapped the folder shut. "Obviously."

He had time to gather himself on the walk to his father's private study. As the King's health deteriorated and succession planning became less theoretical, these weekly meetings had become more and more tense. It will be the same today.

Gabriel walked in, pointing to the chair across from him, and King Edward looked up from his desk. "The eastern provinces?"

"Stabilized, for now."

"For the time being." The King's mouth became thinner. "Without ongoing care, nothing in this kingdom remains stable. When wearing the crown, keep that in mind.

Gabriel bowed his head, a gesture he had used since he was a young boy. "The financial incentives"

"Are short-term fixes." Edward waved his hand dismissively. "Tradition is what these people value. Continuity. For six centuries, the Valois family has ruled without interruption. He stared at Gabriel with piercing eyes. "This leads me to the issue of your succession."

The discussion Gabriel had been avoiding since coming back from Zurich was finally here.

"Father" "The family of Lady Camille has asked about your intentions."

The King's eyes were keen, but his voice was informal. "For many generations, the Belcourts have been devoted defenders of the monarchy. Both houses would be strengthened by a union.

Despite his internal resistance, Gabriel kept his face neutral. "I've known Camille since we were young. Nothing more.

"A royal marriage has a fine foundation of friendship." From his desk, Edward took a small portrait of Gabriel's mother in her younger years, her beauty already overshadowed by the illness that would eventually take her life.

"Monarchs can't always afford the luxury of love."

Gabriel's chest twisted with the familiar guilt. His father, who watched helplessly as his mother was gradually taken away by Valois Syndrome, had loved her terribly.

Gabriel's own blood work now contained early markers of that same genetic legacy that might never fully develop into the syndrome or might suddenly activate at any time.

"I understand my responsibilities," Gabriel stated cautiously. "But hurrying into a deal with Camille"

"It's not in any hurry. You've known her for twenty years. The portrait was returned to the King's desk. "By the end of the year, the council anticipates an announcement. Given the unrest in the east, the populace needs assurance that the Valois line will remain in place.

The ancient study's walls appeared to enclose it. Duty had been instilled in Gabriel from birth, so he had always known this day would arrive.

But in Zurich, something had changed. Being just "Gabriel" for three days had sparked a desire for genuineness that he couldn't ignore.

Finally, using unassailable words, he stated, "I need time to consider the best course for Vallémont."

Edward's eyes narrowed as he studied him. "Marc mentioned that the Medical Institute's research budget had caught your attention."

Gabriel maintained a meticulously neutral expression. "Research on Valois Syndrome benefits not just our family but the entire kingdom."

"Yes." The King sounded unconvinced. "A promising American researcher attended the Zurich conference, according to Dr. Fontaine. Someone you suggested working with?"

Gabriel's heartbeat accelerated. Without mentioning Lily by name, he had suggested to Fontaine that they keep an eye on her research. Had Fontaine figured out why he was in Zurich?

"Several researchers presented interesting approaches," he said in a level-headed manner. "International cooperation improves our standing."

Edward started to press, but was cut off by a low knock. With a little bow, the King's assistant came in.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for disturbing you, but the Duchess of Merovia has come to meet with her audience."

Edward gave Gabriel a stern look and nodded. Think about what I said. Stability is necessary for Vallémont. That's what the Belcourt alliance provides.

Appreciative of the reprieve, Gabriel bowed formally. His phone vibrated with an incoming message as he was leaving the study; it was an alert from the private email account he had only shared once.

From: L.james@bostonu.edu

Subject: Immediate Personal Concern

He stumbled. Why now, after six weeks of silence? The timing made him uneasy. Had he already been linked to Lily by his father's intelligence network?

He located a quiet corner and read the message.

I contemplated contacting you at all, but the situation forces me to do so, Gabriel (or, perhaps more accurately, Your Royal Highness). At your earliest convenience, we must have a private

conversation regarding an issue that impacts us both. This has nothing to do with funding or collaboration in research.

The Crown Prince of Vallémont has safe lines of communication, I'm sure. Please give us one so we can have a private conversation about this.

Lily James.

There was urgency beneath the formality of her tone. With scenarios running through his head, Gabriel read the message twice more. Had she been asked about their time together? Was this extortion?

No, Lily had never been opportunistic, but she had struck him with many things.

"Your Highness?" Marcus showed up at his elbow, his face showing concern. "Is everything okay?"

Gabriel's phone's screen was locked. "Please set up a secure video call for me. Maximum privacy protocols at priority level one.

Marc arched an eyebrow, but he knew better than to challenge a clear directive. "Name and location of the other party?"

"Dr. Lily James. Medical Research Division, Boston University." Gabriel put his royal mask back on and straightened his shoulders. "What about Marc? This is still between us. No reports to the King's security detail, no records."

"Your Highness, of course." Marc paused. "Is this a state security issue?"

Gabriel considered Lily's message and the tactfully managed sense of urgency she conveyed. Whatever it was, it was personal and could change someone's life.

"No," he muttered. "However, it might still affect Vallémont's future."

As she paced her tiny apartment, she alternated between looking at her email and the medical records that validated the findings of three tests she had already conducted at home. expecting a child. Her doctor calculated that it would be eight weeks.

She almost dropped her phone when it rang to check the sender of an incoming email.

From: Royal Communications, Secure

Subject: Communication Requested

Only an access code and a link were included in the message, along with the time thirty minutes from now. Her ribs were pounded by her heart. This was taking place. She was going to inform the crown prince that the child born of their three nights of escape was the heir to a throne she knew very little about.

Her finger hovered over the link. She could still walk away, handle this alone as she'd handled every other challenge in her life. But the child deserved to know its father, regardless of crowns and castles. And Gabriel deserved to know he was going to be a father, whatever he chose to do with that information.

With a deep breath, Lily clicked the link and entered the code. A loading screen appeared, counting down the minutes until her world would change irrevocably.

Again.