Jorien scowled at the newspaper's headline boasting of his brother's return with his beautiful fiancée and a tasteful picture of them kissing in an empty art gallery plastered across the front page.

"It's so nice to see Hendrik in the newspaper without it being a scandal for once."

Jorien rolled his eyes. "I'm sure that'll change. It always does and Hendrik can't help himself." He scoffed. "Frankly, I don't understand why he's even coming back."

"Well I'm sure Adrie would like her brother to be at her wedding and wouldn't you like him to be at your coronation?"

Jorien grit his teeth. "I don't know. Am I having a coronation, mother? There's been an awful amount of talk in the council about father getting cold feet because of those ridiculous rumors about me."

"Oh, don't listen to them," his mother said, waving him off. "Your coronation is going to go ahead as planned. Your father isn't getting cold feet. He's just happy Hendrik has gotten his life together and he's coming home. If you're so worried, why don't you talk to your father about it?"

"I have, but it always ends in an argument. He doesn't understand my vision for Oost den Burg and that's why I think he's begged Hendrik to come home with his made up fiancée," Jorien said, folding the newspaper. "It's like this woman has appeared in his life out of thin air."

"Mm, or maybe Hendrik has finally learned his lesson and he's being more private about his relationship." His mother shrugged. "And there's nothing wrong with your vision for this country, you just want to make it more profitable for the people. Your father will come to understand that. He's been king for a long time and having you take his place with your big new ideas is scary for him."

"If I was his precious Hendrik, I bet he wouldn't be so afraid of giving me the crown."

"Stop that." His mother huffed, slamming her tea cup on the table. "You were raised to be your father's successor. He chose you over Hendrik because he saw greatness in you, Jorien and Hendrik isn't coming home to take that from you. You know he's never wanted to be king. He barely likes being a prince." His mother laughed. "So get those thoughts out of your head, my love."

Jorien smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right, mother," he said, getting up from the table to kiss her cheek. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, dear," she said, patting his cheek. "Thank you for coming to have breakfast with me, but shouldn't you and Gesina be preparing for that interview about the new children's centre she's opening?"

"Yes, I told Gesi I'd meet her and the children there," he said, checking his watch. "I just hope the interview isn't overshadowed by Hendrik and his fiancée arriving today."

"Don't let it bother you if you're asked some questions about them," his mother said, straightening his tie. "Just be cordial and say that you'll be meeting Miss Jefferies this evening for a family dinner."

"I will." Jorien chuckled. "This is going to be some family dinner. The last time we were all together like this we were telling Hendrik to leave and now we have to pretend that never happened because father is proud of him again."

"I'm proud of him too and no one's asking you to pretend it didn't happen, but just be nice. I don't think he's staying any longer than for the wedding and the coronation," she said, nudging his shoulder. "Now, go on and remind the people why you're going to be the next king of Oost den Burg."

"I will," he said, kissing her cheek before he left his mother's private sitting room. He tugged his phone from his pocket to check his messages and a smile curled over his lips.

S.E. >> Sven has agreed to my terms and Don X is pleased with your choice of a children's center as a cover up. My father has lined up a few more buyers signing up to your deal. Everything is going to plan. <<

Jorien >> Wonderful. Keep me informed of your plans. <<

S.E. >> Of course, my king. <<

Jorien tucked his phone back in his pocket as he took the stairs to the foyer of the palace. He didn't care what his mother said about Hendrik. He'd make sure his brother wouldn't be here long enough to get wind of his plans for the country or give him any time to stop him from making this country the main arms dealer for the world and a powerhouse for the rich.

Cameras flashed and clicked around Maia and Mateo as they walked down the steps of the plane to the waiting black sedan. Maia gripped Mateo's hand for dear life as their guards made a barrier between them and the reporters poking their phones at them and asking for comments and statements about the rumors that Prince Jorien sabotaged Mateo, how long they've been together, when they plan to wed and if Maia was aware of Mateo's many sordid affairs.

No matter how many times she'd dealt with the press for her sold out book signings or walking the red carpet for a few of Sven's minor movie premieres, she still felt the rising anxiety of being in the spotlight. She didn't hate it, but she didn't love it either.

"Direct any questions to me!" Floris, Mateo's blonde, steely eyed PR manager shouted about the gathering. "I've already warned all of you about asking any direct questions to Prince Hendrik and Miss Jefferies."

"I'm sorry about this," Mateo whispered, kissing her head as he helped her into the car.

"It's okay," she said, taking a deep breath as he slid in the car and closed the door. "You warned me it would be like this when we got here. I'm alright. I'll get used to it."

"You got this, Maia," Demetri said, helping himself to a small bottle of wine from the center console. "Just treat it like one of your book signings."

"It won't always be like that and you'll never be expected to respond to them. Floris will stay behind and handle the reporters," Mateo said, reaching for the silver case in the console before wrapping his arm around her shoulders and offering her a joint. "Right now, we can just relax."

"Yeah, until we have dinner with your family tonight," Maia said, taking a joint and lighting it with the zippo in the case. "I'm so nervous to meet your family."

"Don't be," Mateo said, chuckling. "They're going to love you. Eline and my father already do and their opinions matter the most to me."

"Well, that's comforting," she said, leaning against his side as she took a puff of the joint to calm her nerves. A smile tugged at her lips as the car drove away from the airport through a hamlet of stone houses dotted along the coast.

"This is Alkzee. It's one of the smallest villages in Oost den Burg, but the fishing port supplies nearly all of the seafood for the capital," Mateo said as the car curved around a bend away from the sea and drove over a wide stone bridge proudly displaying the Oost den Burg royal seal on the orange and blue flags.

"Oh wow," Maia said as they passed under the arch of the bridge with 'Koningstad' carved into the stone that stood as a gate into the city filled with smaller canals and bridges.

Tall multi-colored row houses and shops lined the streets that led to an expansive white stone palace as the pinnacle and the backdrop of the city.

"Dear lord, is that where you live?" Demetri said as he gazed out of the car window with his eyes as wide as saucers.

"No, I haven't lived there since I was a child," Mateo said as the car traveled along the outside of the city along the river. "My parents live in the main palace with Eline, Jorien and his family. Adrie lives in the palace of Ingdorp a few miles away from here and I live in Vijverwoud manor."

The view of the city and the opulent palace was shrouded by a blooming forest as the car turned off the main road to a smaller tree lined path. A smile tugged at Maia's lips as she gazed at the horses grazing in the flowering meadow, a few drinking from the pond glittering in the afternoon sun.

"I'm going to love writing here," she murmured as a wood and stone manor appeared behind the covering of trees and lush meadows around it. Her smile grew even wider as she looked back at Mateo. "Vijverwoud manor is like something out of a fairytale."

"It is." Mateo chuckled. "My mother loved folktales and walking on the trails beyond the palace, so my father built this house for her as a gift before I was born."

"That's so beautiful," Maia said as the car rolled around the gravel driveway and parked in front of the steps leading to the wide wooden door to the manor. "Your father must've really loved your mother to build this for her."

"He did." Mateo smiled. "She was his first love," he said, holding out his hand to her. "Let me give you a tour and we can settle in for a little while before we have dinner at the main palace."

"That sounds nice," she said, slipping her hand in his as they got out of the car just as the doors of the manor burst open and an elderly man and woman with graying brown and black hair stood at the entrance with bright smiles on their faces.

"Prince Hendrik! Welcome home!" The graying brunette greeted.

"Thank you, Tilda," he said, turning to Maia. "Maia, this is Tilda and Gunther. They look after the manor and the grounds."

"It's lovely to meet you, Miss Jefferies," Tilda said, walking down the steps to take her hands. "Welcome to Vijverwoud. We hope you like it here."

"Thank you, Tilda," Maia said, squeezing her hands. "I'm sure I will."

"I've made sure all the seating areas and lookouts have been cleaned up for you, Miss Jefferies," Gunther said, bowing his head to her. "His Highness said you might like to write out here like our late Queen Vera."

"Thank you, Gunther. I'm sure I'll find plenty of places to write out here."

"Well, I'm sure Prince Hendrik would like to show you around and get yourselves settled," Tilda said before she turned her gaze to Demetri. "Mr. Vinke, why don't you come with me and Gunther. We'll show you the guest house and workspace we've prepared for you."

"Oh, a whole guest house just for me. I'm honored," Demetri said, grinning. "Lead the way Miss Tilda."

Maia thread her fingers through Mateo's as they walked up the steps to the manor. "You never told me your mother was a writer."

"She was never published like you," he said, bringing her hand to his lips. "She wrote poetry and I have a few of her journals you can read, if you want."

"I'd love that," she said, looking around the bright foyer full of landscaped paintings on the walls and leafy green plants. "I love it here too. It's not exuberant and stuffy like I thought it would be."

"I told you, I live fairly common for a member of the royal family. I don't have a lot of staff like my parents or my siblings. Tilda, Gunther and my guards are the only ones who live here."

"So, no cooks or maids to wait on your every need?"

"Nope. I left that life behind in the palace. Tilda and Gunther came with me, but only because they promised my mother they'd always look after me," he said, chuckling as their guards brought her bags and trunks of clothes inside. "Honestly, Tilda and Gunther look after this place because they refuse to retire, but I took care of everything here before I left."

"Why didn't you just hide out here?" she said as Mateo led her through his home. "It seems like it's far away from everything and everyone."

"It is and I could've," he said as he took her through the living room. "This manor has always been a sanctuary to me."

"I can see why," she breathed, taking in the floor to ceiling shelves of books encasing the windows and a white marble fireplace. Sunlight filled the space from the big bay window overlooking the immaculate gardens that rolled seamlessly into the woodland forest beyond it. "I could sit here all day," she said, letting go of his hand as she slipped into the curved cushioned seat by the window."

"I have on a few occasions," Mateo said, chuckling as he sat beside her. "The reason I couldn't stay here after everything happened with Saskia is because it started to feel like a cage." He rested his head on his hand as he gazed out the window. "And I didn't want this place to feel like the palace."

"I get that." Maia said, sliding her hand over his. "If you stayed, you would've been forced to live in isolation out here. At least in Colorado you had the freedom to do what you wanted, but how do you feel now? Are you happy to be home?"

Mateo looked over at her and the warmth and tenderness swirling in his depths made her heart thump. "The thought of coming home hadn't crossed my mind until we started our fake relationship."

"Why?" Maia frowned. "What about our situation made you want to come home? I thought you liked being in the Butte."

"I do and I wanted to come home because of you," he said, sliding his hand to her cheek. "I'm happy I'm here because you're with me and I wanted to share this and everything I have with you."

Maia shook her head. "You really shouldn't say things like that."

"Why not? It's true."

She slid her arms around his shoulders. "Yes, but you're going to lure me in with these Prince Charming gestures of yours," she said, pressing her forehead against his. "And I'm going to expect this kind of treatment all the time, sir."

"You say that as if it'll become a chore for me to treat you like this," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her nose. "It won't and you should always expect this, liefje."

It always amazed her when he spoke like this that there was never any creeping doubt in his eyes, he never looked away from her as if he was lying and he never gave her a reason to believe that he was.

A comforting warmth filled her up as she kissed him softly. "I will," she whispered against his lips. "And I'm happy I'm here with you too."

"That's good," he said, kissing the side of her mouth. "But you haven't seen everything yet."

"Then show me, lekker ding," she said, pulling away from him with a grin curling over her lips. "I want to see all the places I can write." She leaned into his ear. "And where you hide your desires."

"Mm, let's start with your writing rooms, mijn prinses," Mateo said, squeezing her ass. "Then I'll show you all the places I want to have you."

Maia bit her lip as a delightful shiver ran down her spine. "Before dinner, I hope."

Mateo chuckled, pulling away from her. "You're insatiable," he said, standing up and taking her with him. "But yes, mijn prinses." He kissed the skin below her ear sending another shiver down her spine. "Definitely, before dinner."

A/N: So I have a feeling Jorien's mother has no idea the kind of things he's up to and it's concerning that she's not aware that Mateo is planning to stop Jorien from taking the crown....this family dinner is going to be prettty interesting.

I think it's sad and a little messed up that Maia keeps checking to see if Mateo is going to change or if the way he's treating her is going to ware off at some point. I know it's because of what she's been through, but I hope he stays true to his word....

At least we're in Oost de Burg now *grins devilishly* I think things are going to get a little messy 😈 Not too much though...we gotta have that happy ending 😇🥰