A Muse Her

Chapter 37

"No he can't and I wouldn't want you to."

"Maia," Mateo said, standing from his chair as she shuffled across the room to him. "I wouldn't decide anything without speaking to you, liefje."

"I know, but there's nothing to talk about," she said, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "We're doing this. I just need you to explain what I've missed while I was dead to the world."

"I can do that," he said, sitting down with her over his lap.

"And I should probably let you two talk this out," Eline said, chuckling softly as she stood.

"No, I think you should stay," Maia said, opening the silver case of blunts on the desk and taking one out. "You might think otherwise Mateo, but I think it's time you include Eline in this. This is her home too and it seems to me she cares about the people just as much as you do."

"I do." Eline nodded. "But traditionally things like this have always been dealt with by the kings and princes in our family."

"That's true and as much as I'd like to keep you both out of this," Mateo said, holding up a lighter for Maia. "Maybe it's time to do things differently."

Jorien roared with laughter in the company of Gesina, his loyalists and Saskia while they had a conference call with Arnaud Haro. "My brother is an absolute moron." He laughed, wiping his tears. "He thinks I'm being coerced or manipulated into this new vision for Oost den Burg as if I wasn't the mastermind behind this."

"Ah, but isn't that what I told you they'd think?" Arnaud said, chuckling as he smoked on a cigar on the screen. "You're far more capable to lead this country than your father and Prince Hendrik."

"I am." Jorien nodded. "But that rumor is ruining my approval with the people."

"Oh who cares about them, darling," Gesina said, sliding her hand over his thigh. "They were on your side when you got rid of Hendrik the first time."

"And they will be again when you capitalize on their sympathy," Saskia said, grinning. "You'll be able to do whatever you like once that happens."

"Precisely, Your Highness," one his loyalist said as he slid a document across the table to him. "And once he's gone your father will have no one left to stop you from reaping the benefits of this union with the conglomerate."

"What's this, Bram?" Jorien said, scanning the document.

"The plans for the memorial after this weekend."

Jorien's heart clenched. "This weekend? But that's so soon."

"Yes dear, the faster we get rid of him and there's less of a chance the people's approval of him will surpass yours," Gesina said, holding up her phone to him. "Especially since they seem to adore his fake engagement with Maia."

Jorien scowled at the charming picture of Hendrik and Maia leaving the library together with the favorable headline insisting the couple were deeply in love.

Arnaud relit his cigar and smirked. "You don't want the tides to turn in his favor and have the Burgonians calling for his ascension to the throne, do you?"

Jorien looked up at the screen at Arnaud's disapproving gaze and shook his head. "No I don't," Jorien said, turning to Saskia. "I trust you have this under control and there won't be any leaks from a certain actor?"

"Of course not," Saskia scoffed. "Sven is on a very tight leash and our people are ready once you give the go ahead."

"Good," Jorien said, threading his fingers through Gesina's. "I don't want any of this traced back to me or Gesina."

"It won't because you have no idea what we're going to do to them," Saskia said, taking a drink of her tea. "None of us do, besides my father's men."

"And that's to protect you all for the next phase of this operation," Arnaud said. "If you're ready Prince Jorien, I'll let them know it's time."

Jorien nodded, squeezing Gesina's hand. "I'm ready."

A/N: 🤨Pretty sure Jorien is being manipulated, but yeah alright. And Eline! good for her for starting that rumor! I mean, sort of. Mateo wouldn't have been called home if she didn't, but then none of this mess with the country would've come to light...and I'm really concerned about this deadly plan for Mateo 😬 But let the drama and the action ensue, ya'll 😈