“You just suggested that you could change the law for your personal benefit,” Magdalena said, with a smirk. “Do you understand how serious a crime that is? It's a total scandal. So please, play nice. Because if you don't, then the citizens of Orsino Island will learn that Prince Marco is trying to change the laws for his own gain.”
“Are you blackmailing me?” he asked, stepping toward her.
“Call it what you like,” she said. “It matters not.”
She stood on the throne dias and stared down at him.
“The court is in my pocket, Marco,” she told him. “While you were away playing with your little American friend, I was here. I will always be here and there is nothing you can do about it.”
He was outraged, and suddenly it all boiled over for him. He was done getting pushed around.
“Magdalena, you've gone too far now,” he said, slowly walking toward her. “I wasn't going to do this, but you've left me no choice.”
“Do what?” she asked, crossing her arms. “There is nothing you can do. I am more politically powerful than you.”
“Leave my relationship with Sabrina alone, or else the entire population of the Island will find out about your affair with Alanso, ” Marco said, with revenge in his eyes.
“You have no proof,” Magdalena said, trying to call his bluff.
But he wasn't bluffing. In fact, Marco had never been so serious in his life. He'd known about her affair, just like everybody else in the Palace knew about it. It had been made very clear to him, though, that he mustn't ever let the information get released to the public. The last thing the citizens needed to hear was about a sex scandal happening within their own government. It could be the beginning of the end of the monarchy. Even Carlo had pushed the fact that it could never get found out about. But now, this little bit of information became Marco's biggest strength.
“I'm not joking with you, Magdalena,” he said. “One more attempt at ruining my relationship and I'll be the one calling every journalist on this entire Island to give them the full story. I'm sure they'll love to post a story about the queen's affair. The newspapers will sell like hotcakes and your face will be plastered all over them.”
She stood silently and for a fleeting moment, Marco could have sworn that he saw the expression of defeat on her face.
“I think it would behoove you to keep those secrets to yourself,” she said, quietly. “I will ruin you.”
“With what? The fact that I want to get an antiquated law changed to marry the woman I love?” Marco scoffed. “Who will the public prefer, the woman who cheats on their beloved king or a prince who fights for love?”
“You have no proof,” Magdalena repeated, but the strength wasn't in her voice this time.
Marco pulled up his phone and began opening up a phone app. “You have been far less than discrete while I was away,” he told her. He held up his screen. “Do you think I don't have my own allies to run the country? I am not as naive as you seem to think, Magdalena. I do have proof.”
On his phone was a picture of her kissing someone who was clearly not the King in one of the castle hallways.
“I have more, Magdalena,” he told her. “Just because I was in America doesn't mean I wasn't securing my political position here. Your ruthlessness has made you many enemies. So yes, you have power in the court, but then so do I.”
“You can't do this to me,” Magdaglena sputtered. “You can't!”
“I can and I will,” Marco told her coldly. “Until now, I was content to ignore you for Papa's sake. I will not ignore you at the cost of Sabrina. You will leave her be.”
Magdalena's mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“I think it would behoove you to mind your own business and stay as far removed from my life as possible. If I hear so much of a breath that Sabrina is only after my crown from anyone connected to you, I will release these photos,” he replied, before turning his back to her. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have to find my fiancée.”
With that, Marco spun around and walked toward the door. Magdalena began to say something, but he didn't even bother listening. He just pushed through the door and left her to herself. He was breathing hard, adrenaline still fresh in his veins. But he felt somehow refreshed. Alive. He'd just stood up to his stepmother, the queen of a country, and in a big way.
Now, I just have to find the love of my life and tell her that I love her. I just hope she can find it in her heart to forgive me.
Chapter 22
Sabrina
Sabrina had taken Faye's cell phone and stepped into the other room of the motel to make her call. She knew Marco's personal number by memory and she dialed quickly. She couldn't wait to finally hear his voice again and looked forward to clearing things up.
It only rang once, before Marco picked up on the other end.
“Hello?” he said, his voice instantly putting a smile on Sabrina's face. “Who's this?”