His father nodded. “I’ve already been investigating behind the scenes. Because of the enormity of this tragedy and their eagerness to see a marriage between our two countries happen, my advisors have informed me the parliament will reinstate you immediately.”
Stefano couldn’t believe it. “Even if it were possible, you’re not seriously asking me to marry Princess Lanza, are you? I haven’t been around her since she was a young girl. And I’m seven years older than she is.”
“That’s not a great age difference.”
Stefano tried to calm down. “Alberto was the one who was attracted to her. I can’t do this, Papà. Right now I’m doing everything in my power to develop more lucrative gold mines and invest the revenues to help our country grow richer. We don’t need the timber from Domodossola!”
His father shook his head. “What I’m asking goes a great deal deeper than cementing fortunes. Victor and I have had this dream of uniting our two families in marriage since the moment we both became parents of future kings and queens.”
“But it’s not my dream, Papà, and never could be,” Stefano said, attempting to control his anger. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do what you ask.”
“Not even to honor your brother?”
He hadn’t realized his mother had come into the lounge wearing her dressing gown. The edge in her tone caught him off guard. “What do you mean, Mamà?”
“This has to do with keeping faith with a sacred pledge your brother made to Princess Lanza a year ago. She’s been groomed to become Alberto’s bride. For the past year her life has been put on hold because she wears our family betrothal ring. All this time she’s been faithful to their pledge, preparing for their wedding day.”
Stefano shook his head. “No one could have imagined this crisis. It changes all the rules.”
“Except for one thing your father and I have never told you about because we didn’t think we would have to.”
Fearing what he’d hear, Stefano’s heart jolted in his chest. “What do you mean?”
“On the morning you turned eighteen, your brother came to us in secret. He wanted to give you a gift he knew you wanted more than anything on earth.”
His brows furrowed. “What was that?”
“What else? Your freedom.”
“I don’t understand, Mamà.”
“Then let me explain. You never wanted to be a royal. You made it clear from the time you were old enough to express your feelings. Alberto adored and worshipped you. By the time you turned eighteen, he was afraid you’d never be happy. He literally begged us to let you live a life free of royal duty.
“He loved you so much, he promised that he would fulfill all the things we would have asked of you as a royal prince who would rule one day so you could have the freedom to live life without the royal trappings. That was the bargain he made with us.”
“A bargain? That’s why you suddenly gave in to me?”
His father nodded solemnly. “The only reason, figlio mio. You two were so close, he put you before his own wants or desires. He convinced us you had to be able to go out in the world free to be your own person. Otherwise you’d die like an animal kept in a cage.”
Alberto had actually told them that?
“All he asked was that we agree. Then he would do everything and more than we expected of him as a crown prince, and...he consented to become betrothed to Princess Lanza on whatever date we chose. He knew how much we loved her growing up. She was always a delight. In truth, he wanted his elder brother’s happiness above all else, and made that request of us out of pure love.”
Stefano stood there rigid as a piece of petrified wood. His parents had never lied to him. He had to believe them now. Because of his brother’s love and intervention—and not because of his parents’ understanding—Stefano had been able to escape the world he’d been born into all this time.
His mother walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. It pained him to see the lines of grief carved in her features.
“His only desire was that you never know how he pled for you. He worried that if you ever found out the truth, you would always feel beholden to him. That request was his unselfish gift to you.”
Unselfish didn’t begin to describe what Alberto had done to ensure his happiness.
In Stefano’s mind and heart, it was an unheard-of gift. He’d always loved his younger brother, his buddy in childhood. Alberto’s noble character made him beloved and elevated him above the ranks of ordinary people. Many times he’d heard people say that the good ones died young. His brother was the best of the best, and death had snatched him away prematurely.
Overcome with emotions assailing him, Stefano wrapped his arms around his mother until he could get a grip on them, then he let her go. He was amazed his parents had so much love for their sons that they’d gone along with both his and Alberto’s wishes at the time. It was humbling and gave him new perspective.
Her eyes clung to his. “Would you be willing to do what Alberto can’t do now? Take on the royal duty you were born to and marry Princess Lanza?”
He inhaled sharply. “Do you think she would consent when she’d planned to marry Alberto?”