My mother sat forward. "Jean Claude, this is enough. You've been with the family for a long time, so I let some things slide. But this... you will not put my sons' lives in danger."

Xander raised his hand. "I just want to note that no one has tried to faux kidnap me in a while. Is everyone too scared?"

Jean Claude pursed his lips. "Your Highness, I am more than happy to send men to faux kidnap you. But we all know that you are unsuitable as an heir for your mother, so you won't be an actual target."

I ground my teeth. I hated the way people casually dismissed him. I hated even more that he didn’t give a fuck. "Let's be clear, Xander is the oldest. I'm just a spare."

I knew Jean Claude didn't like it. And my mother didn't like me fighting with him. But he wasn't going to treat my brother that way, whether or not Xander gave a shit. "Xander is firstborn."

Jean Claude tugged at his jacket. "He may be the eldest, but given his—history—your mother's other advisers and I think it's best that Xander not be a consideration as the heir. He's undesirable.” He slid a glance to Xander along with a shrug that said, sorry, but true.

Xander waved him off. "No skin off my nose. I'd make a terrible ruler anyway. Besides, I'm a photographer. That's my life. That's my vocation. That's my dream. I have everything I want. I don't want to be a prince."

I sat forward then. "I don't want to be a prince either."

Jean Claude threw up his hands then. "You might not have a choice. And we need a viable heir. So, if both of you forfeit your chances, we'll be stuck with your cousin Derrick from the Winston Isles."

I wrinkled my nose at that. I loathed Derrick. "Let him have it. I'm telling you now, I'd make a shitty prince."

My mother slapped her desk. "Everybody be quiet. There's nothing to worry about. My cousin is still sitting on the throne. So tomorrow, we're going to wake up as normal and do the same thing we did today. Live our lives. My grandparents and my mother were consumed with getting back on the throne. I never chose to live that way. I live with the truth in front of me. And the truth is I am not queen, so I'm not going to live my life as if I were. And I should point out to you, Jean Claude, that if I were to become queen by some fluke, both my sons are my heirs, both are eligible. You will follow them because I say so."

Jean Claude sighed. "Fair enough, my lady, but how do we know? It'd be a whole lot easier if they looked and acted the part."