Page 50 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

Heads of State from most European countries were in attendance as was the President of the United States.

Alexander and his sisters walked behind the coffin to the palace chapel, where he was laid to rest.

Gregory was aware of the fact that his father was gone, but didn’t really understand the concept of death. At six, he was too young. He’d never lost anyone before.

Reina and the children had a private service where they could grieve, hug each other and to shed tears without the media covering every move they made.

Three days after the funeral, Alexander Gregor Fedorov was crowned as King Alexander I of Batrovia.

His first official act was the annulment of his mother’s marriage to Nicolai.

* * *

Three weeksafter Michele left Batrovia

Alex’s office

Alex was almost done with his plans. His mother would have all the power to rule as she saw fit.

“Alex.”

“Yes, Mother?” He continued perusing the contract on his desk.

She snapped her fingers. “Pay attention to your mother.”

He put down the contract and smiled. “Yes, Mother. What can I do for you?”

“Are you sure this is really what you want? Is Michele really the one for you?”

As he thought of the woman he loved, he felt his body relax. “Yes, Mother. She’s the one. The only one. If she won’t marry me, then I’ll be alone. Gregory can carry on the Fedorov line because I will never marry if not to her.”

Reina broke into a brilliant smile. “That’s what I needed to hear. Above all else, I want you to be happy. I know you made her keep the engagement ring. I think this is a good thing, and she hasn’t sent it back, which is also a good thing.”

Hope made the butterflies in his stomach start to fly. “She loves me, Mother. And I love her and Erin. I miss them both more than I can say. If I need to woo her again, I will. I will do whatever she wants me to do, as long as she will marry me.”

His mother folded her arms over her chest. “I’m glad you are looking at this with the perspective that she might not just fall into your arms. She might, and I hope she does, but she might make you win her affections again. While they were here, they went through a lot.”

Alex’s hand fisted. “Nicolai will pay for what he’s done. I will be here for his trial when it starts in six weeks. I will not let him escape his punishment.”

“Nor will I.” She touched the sword at her side.

“Why do you still wear that? He’s in jail.”

“I will wear it until they deliver him to the prison and the solitary confinement we are hoping he will get. Then, and only then, will I go without this sword. It has served me well. Compared with Nicolai, I was the better swordsman.”

Alex smiled. “Don’t you mean swords person?”

She waved a hand and shook her head. “No. I don’t go for all that stuff. Some new ideas are good, some are not. A swordsman is a swordsman…man or woman. In my opinion, of course. Your sisters would probably have another opinion, but I grew up at a different time than they did. I made it so women are equal in all things in Batrovia, from the palace on down to those who keep our streets clean. But that doesn’t mean I’ve changed my ways completely.”

“Whatever you wish, I will do.” He walked around the desk and over to her. He took her in his arms and hugged her tight. “Thank you, Mother. You are making the circumstances such that I can make my most important dream come true. I can’t wait for Michele and I to start our family…extend our family. We already have Erin. But I want to give her brothers and sisters. A dozen.”

Reina barked out a laugh. “I think Michele will have something to say about that number.”

Alex felt the heat in his cheeks. “Well, maybe not a dozen.”

“No, I would imagine not. What do you have to do yet?”

“Just a few more papers and contracts to sign. Then you will have to sign them, so that when you want to retire, I will become king again. I know it is a very unusual thing for us to do, but it is the only way I can be with Michele.” He walked to the window and then turned with his hands in his pockets. “While Erin is so young, Michele will not hear about living in the palace. Perhaps, when Erin is a little older and Michele can understand palace life and what it can offer her, she will change her mind. But I cannot fault my Michele for doing what she deems necessary for her child.”