Page 104 of Throne Off Course

“I can work with this,” she said at last, her tone shifting to business-like efficiency. “A statement confirming we were never formally engaged would give me plausible deniability and distance me from whatever fallout comes next.”

Alexander arched a brow. “That’s your solution? To pretend this never happened?”

“Alexander,” she said, her voice suddenly softer, more honest than he’d heard in years. “We’ve both just been playing parts in someone else’s production our entire lives. Maybe you’re not the only one who wants to rewrite the script.”

She moved closer, her expression pragmatic. “At any rate, I’m not walking away empty-handed. My family will expect compensation for this public humiliation. Perhaps favorable trade agreements or political favors, something. I’ll have my father’s office send details later.”

Even in retreat, Genevieve Laurent knew how to negotiate, Alexander thought with grudging respect.

“Fine. I’ll see what we can do.”

Genevieve nodded. “And one more thing. When the press asks, and they will ask, I want to be the one who stepped back. I won’t be portrayed as the woman who was discarded for someone else.”

Alexander hesitated, then nodded. “Fair enough.”

Genevieve adjusted her jacket, already mentally composing her statement. “I’ll say that we’ve mutually decided to take a step back from these discussions. That while we have a deep respect for each other, there is no formal engagement and never has been.”

She moved toward the door, then paused, looking back at him with an expression that was impossible to read. “For what it’s worth, Alexander, I hope she’s worth it. Because you’ve just declared war on centuries of tradition, and not everyone will be as… accommodating as I’m being.”

Without waiting for his response, she turned and left, her heels echoing down the corridor as she already begancalculating her next move in a game whose rules had suddenly changed.

As the door closed behind her, Alexander exhaled. He knew Genevieve well enough to recognize that she’d just cut her losses and repositioned herself for maximum advantage. She was playing the long game.

It took less than an hour for Genevieve’s statement to dominate the headlines.

By the end of the day, the entire country was talking about it.

“BREAKING: Genevieve Laurent Announces No Formal Engagement With Prince Alexander”

At exactly 4:32 PM, the statement was released:

“While I have the utmost respect for His Royal Highness, Prince Alexander, and his role in Caledonia’s future, I want to clarify that there is and never was a formal engagement. The speculation has been largely unfounded, and we have mutually decided to step back from these discussions at this time.”

By 4:34 PM, the hashtag #LetHimChoose was trending once again.

By 5:00 PM, political analysts were already debating what this meant for the monarchy.

And by 6:00 PM, Parliament had officially begun shifting its stance.

For weeks, the debate had centered around whether Alexander’s marriage was a matter of personal choice or a constitutional requirement.

Until now, the palace had controlled the narrative, carefully framing the situation as a necessary and expected arrangement, one that the public should not question.

But now?

Now, Genevieve, the very person they had counted on to uphold the illusion, had publicly distanced herself from it.

And that changed everything.

Suddenly, members of Parliament who had remained silent began speaking out.

“If the future queen isn’t committed to the idea, why should Parliament force the issue?” – MP Harold Whitmore

“The monarchy must evolve. Prince Alexander should be allowed to determine his own future.” – Opposition Leader Victoria Langley

“Frankly, it’s embarrassing that we’re even debating whether an adult man should be forced into marriage in this day and age.” – MP Sandra Patel

For the first time, there were real discussions about whether this law had any place in a modern constitutional monarchy.