The Matchmaker: Wreck The Royal Wedding

Chapter 10

"If I didn't know better I would suspect you are plotting to get rid of Lady Alicia right here, right now," Nammon said in a low whisper.

It's a surprise Earth can hear him above the blasting music and cheers from the fans of BDC band. Earth's eyes are focused on the VIP section where Mix stood with Alicia clinging to him too closely.

Earth is trying so hard to act normal around Alicia after learning from Anya that her intentions with the Prince may not be as innocent as it seems.

*****
2 days ago

"Just tell the Prince he can spend the night with you and Win. Earth is fetching him before the sun rises tomorrow, so wake him up early," Anya said to Bright over the phone. "I mean it, Bright. Behave. If I get a call from Win that you're being naughty I'm gonna drag your horny ass home you hear me?"

Earth wasn't sure that lying to the Palace that he took the Prince to a safe house after receiving an anonymous threat while they were at the mall was the right thing to do. Hell, he wasn't even sure if his story made sense.

But when Anya pulled him aside while they were looking for Mix and offered information about Aran and Alicia, Earth just couldn't pass the opportunity to know more about how these two were connected. Not when they were both too close to Mix and could cause him harm in a blink of an eye.

"How's Mix?"

Anya raised her eyebrows at Earth.

"I, ah, I mean how's the Prince?"

"I could still hear him sobbing in the background when I got off the phone with Bright."

Ah fuck it. Just the thought of Mix crying is making Earth's heart clench. But it's best to stop feeding both their fantasies before it gets too big for them to ignore. After all, even the toughest men know when to surrender.

"Really, what's with you and your misplaced sense of duty? Where did you get the idea that pushing Mix away is going to help either of you?"

Earth knows that despite the fierce look, Anya is actually concerned about him and Mix. But Earth is done hoping that some kind of miracle could make him and Mix work. Maybe in a different lifetime, under other circumstances, in a world where they could openly care for each other.

"What do you know about Aran and Alicia?" Earth asked, not bothering to answer Anya.

Anya let out a dry laugh. "Diversion isn't gonna work on me, Captain. You're obviously concerned about the Prince."

"Yes, I am. And you possibly have information that would save him not just from the unwanted marriage but also from whatever Aran and Alicia are planning. So tell me, what do you know, Anya?" Earth snapped, his tone slightly rising.

Any lesser woman would have cowered at Earth's aggressive tone, but Anya was clearly made of sterner stuff. Wearing a softer expression, she sat at the couch in front of Earth.

"You do realize you sound like those hopeless romantic hero-wannabes on films, don't you? I never understood the appeal of trying to solve things singlehandedly while keeping those who matter to you far away."

"I'm here for the sole reason of protecting the Prince, Anya. My way may not be the most ideal in your eyes, but I get the job done. Case closed."

"May I remind you that Mix isn't a helpless child? He's the son of the King of Thailand, an intellingent and brave Prince. Give him some credit, Captain. He's more than capable of fixing this mess with you. Wouldn't it be better to do this with him instead of just for him?"

"I didn't come here for love advice, Anya. Let's stop wasting each other's time. I'm not comfortable with outsiders knowing about Palace stuff, but I'm no fool. I know rich people like you have connections and resources that won't easily be accessed, not even by the Royal Family. Now, please, let's just get to the point."

Anya wanted to say more, but she knows better than to push an irritated elite soldier. She already said enough; at this point, it's up to Earth to act on his feelings.

"Alicia's family, the old Loretti clan, is close to bankruptcy - again. Alicia's brother lost too much money investing on cryptocurrency when he didn't know much about it.

But funds continue to be deposited to several bank accounts under the names of employees working under the Loretti's. We noticed that more cash than what the Loretti company could possibly have are being tranferred and withdrawn in full on the same day."

"They're cutting the trail by withdrawing it in full and surrendering the money to the Loretti's?"

Anya nodded. "We tried tracking Aran's money but disentangling the complex web of transfers from over fifty bank accounts and dummy companies was a waste of time. So we tried looking from the other end - Alicia's. The deposits from Loretti employees came from a Swiss bank account of a shell company that we believe is Aran's."

Anya handed Earth a stack of papers, with the name of the Aran's company circled in red. "It's his. The Alliance tracks all of the Royal family's assets. He appears as a minor shareholder but all the other directors are just pawns."

"So you know?"

"Are you asking if I know that you are aware that I am part of the Alliance? Or that you have a case file with profiles of me and all the other people close to Mix? Yes to both."

"Because you have a case file on me and the other guys too?" Anya said with a smile. She loved working with people who think like her.

"You think I'll let the Prince sleep at that Win guy's place if I didn't know security there is almost as tight as the Palace?"

"Touché, Captain." Anya handed more papers to Earth. "I hope all of these will help us get rid of whoever needs to be thrown out of the Palace before they successfully plant their roots. Uprooting unwanted weeds is a tougher job than preventing them from growing in the first place."

"Sending money to a bankrupt Duke isn't a crime but the way they do it is suspicious. They're obviously hiding something big."

"Let the Alliance know. I'm expecting a full-on partnership from this point on, Captain. Is that reasonable?"

"Working with civillians is not something new, so I guess the higher-ups won't have a problem. If they had a problem with you snooping around, you wouldn't have gone this far."

"Good to know I passed the standards of the mythical Alliance." Anya laughed. "Does this mean you're on board on that other thing, too?"

"On board what?"

"Preventing the Prince from getting married. I think it's safe to say that Alicia isn't the best partner for the Prince, not when she clearly has ulterior motives."

Earth promised not to let his emotions get the best of him; he has to make a rational decision if he plans to outwit a fallen duchess and a scheming Royal.

"Yes."