How to rule a king

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Ronja:

I watched a half-naked Alexei play fighting with his son around one of the largest pools I had ever seen on a private yacht. Not that I had been on so many, yet I was positive not one of my grandfather's ships had to offer such luxury. I was currently laying on an overly comfortable cream-colored sun lounger underneath a huge white solar panel, dressed in a floor length, white summer dress that had lilac and rose colored flowers all over it. My outfit was completed by a huge straw hat sitting on top of my head while a pair of oversized designer sunglasses rested on my nose as I reread Wuthering Heights for what probably was the hundredth time by now. As my eyes strayed from Vasyli's joyful form, they set on the woman sitting across from me with only a small wooden table with refreshments on top of it between us, as she anxiously eyed me.

Natalia.

After a rather awkward and very silent breakfast session this morning Alexei still deemed it a "wonderful" idea for her to join us at the pool. And now here she was, interrupting my family's peaceful forenoon with her disturbing presence all while watching water droplets making their way over my husband's muscled body. Then she would blink all innocent before she would go back to throwing a few glances in my direction as if she expected me to actually start a conversation with her.

Yeah sure, not going happen. And not just because of my still raw vocal chords.

Half an hour and ten of her glances towards my, yes, my husband later, I was ready to explode. I was about to force Alexei to put a shirt on, when the intruder finally found her voice.

"Mr. Volkov, it's getting rather hot out here. I think I am going to retire in my cabin for a while."

Alexei, who was currently standing in the for him chest-high water of the pool, turned around to face her as he left Vasyli, who was kneeling unguarded at the edge of the pool and about to drown poor Mr. Jasper. My anger raised further. A rationally thinking person would have realized that even if Vasyli actually fell into the pool not only would he still be capable of swimming but also was Alexei standing not more than a meter away ready to catch his son. I, however, wasn't in the mood for rational thoughts as I literally jumped from my sun lounger to tear the child away from the pool. I lifted him onto my right hip before I started walking towards the cabin we -as in my family and I - slept in last night leaving a slightly confused Alexei and an obviously uncomfortable Natalia behind.

"Where are you going, Милая мая?"

I clenched my teeth at his voice. The nerve of this man. How dare he call me by that pet name after inviting another woman, who clearly adored him, to spend the day with us.

I didn't even bother facing him as I kept making pace towards our room, successfully managing to hide my hurt underneath a thick layer of sass.

"It's time for Vasyli's nap."

Actually, I wasn't even sure whether Vasyli was still taking naps or ever did, yet I didn't care. I needed to get away from them, therefore I decided Vasyli was going to take a nap right now.

Once I reached our chambers I ushered Vasyli towards the bathroom. There was no way in hell I would let him sleep reeking of chlorine. I had just finished closing the curtains as I heard him yell for me from the bathroom. Alarmed, I stormed in only to find him completely covered in light blue towel awkwardly smiling at me.

"Ronja I need my pajamas, please."

This child is going to be the death of me.

Compelling my heart to slow down I held my left hand out for him walking him back to the bed we all slept in together the last night. As I watched Vasyli putting his cute, dark blue, airplane-themed night clothing on, I couldn't help but smile thinking of waking up in this very room only hours ago.