Chapter 3 #2
Moments after standing, Lord Luther stopped his clapping, which causes the rest to stop almost instantaneously. It felt almost rehearsed. His influence was palpable. As the applause died, Father sat down, leaving me the only one standing.
“Princess Lyla, my congratulations are yours,” he began, his tone measured.
“As you must be aware, traditions dictate that your marriage coincides with your coronation. We want to ask about the status of your courtships, since there has been no formal betrothal announcement. Might you provide us with an estimation when we may expect both your betrothal and subsequent nuptials to be completed?”
Seriously? Despite the lack of proper mourning for Mother, he demanded I discuss my marital prospects. I expected the callousness, but it was still jarring to witness. I felt my eyebrows raised for a moment and worked to straighten my face and remove any signs of emotions.
“Thank you, Lord Luther, and everyone else, for your warm welcome to the Council, especially under such tragic circumstances.” I noticed Lady Mallard’s expression flickered; a small smirk lifted the corners of her mouth for only a moment before she composed herself.
“As I had only just reached an age where courtship is welcome, I have only started to meet with potential suitors. I understand the urgency with which the Council must feel, as an open seat of the throne can be an invitation to instability. If the Council would be so kind as to consider a proposal that I had the briefest amount of time to prepare, I would appreciate it.”
I paused here, waiting for signs of assent.
Several councilors nodded, prepared to take notes on what I’m about to say.
My heart stutters for a moment, and I feel a sudden rush of warmth to my cheeks.
I feel my hands become clammy, and clasp them in front of me, one hand holding a fist at my hips, as a sign of the composure I wish I had. I force myself to speak again.
“I believe that the best course of action would be to host a ball, perhaps a month after the Queen’s funeral, to allow suitors to come present themselves.
The ball can be open to all nobility from Elthas and neighboring countries, and I would even invite all of you to select a suitor that you feel is a worthy match.
I expect this would not only help my search, but offer an opportunity for our local economic growth. ”
Father offered me a slight nudge from his leg, which I took to indicate approval. I hoped so, anyway.
“This is certainly an interesting proposal, Princess. Our yearly budget does not support such an event. How would you suggest we approach the funding for this?” Lord Denenbaum asked.
I felt the panic return for a moment. How would I know how to pay for this?
Father cleared his throat and stood. “Lord Denenbaum, while I acknowledge your observation as quite perceptive, I must remind you that the passing of Her Majesty, the Queen, was an entirely unforeseen event. We could not prepare for such a situation until mere hours ago. Traditionally, we have kept financial discussions closed, so we haven’t introduced Princess Lyla to them yet.
The allocation of funds will require a separate meeting, allowing the planning committee ample time to assess this matter thoroughly.
At this moment, I would suggest we redirect our conversation to a more strategic, brainstorming level.
We will convene the financial and planning committees in three days to address the fiscal concerns. ”
Lord Denenbaum’s posture stiffened, and his face flushed with embarrassment. He averted his eyes, embarrassed that his attempt to discourage me failed. I tried to keep my face neutral as I felt gratitude for Father stepping in.
Lady Mallard raised her hand. I nodded in her direction, to allow her a chance to speak.
“My deepest condolences, Your Majesty and Your Highnesses. The Queen was a beloved ruler, always just and fair. Princess Lyla, I look forward to helping you learn the role, so that you can make your mother proud as the ruler she hoped you would be.”
She bowed her head briefly, and I returned the gesture. “I do want to offer support for the ball. I think this is a great way to hasten introductions to several suitors at once. As a member of the budget committee, I can assure Lord Denenbaum that we will find funding for this venture.”
I grinned, feeling support from her, as I had hoped she would be.
Lady Mallard is the youngest councilor by almost a decade, only just a few years older than Ethan.
She comes from a northern mountainous region called Frosted Forests, not very well populated, but a hardy and egalitarian region all the same.
Over the years, when imagining running away with Amyra, I had often wondered if we could find a small community there and hide from bounty hunters and others who would come looking for a crown princess and just live out our lives openly. The fantasy was charming, if impractical.
With her input, the other councilors that supported the idea started offering ways to make this ball happen.
Father sat down and tapped my arm, indicating I should as well.
I watched as the various men argued the finer points of the idea.
Father leaned over and whispered, “You did well, Lyla. This discussion shows they will adopt the idea once they satisfy Denenbaum’s tight ass. ”
I nodded, satisfied this first meeting had gone well. Ethan reached for my hand and offered a squeeze. He then leaned in and said, “Great job. You handled them better than I could have hoped to do. You’re a natural at this.”
If I had nothing else, at least I had the support of my brother and father.
With the discussion of a party to find me a husband reaching levels of excitement I didn’t expect middle-aged men to have, I realized I might not have much else.
My fear of the men they might offer grew as I realized I might need to choose a man who wants to subdue me, as these men do. This was the last thing I wanted to do.