Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE
Annalena paused in the palace’s opulent vestibule. All around were the trappings of old wealth and power. The floor of multicoloured marble. Gilded lanterns, huge tapestries and statues by ancient masters.
The triple-height space was topped by a frescoed ceiling that art lovers travelled the world to see.
It showed the continents, their people portrayed with improbable romanticism.
Grand princes, warriors and scholars. The only women were naked or nearly so, subservient or simpering admiringly.
Naked women because that was what the men who’d commissioned it liked to look at, and subservient because that was their place in the world.
Some things apparently hadn’t changed in three hundred years.
If Annalena and her grandmother had been male, the powers that be wouldn’t have spurned them so insultingly.
‘Can I help? Are you here for a tour of the public rooms?’
She turned to see a guide, gesturing to the tourists gathering on one side of the vast space. ‘No, thank you. I’m here on business.’
His eyes widened as he tried and failed not to stare at her clothing. As if he couldn’t believe she could have business in the royal palace.
Despite her nerves, Annalena felt her lips twitch as he walked away.
She’d thought hard about what to wear to today’s meeting. Formal, of course. Initially she’d reached for the suit she’d worn last week to meet the international consortium looking to invest in a joint research project.
But she’d changed her mind and opted for tradition.
Once upon a time she’d hoped the man she’d come to meet was nothing like his father, with his complete disregard for anything except making quick money, no matter the cost to the country.
But Benedikt had shown himself to be just as imperious and greedy.
Uncaring of tradition and the fact some things were too precious to be destroyed.
Her grandmother had raised an eyebrow when she’d seen Annalena ready to travel to the capital.
But there’d been laughter in her eyes and approval in her tone when she’d said, ‘I see you plan to make a statement, my dear. Good for you. It’s a perfect time to remind him we’re all custodians of our country. It’s not all about his bank balance.’
Annalena made her way across the vestibule towards the royal offices. Her low-heeled shoes tapped purposefully across the expensive marble.
As she neared the closed door, security intervened. ‘I’m sorry. This is closed to the public.’
She surveyed the dark-suited man and smiled, belying her thumping heart. For she was an interloper, worried at the possibility of failing. Because of her family she’d never had the luxury of being just average, but nor did she belong here. ‘I know. I have an appointment.’
She didn’t know whether it was a curse or a blessing that so few people in the capital knew her by sight. In the Grand Duchy of Edelforst she was well known. But in Prinzenberg’s capital it was different. Her fault for avoiding the place so long.
Who could blame her, given her family history?
Dread pooled in her stomach and a shudder rippled down her spine. She’d grown up viewing this as the sinister centre of the disaster that had engulfed her family.
She’d never set foot in this building and had hoped never to do so. But some things were more important than personal inclination. Besides, she wasn’t a child, to be frightened by long ago events.
Yet she couldn’t help wondering if Benedikt was as dangerous as his father had been.
The guard looked at her closely. Annalena told herself it was because she didn’t look like the usual sort of visitor. She couldn’t have betrayed her disquiet. She’d been too well trained to conceal emotions behind a serene mask.
‘I wasn’t told about a visitor. Who are you seeing?’
Annalena pushed her shoulders back, projecting some of her grandmother’s hauteur. ‘His Majesty. A ten a.m. meeting.’
‘Just a moment, please.’
The guard frowned, half turning away as he spoke into a mouthpiece. Heads turned in their direction.
Good. Let them stare. The more people to witness her arrival, the less chance anyone would dare throw her out.
For the hard-won appointment she’d finally managed to schedule had been cancelled very late last night.
Cancelled without explanation, let alone apology or an offer to reschedule. Given the difficulty she’d had trying to make contact with the man, she shouldn’t have been surprised. It was clear she, and her concerns, weren’t important enough for royal attention.
That made fury fizz in her veins. She welcomed it as an improvement on nerves.
The people she represented had been patient. They’d followed the proper channels. Yet every attempt to get a hearing had been stymied, every submission met with offensively vague responses.
His Majesty wasn’t interested.
He’d soon learn his mistake.
Yet she had to force herself not to press her hand to her stomach where butterflies the size of Alpine eagles swooped and swirled.
The guard turned back. ‘I’m sorry, His Majesty’s staff have no appointment scheduled.’
‘One was made and I’ve travelled some distance to be here.’ She withdrew her phone and showed him the original email.
The man’s eyebrows rose as he read her name. He looked decidedly uncomfortable when he met her eyes again. ‘I’m very sorry, ma’am, but I was told…’ He stood straighter. ‘I can’t admit you.’
Which was what she’d expected. ‘Very well, I’ll wait.’
She walked around him to a gilded, antique chair a few metres from the door.
He hurried after her, but not in time to prevent her sitting. ‘I really have to ask you to—’
‘This is a public area.’ She smiled at him. ‘Perhaps you’d inform His Majesty’s office that I’ll wait until it’s convenient to see him.’
She knew the King would consider any time inconvenient but she’d given up waiting for him to act decently. If she had to shame him into meeting, so be it.
Faces turned in her direction, the sightseeing group and staff too. The harried guard whispered urgently into his mouthpiece.
Annalena settled in her seat and tapped her phone. She might as well answer work emails while she waited.
She was absorbed in a report when she heard voices. Without looking up she knew the door to the offices had opened and someone was conferring with the guard.
She checked the time. Half an hour had elapsed. Maybe they’d hoped she’d grow bored and leave. Fat chance!
High heels clacked then stopped before her. Annalena kept reading.
‘Excuse me, ma’am.’
It was the guard. She looked up to see he was accompanied by a woman in a sleek charcoal suit, silk shirt and air of sophistication. Her perfect make-up didn’t conceal the way her mouth clamped tight.
‘Hello,’ Annalena said, taking the initiative. ‘Are you from his Majesty’s office? I—’
‘I’m afraid you’re wasting your time. The King isn’t available.’
Annalena blinked slowly, letting her eyes widen as if no one had ever spoken across her before. Clearly she wasn’t going to be offered the courtesy of an introduction either.
The woman lifted her chin. ‘You were sent an email. The meeting was cancelled yesterday.’
Annalena let the silence stretch. ‘It took well over a month to arrange this meeting and I’ve come from Edelforst solely to see the King on an urgent matter. I know he’s here today so I’ll wait and hope space opens up in his schedule.’
The nameless woman frowned, eyes narrowing as she opened her pinched mouth. Annalena forestalled her. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to my work while I wait. His Majesty isn’t the only one with a busy schedule.’
She turned to her phone, but not before she saw the woman’s jaw clench while the guard beside her veiled a smile.
Annalena’s last comment was unnecessary. She’d been raised to be polite, especially given her position. But the woman was rude and Annalena didn’t take kindly to bullying. That was what the King of Prinzenberg and his minions tried to do.
So much for her grandmother’s insistence the new monarch would be an improvement on the old. Her ‘informed sources’ had got it wrong.
Heels clicked away and a door closed. Yet it took Annalena a good five minutes to pick up the thread of the report.
She was halfway through it when someone cleared their throat.
It was the burly security guard. Behind him followed a man who deposited a tray on a small table that had appeared beside her. The scent of coffee hit her nostrils and she inhaled appreciatively. Coffee, cream, sugar and cinnamon biscuits.
She beamed at the newcomer, reading his name badge. ‘Thank you, Reiner. I didn’t have time for morning coffee.’ And she’d been too nervous to eat.
He smiled and shook his head, nodding towards the guard before he left. ‘It was Udo’s idea.’
She turned. ‘Udo. That’s very kind. I appreciate it.’
Faint colour crept across the big man’s cheeks and he murmured something non-committal before returning to his post.
It seemed the King’s personal staff were happy to ignore her but other palace employees weren’t.
What did that say about the new King of Prinzenberg? That common courtesy didn’t matter to him?
Now she found it difficult to concentrate on work.
She stared at the screen but it wasn’t words she saw.
It was Edelforst’s wide valleys, the meadows and vast forests, farmland surrounded by towering mountains.
The villages and compact towns. The people who loved their land and had struggled hard for generations to support themselves.
Her vision blurred, eyes glazing.
Everything rode on this. She couldn’t afford to lose.
‘Your Majesty…’
Benedikt shook his head. ‘I told you to ditch the title, Matthias, at least when we’re alone.’ He’d never liked royal pomp. That had been his father’s thing.
Thinking about the old man soured his mood. Even now King Karl cast a long shadow.