Chapter 25 The Big News
The Big News
Lars
“Uncle Olav is calling you in,” Pappa poked his head into the living room.
My stepbrother, Edwin, paused our game to accommodate my response.
“What? How?” I asked.
“He needs to… discuss something,” Pappa explained cryptically with an expression pointed to seriousness.
“Oh… okay,” I said. “When?”
“Now,” Pappa said.
“It’s my wedding week—”
“Well, before we head to Trondheim, he wants to talk,” Pappa said.
We were leaving for the airport in mere hours to join the bridal party.
Rose’s family was there pulling together our extensive not-quite-state-occasion.
I missed her dearly but did not miss the constant wedding drama following her.
My stepmother Sanne was there already, using her past-life skills as a wedding planner to keep the mother of the bride on a leash.
I wasn’t keen to speak with my uncle, fearing trouble on the horizon, but he was the boss.
I pulled on a pair of proper trousers and headed to the palace.
The King’s lead courtier greeted and led me into a drawing room. There, my uncle sat before a large offering of coffee. To his right, sat my cousin Cecilia, his heir. Her face was sombre. I initially assumed someone had died. I bowed slightly.
“I came as soon as Pappa said. Can I help you?” I asked.
“No, Lars,” my uncle said. “Well, it’s more… I owe you some sort of clarification—”
“Because of something concerning me,” Cecilia said.
“Sit, sit. Have coffee,” Uncle Olav insisted.
I poured myself a cup and tried to relax.
“Your father, aunt, and Cici have worn me down,” Uncle Olav said.
“Because this is unfair to Rose,” Cici insisted. “She has a right to know before she commits. I want to say to you, Lars, that full disclosure, I advocated to tell you weeks ago.”
Confused, I sat my cup and saucer down.
“Okay, I’m concerned, but go on.”
“Cici, you should—”
“I don’t know if I can get through this.” My cousin’s tears welled. “But you deserve an explanation before you and Rose make the biggest commitment of your lives.”
“Cici, what is it?”
“I... you know Isak and I have been trying for a baby for ages, right? Well, I’m not able to have one.”
“Surely, there has to be something,” I said, concerned and heartbroken. “I didn’t know, but… there has to be something.”
“I’ve had many losses,” Cici said. “But I couldn’t carry any to term. I had an ectopic pregnancy twice—meaning I now have no more fallopian tubes. Isak and I cannot have children.”
My proud, strait-laced cousin burst into tears. My uncle was about to cry. It was unexpected, heartbreaking news. I couldn’t stand to see her in so much pain. I assumed it was even harder for him to watch his child go through something so terrible.
“I… I need to go,” Cici stood. “Please apologize to Rose.”
I followed. “Cici, there is no need to apologize. I am so sorry. Would you like a hug?”
She shook her head. “Not right now.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “Um… let us know if you need anything. Really.”
Cici didn’t respond, ducking out in a slight panic. I sat again, looking to my uncle. He dabbed tears and cleared his throat.
“I am sorry for Rose,” he said.
“I am so confused. This is terrible news, but... how is Rose affected?”
“As Cici is my only child, your father is next in line. You and Betty are his only children. Peder will be quite old before Cici passes the torch—potentially no longer with us. You are older than Cici and I suspect will move to abdicate to your next in line—your heir—when the time comes. Tradition dictates—”
“Retirement around or by 75.” I nodded. “So, soon.”
“Cici will be a fine queen. And I am sure all will be well under her watch, but she needs a proper heir. That will not be you.”
“I really don’t want it,” I admitted.
“Well, as I said, I think that is fair. However, it means—”
It hit me. “It means any children I have will be in direct line. And it means… Rose and I will potentially produce the next queen or king to follow Cici.”
Olav nodded. “I am sorry for that. I know that isn’t what Rose wanted or signed up for, and that your intent was never to include her in the working rotation.
She wasn’t supposed to be anything but fringe.
However, this is beyond my control. I certainly cannot blame Cici.
She almost died with this last pregnancy and…
well, given I almost lost her mother, I told her I don’t want her trying anything else.
Isak agreed. She has scarring and… it’s awful. They’re out of options.”
“I obviously do not want Cici to be at risk,” I said. “Nor would Rose.”
“But Rose needs to know.”
“I… I agree.”
I worried deeply about that bit. Rose and I discussed a situation where I played support for Cici, but she wasn’t too focused on royal life.
She may do something here or there or show up with me at the Nobels every year, but ultimately, we planned to equally split our time between Norway and the UK.
Now, that would be in jeopardy. Raising a future king or queen necessitated staying put in Oslo.
“I’m so sorry. The timing is awful. Cici and Kiersten have shamed me. I told your father and mother… and he hasn’t let up about telling you before. So, I promised Peder I would just rip off the band-aid.”
“With all due respect, Uncle, you haven’t left me much of a choice—”
“I’m sorry. I thought I was protecting Cici. That was my goal. She and Isak needed time to grieve the loss and, as you can see, it is still very fresh. I understand. When Kiersten and I had to stop, we were so broken. She wanted a house full of children, as I think Rose does.”
“She does,” I agreed. “We’ve said at least three.”
“No pressure. That’s not what this is about,” Uncle assured.
“It’s alright. Rose has baby fever already. This is nothing,” I chuckled nervously.
“Well, good. Let that work out in your favour. I am sure you will manage it with only a momentary speed bump, but I wanted to give her a few days to think about it.”
I worried only a few days might be enough. A few days may have changed everything.