Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
ELENA
E lena paced the floor, a storm brewing in her heart. Each step was punctuated by a rapid drumming on her forearm, her thoughts racing as fast as her heart. With each chew of her lower lip, her worry deepened, mirroring the tumult of her mind.
Waiting for word about whether or not the tale her cousin told over cocktails was the truth or a fabrication wore on her.
“You’re going to bleed soon, Elena,” Alexander said, stepping into her path and tapping her chin with his finger.
She frowned at him, sliding her hands to her hips. “How can you be so cavalier about this?”
“I’m not being cavalier, but I’m not going to fall for Julian’s tales until we’ve proven they’re true.”
“They are true,” she shot back. “They are definitely true. Julian would not have brought up something that could be so easily dismissed. ”
“I wouldn’t be so certain. What I can’t understand is why Eric went along with it.”
“I cannot understand it either.” Elena shook her head. “I do realize it may have stung when I changed my mind after privately agreeing to his offer, but what is his interest in marrying me?”
“Well, you are quite a prize, Elena,” Alexander answered. “You’re beautiful, intelligent, kind, and a princess.”
“Eric is handsome, intelligent–”
“Don’t say kind. He is not.”
“No, he isn’t, but he is a prince. And those three things are enough to make him interesting to many, many women, regardless of his kindness.”
“So? You still have appeal.”
“Not that much appeal, Alexander. The only thing I can think of is that he doesn’t like to lose.”
“You aren’t going to give in to his demands, are you?”
“Certainly not,” Elena answered, her hand pressed against her stomach as it twisted in a knot. “Though…”
“Yes?” Alexander asked.
Her mind whirled again as she sorted through the issue. “We cannot allow the throne to go to Julian.”
“No, I quite agree. So, we’ll need to fix this, or you shall have to marry Eric. Take one for the team.”
“I will not!” Elena cried. “Why don’t you do it? You can marry Lady Margaret.”
“No,” Alexander said with a shake of his head. “You are far more fit to rule than I am.”
“That’s not true.”
“Are you saying you will abdicate?”
“No, but I trust Eldoria in your hands if we cannot pull off a change in the royal decree.”
Alexander clicked his tongue. “Let us hope we can. I do not wish to marry Lady Margaret. ”
“I absolutely refuse to marry Eric, especially with my heart already belonging to Nathan. Our wedding is only weeks away, and the idea of that betrayal makes my stomach turn.”
“Well…in a pinch.” Alexander shrugged.
Elena shot him an icy stare before huffing out a sigh. “How long can this take to track?”
“Perhaps it doesn’t exist, that’s why they can’t find it.”
The doors to the private office burst open a moment later, and King Frederick, Queen Sophia and several assistants strode inside, their steps echoing heavily in the almost silent room.
“Well?” Elena demanded.
The sigh from King Frederick along with the uncertainty flickering in his eyes sent her stomach churning. “I’m afraid it’s all true.”
“What?” Elena’s eyes went wide as her heart began to pound against her ribs.
King Frederick nodded as he slumped into his chair, propping his elbow on the desk. “Yes. There is a royal decree stating that all marriages must be with nobility.”
“Has it always been followed? Can we be assured of that, at least?” Alexander asked.
King Fredrick snapped his gaze to his nephew.
“You mean to say that perhaps Frederick is not truly the king,” Queen Sophia said.
“Yes, but not because of your marriage, Aunt Sophia. You were of noble blood.”
She nodded. “Yes, but have all the monarchs since this decree was made married noble blood?”
“Right. If not, the entire line could be thrown out.”
“Which helps Julian in no way,” Elena answered as she chewed her lower lip. “No, rest assured, there is no problem with Father’s reign, only mine. ”
“Elena, we will tackle this,” Frederick answered.
“You believe the majority of the legislature will support a new decree, don’t you?”
Frederick rubbed his chin, his eyes staring into the darkness beyond the window. “To be fair, I do not know. If Julian has already shared this with them, he has likely solicited votes against any changes.”
Elena’s lips parted as the realization of what he’d said smacked her in the face. “Are you saying…”
Her father shifted his gaze to her, his eyes clouded with worry and conflict. “Yes, Elena. I am saying that this decree may stand. If you marry Nathan Kingsley, you may forego the throne.”
Elena collapsed into an armchair, her chest tightening. It wasn’t the loss of the throne so much as the way it was happening. She’d been groomed her entire life to run this country with the care and dedication it required.
To have that chance ripped away from her by Julian’s jealousy was maddening.
“We are not giving up,” Queen Sophia said, placing a gentle hand on Elena’s shoulder.
“We cannot,” Alexander answered. “We cannot allow the throne to go to Julian. He will ruin this country.”
“I don’t suppose we can ask you to postpone the wedding and the engagement announcement until this is fixed,” King Frederick asked.
Elena’s eyes went wide. “Father! I am set to announce my engagement to Nathan in days. What do you propose I tell him? After we fought so hard to receive approval, turns out we cannot marry?”
“No, of course not. But perhaps it would be an easier fight for me to get this decree through without the complication of a common husband already looming.”
“It is not only unfair—it’s downright cruel to both Nathan and me. While I grasp the enormity of sacrifice required for the sake of our country, I cannot, in good conscience, impose this burden on Nathan. Not after everything we’ve been through.”
“You nearly announced your engagement to Eric. Come, Elena, you’ve made difficult choices before.”
Elena curled her fingers into fists, a mix of outrage and anger brewing inside her. “I will not do this to Nathan.”
Her father let his head fall into his palm, rubbing his forehead. “Fine.”
“Perhaps, Frederick, it will help to announce the engagement, rather than hurt,” Queen Sophia suggested.
“How do you figure, Aunt Sophia?”
“Well, if there are reservations about marriages to a commoner, the legislature can properly vet Mr. Kingsley to determine that he is of good character and good standing. Perhaps it will allow some of them to vote in your favor once they see there is no threat to the kingdom.”
King Frederick sighed. “And perhaps they will not agree. I cannot see that this will help, but perhaps it will not hurt.”
“We could host a reception to meet Mr. Kingsley,” Alexander suggested. “Elena is most capable of ruling. It is unfair that she should be excluded merely because of her choice in husband.”
“A choice, I am told,” King Frederick said as he flicked his gaze to his advisors, “may be painted as selfish, foolish, and not in the best interest of Eldoria.”
“Not in the best interest of Eldoria!” Elena leapt to her feet, her fists tight at her sides.
“How is that?” Alexander asked.
“Well, the marriage to Eric secured a bond between Eldoria and Corinthia. A bond that may now suffer because of Elena’s choices.”
Elena clicked her tongue as she tossed her arms in the air. “ This is ridiculous. Will our bond with any other country suffer as a result? Am I to marry the entirety of Europe to secure our place?”
“Of course not, Elena, but–”
“But what?” she interrupted. “But Corinthia is so blasted important that I am being selfish by not marrying into their royal family?”
“Do not shoot the messenger,” King Frederick said with a sigh. “I am merely giving you an example of what I am told we may face in attempting to reverse this.”
Elena covered her face with her hands. “Well, that’s lovely. Just wonderful. What am I to tell Nathan?”
“Perhaps keep it under your hat for now, Elena,” Alexander suggested.
Her eyes went wide as she stared at him. “For now? When shall I spring it on him? When we don’t announce our engagement, or perhaps when we cancel the wedding?”
“I do not think either of those options are on the table, darling,” Queen Sophia said.
“Oh, well, then, perhaps on the eve of our wedding, I will inform him that my decision has meant that Eldoria’s rule will go to–”
“Alexander. Who is a wonderful choice if you are not permitted to rule,” King Frederick said.
“Uh,” Alexander answered, “but what if I do not marry royal blood?”
King Frederick heaved a sigh. “Then you would be removed as monarch and replaced by Julian.”
“Who will most assuredly marry royal blood. If Eric had a sister, I’m certain he’d be dragging her down the aisle as we speak.”
“He does not.” King Frederick clasped his hands together as he leaned onto the desk. “I will tackle this in the morning by speaking with several key legislators to get a sense of where they stand."
“I am happy to come with you,” Elena offered.
“I would like to tackle it on my own at first,” King Frederick said. “You are too emotionally involved.”
Elena set her hands on her hips. “What is that supposed to mean? If I am to be taken seriously as a future monarch of this country, I should showcase my abilities.”
King Frederick waved a finger at her. “This is exactly the type of behavior I am thinking of. I do not need you glaring at the legislators over your engagement to Mr. Kingsley.”
“I am not glaring.”
“Nor that tone.”
“I have no tone!” she insisted.
“Perhaps it’s best to allow Uncle Frederick to handle this, Elena. He can at least get the lay of the land, then you may become involved.”
Elena sighed as she plopped into her chair again. “Fine. I expect results, though.”
“Believe me, darling, I hope to have this resolved soon. You have been raised to take the throne, and you should. No offense, Alexander.”
“None taken, Uncle. I quite agree. Elena has been groomed for this, and she will be an excellent queen. I much prefer to be the playboy prince.”
Elena scoffed at that. “You are just as capable, and hardly a playboy.”
“Give me time. I have no interest in marrying Lady Margaret.”
Queen Sophia crinkled her brow. “Why? She is a lovely girl.”
“Oh, Aunt Sophia, please. She is hardly lovely—quite dull, in fact. And more importantly, I have no interest in her .
The Queen raised her eyebrows, offering him a slight smile. “Well, I suppose it must be your choice.”
“Thank you. If you could only make Mother and Father understand that.”
“We shall see what we can do, though, with this latest decree, I’m afraid they may stand more firmly behind their decision.”
Alexander sucked in a breath.
“Now who is emotionally involved?” Elena asked with an arch of an eyebrow.
“Very funny, cousin. Shall we go to bed? I believe this day as been long enough.”
“Quite,” she answered. “Good night, everyone. I will see you in the morning.”
“Try to get some sleep, darling. We’ll tackle it in the morning.” Queen Sophia kissed her on the cheek before she strode from the room.
With a heavy sigh, she pushed into her bedroom.
Caroline pulled back the covers on her bed, flicking a gaze her way. “A late one, Your Highness. What did prince Julian have to say?”
“You are not going to believe this.”
Elena recounted the wild tale about her inability to ascend to the throne if she married Nate Kingsley as Caroline helped her out of her dress and into her pajamas.
“You’re joking. I cannot believe this. Surely, the King will not stand for it.”
“He is attempting to change it, but we have no guarantees.”
“If anyone can do it, I’m certain His Majesty can. Try not to worry, Your Highness.”
“I am trying, though it really seems that we have an uphill battle. And after just winning the last one. ”
“You will conquer this one, too,” Caroline answered as she finished brushing her hair.
“Thank you for the confidence, Caroline. Have a pleasant night.”
They said their goodnights, and Caroline left her to sleep. As she lay in bed, her mind spun in search of a solution. Her heart plummeted as she found none and considered the prospect of telling Nate the bad news.
She was certain he wouldn’t care if he never became King of Eldoria, but she worried it would cause a rift between them. With a heavy sigh, she finally let her eyes slide closed before a knock startled her awake.
“Your Highness!” Caroline’s voice called to her. “Are you awake?”
“I am,” she answered. “Come in.”
The door opened and her ladies’ maid slipped inside, her eyes wide.
“What is it, Caroline?” Elena asked, squinting as she turned on the light.
“I have a bit of a…surprise. You may not believe this.”
Elena’s heart pounded against her ribs at the words. After the evening’s surprises, she wasn’t certain she could handle any additional surprises.
Caroline hesitated, her hands wringing. “Someone has arrived to see you.”
Elena’s brow furrowed. “At this hour? Who would–”
Before she could finish, a familiar figure stepped into the dim light of her chamber. Her heart stopped for a moment before a new wave of anxiety coursed through her as she stared at her surprise visitor.