Chapter Twenty-Five
Jaq
I can do this. I’ve given presentations in front of the World Council countless times before. This is just like any other time. And yet Jaq knew it wasn’t. For the first time he was giving a presentation on a policy change that had a direct impact on his life and his future happiness.
Jaq had been working on the papers previously, just like he told Patin. They were the same papers he’d gone to retrieve when someone tried to take him. At the time he’d thought that Serron and Patin could offer some insights or perhaps clauses and precedents he hadn’t considered. But now I’m going to have to wing this on less than an hour’s sleep, too much coffee, and no spousal approval because they don’t know what I’m doing.
It's not as though he hadn’t done it before – at least the coffee and the lack of sleep part - but the stakes had never been so high, either. He nodded at Serron who was waiting for them in the hallway outside of his room. “I trust you slept well,” he said because that was the polite thing to do.
“Apparently you didn’t.” Serron came closer, offering Jaq his elbow, before continuing to the stairs. “Do you want to tell us why we’re being summoned by the World Council before breakfast? Did it have anything to do with the events of last night? For what it’s worth, both Patin and I offer our humblest apologies for allowing reputation to take precedence over your personal safety.”
Jaq glanced up at his husband. “It fascinates me that you can spout such fancy words before coffee. You must have had a lot of practice. Let’s just say what I’m doing here will hopefully mean we can all be a bit more honest in our marriage going forward.”
While he was sure Serron was still confused, Jaq didn’t want to say anything else. He was still mentally preparing his points, precedents, and arguments. The main point in his favor was that there was no legal reason why the policy change couldn’t go ahead, but the fact it had such narrow parameters, in that it would only apply to same sex royal couples, among other things, could be a sticking point.
“I did apologize.” Serron had lowered his voice as they moved through the main reception area of the estate. “But whatever it is you are doing, don’t you think you should’ve talked to Patin and me about it first?”
“I don’t actually think I should’ve done. That choice of word implies I need to check with you before doing anything.” Jaq snorted. “However, I did plan on discussing it with you last night, before I got abducted. After that, with the lack of hugs on offer, I thought it was far better to get this matter resolved one way or the other in case someone tries to take me again.”
“We’re here,” Patin said, also keeping his voice low. “Jaq, are you sure this is a good idea?”
“You still haven’t hugged me yet, so yes. You might think it’s a petty matter, but it speaks volumes to me. Let’s get this done.”
Holding his head high, Jaq walked into what was clearly the estate office, smiling as he saw a face he recognized. “Councilman Pope, how lovely to see you again,” he said, crossing the floor and bowing before taking the outstretched hand. “Are you well?”
“I am, thank you for asking. I see you’ve been promoted since the last time we met.” Councilman Pope was smiling as they shook hands. “Should the World Council anticipate more urgent messages for policy changes coming across our desks or less?”
“I feel that might depend a lot on how this meeting goes.” Jaq indicated Serron and Patin. “Have you met Crown Prince Serron of Monce, and Patin, Duke of Folkon?”
“Gentlemen.” Councilman Pope’s nod was brief and in keeping with the World Council greeting protocol. While technically, royal family members were the highest ranked people in any country, the World Council held a ranking above and yet aside from the typical social rankings. “One of my companions is a scribe who will record the meeting through magical means, and of course, I never travel without my truth sayer.”
Both of the people, shrouded in monogrammed black cloaks and long hoods, nodded in greeting but didn’t speak. “Shall we sit down and then perhaps you can begin? Crown Prince Consort Jaq, as you submitted this request, you have the floor.”
Ignoring his husbands for now, Jaq focused on the one person who had the power to change his life. “Councilman Pope, I should preface this by saying that this policy change is in direct relation to my own change of personal circumstances. However, my request for change will be backed by facts well supported in both anecdotal and legal precedents that could impact other people in similar situations.
“Put simply, I would like a policy put in place that would allow someone in my own circumstances – that of being in a same sex royal marriage – to have a third party considered in equal status to my own, due to the nature of their own personal relationship with the person I married.”
Jaq heard Serron gasp and Patin might have mumbled something, but he kept his focus where it was needed. “This is not something that is being brought before you as a personal whim, however. Indeed, due to an incident that occurred last night, the lack of this policy could be proven to have detrimental harm on one or more of the parties involved.”
He laid out his case efficiently and with little emotion, focusing on legal precedents and anecdotal evidence recorded in the World Council’s own files relating to same sex marriages among royals.
Jaq covered the law in how it related to heirs, succession, and regency, reinforcing the point that those laws would not be disrupted whether a same sex couple chose to have a family together or not.
He explained how by bringing relationships such as the one he shared with Serron and Patin out into the open, the royal family concerned would set an honest example for their people, reducing the possibilities of blackmail or causing a person to have their reputation suffer if a liaison outside of marriage might be found out.
“In truth, Councilman Pope,” Jaq said at last. “It is my belief that allowing such a practice among consenting and fully informed adults, the harmony between royal spouses would be increased, thereby providing more stability to the countries they ruled. That concludes my presentation. Did you have any questions?”
“I have a few.” Councilman Pope chuckled. “As always, I appreciate your presentation is handled with minimum fuss and fluff. Truly, you’re a joy to listen to compared to some long-winded rubbish I’m forced to hear every day. But take a seat. Have some water, or better yet, some coffee. I would bet my robe that you were woken within two clicks of hurrying down here this morning to meet me.”
“I wouldn’t take that wager, sir.” Jaq sat down and took the mug of coffee Patin handed him with a smile. “What did I neglect to cover?”
“I’m more interested in why you think this is important,” Councilman Pope said, tapping his copy of the papers Jaq filed the night before. “In most cases, especially among high-ranking people, it is generally accepted that if one party to a marriage, or both for that matter, had another significant other they weren’t able to marry for whatever reason, that both parties simply refused to include a fidelity clause in their contract.
“Provided their liaisons with their significant other doesn’t cause an embarrassment to their spouse, most people turn a blind eye to that situation. I did check on your marriage contract before coming here today. Your contract with Crown Prince Serron includes no fidelity clause.”
“Legally, morally, and honestly, it couldn’t contain that clause,” Jaq said, holding onto his mug as he leaned forward. “Serron and Patin informed me about the nature of their relationship when they first approached me. That’s why I agreed to marry them because they were honest about it.”
“I admit such honesty is unusual and refreshing,” Councilman Pope said. “But if you entered into this marriage, aware of the crown prince’s relationship with the Duke of Folkon, and accepted the lack of fidelity clause in your marriage, why are you seeking to have the duke’s status to be equal to your own, and for you to be recognized as a throuple , I believe is the word you used?”
“First, I believe Patin deserves to be considered crown prince consort,” Jaq said firmly. “He and Serron’s relationship has endured for twelve years, and Patin is far more than Serron’s bed partner. He is an adviser, his valet, his bodyguard, and, in short, is indispensable to Serron as his friend, and that is a view shared by them both.
“It is not my place to speak of why Serron sought a marriage contract with me, but I am sure you’ve seen many cases yourself, sir, where a person with royal blood is expected to marry someone with a ranking similar to their own, regardless of their personal feelings in the matter.”
Councilman Pope nodded. “It happens more times than I can count, and I’ll admit most of that is due to World Council influence and policies, many of which are likely due to be renegotiated to make them more fitting with the times in due course. But go on. You mentioned that was the first point.”
“The second point relates to an incident last night.” Jaq quickly explained how he’d almost been abducted and what happened afterward. “The point is, that because this abduction attempt was at night, people were ready for bed, Serron and Patin had to stop and take the time to be respectably dressed before they could save me. That, to me, is ludicrous. A similar case in point was when I got stuck up a tree – don’t ask how I got up there, it was very embarrassing.”
Councilman Pope chuckled. “You are going to have to share that story with me one day, in private,” he added.
“In private and off the record,” Jaq agreed. “But the point still remained that first, Serron couldn’t climb up the tree and save me despite wanting to because he was a crown prince of the realm and was not allowed to jeopardize his safety for mine.
“That was a fair point. He is an heir, and I was simply his spouse. But Patin, who did save me, couldn’t even give me a hug to comfort me afterward, although both men were visibly relieved when my feet hit the ground again. That was all because other people were around.
“This posturing and having to remember one’s status in life all the time is part of the fabric of our society and even if I don’t like it, I do understand why we have laws and protocols in place.
“But in my opinion, if someone like myself, who is contracted to marry someone who already has strong feelings for a third person – and we all get along – why shouldn’t that relationship be visible, public, and provide equal benefits to all three parties if it doesn’t hurt anyone else? It just seems like the most honest way to conduct ourselves, and ensures more stability for the reign as well.”
“Your demand for honesty has always been respected and appreciated.” Councilman Pope indicated his truth sayer. “When Silvia knew who we were coming to hear speak, she told me she might just as well stay home. Everyone knows you do not lie.”
“I have no need to.” Jaq put his coffee cup down on the small side table beside him. “Councilman Pope, there is no law against a commoner being granted consort status. There is no law in any of the books that states a marriage can only be between two people. Simply because it’s the norm, it doesn’t mean it’s the only way. I fail to see how it can cause a problem.”
“I am still concerned about the issues of succession,” Councilman Pope said. “If something should happen to Crown Prince Serron once he becomes king, then with two consorts of equal status, who would rule in his place?”
“In our particular example,” Jaq said, “Serron’s heir is already determined. As the remaining spouses, Patin and I would retire out of the public eye, the way any other spouse would when there was an heir in place. If, for some reason, we had to rule for a period of time - if Serron’s cousin was already deceased and his children not yet old enough to rule for example - then we would do so as joint consorts together until that child came of age. Of course, the World Council could rule otherwise, but that arrangement makes sense to me.”
“That is a good point. The World Council is good at ruling over things like that. But what about a case where one party, a king, for example, insisted that his new spouse accept a third later in their marriage against their spouse’s will? How will this policy protect people from that scenario?”
“I had considered that,” Jaq said. “I believe my policy limitations should prevent that from ever happening. If you consider my list of prerequisites for this type of policy to be implemented in a specific case, it only relates to royal family members who already have a long-standing relationship with someone who might not be considered a suitable spouse.
“This could be perhaps related to the laws of the land or because the royal person in question has deep respect for their parents who might oppose the elevation of their companion’s status. This policy is not for anyone who is already married and then seeks to take a third into their relationship.”
He frowned. “I don’t see how that could even happen if the married couple were already wed, as that would contravene the contract they’ve already signed.”
“I was thinking of relationships between men and women,” Councilman Pope said.
“This policy wouldn’t apply.” Jaq shook his head firmly. “I have nothing against traditional marriages, but the amount of consideration that would have to be included in a marriage contract where perhaps a second female or male might be included, wouldn’t work in light of the succession laws.
“Because children are naturally possible in marriages between members of the opposite sex, the situation would get too messy and require a mass of clauses in such a contract for it to be remotely possible. My policy specifically relates to same sex contracts where the rights of succession have already been established.”
Councilman Pope turned to Serron who’d been sitting silently. “You haven’t said anything, Crown Prince Serron. What do you think of your husband’s policy? Is it your wish that Patin, Duke of Folkon be granted the same status allowed for Crown Prince Consort Jaq, and perhaps just as importantly, do you believe by doing so, you can treat each consort fairly and equally both in public and within the law?”