Chapter 12
Twelve
James
After my very early morning conversation with Edwin, I felt like I’d taken three steps forward in closing the gap between us.
He reinforced the feeling on the way home from Berengar by not being as stiffly formal, to start with, actually riding alongside me a good portion of the trip.
Granted, we talked about work-related things, but still.
I’d take the win.
Once back in the palace, I immediately arranged a lunch with my three siblings.
I’d grown up an only child, so the idea of having siblings still seemed a bit odd for me.
In my first life, Victor had gotten himself tragically killed about a year into my adoption, forcing me to take the throne.
Royce had holed up in his lab, so I’d barely had any interaction with him.
Helena had disappeared because her first marriage was so horrible.
I rarely saw her after she got married the second time because she’d avoided the palace like the plague.
I’d never had a chance to form any kind of relationship with any of my siblings in my first life.
I was determined to do a better job on the second go.
It took a few days to find the right timing.
Helena, at least, had things on her schedule.
Our lunch was catered in the palace garden—specifically the Queen’s Garden, but we had access.
Queen Beatrice wasn’t really a garden type person; she preferred her activities indoors to protect her pale skin.
Six knights were posted around the garden’s edge—far enough away to give us privacy to talk, but close enough to respond in case of an emergency.
Not that any of us expected a fight to break out, but I never knew with this family.
The garden was lovingly kept, with thick shade trees and flower beds lining the walkway.
The beds were in full bloom, a mix of snapdragons, daffodils, hyacinths, daisies, and neatly trimmed hedges as borders.
It smelled fantastic back here, the floral scent notable but not overpowering.
I took in a deep breath and enjoyed the scent in my nose, the sunshine on my face.
Having lunch outside today was an excellent idea.
Helena was already sitting at the table under the portico when I arrived.
She’d always fancied bold colors, and today was no exception, as she wore a day dress of emerald green.
Her smile looked polite more than genuine, but hopefully that would change by the time lunch ended. I wanted to be on good terms with her.
“Hello, sister mine,” I greeted, drawing my chair back so I could sit next to her. “I’m sorry we haven’t had a proper conversation before this. The awful dinner we were subjected to doesn’t count, in my book. I actually wanted to talk to you before I got adopted, but…well.”
“Our parents rushed the process,” she admitted with a wry face. “Not your fault. How are you, James?”
“Settling in well. My staff is impeccable, which is reassuring. I’m still juggling my business while learning the ropes here.” Or would have been, if this was my first time doing all of this. “How are you, Helena?”
“I’m fine.”
Again, her smile wasn’t at all genuine. She masked a great deal, which didn’t surprise me. That would change, though. I was determined to be a better brother to her this time around.
I deliberately looked at the two empty chairs. “Either both are running late, or…”
“I doubt very much Victor will show. He’s normally hungover and asleep at this time.”
I’d be shocked if Victor showed. He partied all night and wasn’t exactly happy I was here.
“I take it him sleeping all day and partying all night is why I’m saddled with most of his responsibilities?”
Helena sighed, looking off to the side. “Yes. I keep hoping our parents will finally remove him from the position of crown prince, as he’s not fit for it. They seem inclined to give him another chance, though.”
“They shouldn’t. He’s had too many as it is.”
“On that, we agree.”
Royce came scuttling up with a notebook clutched to his chest. Unless I was mistaken, he’d been in his lab—he still wore the stark white overcoat on top of his stained shirt and black pants.
His bedhead was epic, his black hair sticking straight up in the back, so at least he’d slept?
Hadn’t shaved, though. His oval face sported a good four-day growth.
He gave something that might have been a “good day,” then sat and guzzled a glass of water down straight. Since he was very much the type to forget to eat when engrossed in his projects, I wasn’t surprised by his thirst.
“Royce,” I greeted. “How are you?”
“Don’t have much time,” he said, refilling his glass immediately. “But felt I should have lunch.”
Royce was a good person, truly, he just had a very narrow focus.
The fact that he’d still heed a lunch invitation from me was proof.
“Thank you for coming. I wanted to get to know you better since we’re now siblings.
Also, a reassurance: I do not want the throne.
But I do want our country to flourish, so I’m here to help with the administration and projects to enrich the country. ”
Both of them looked at me askance, like they weren’t sure if they could believe me.
“That said, if there’s anything I can do to help you meet your own personal goals, I’ll be happy to lend a hand.”
Royce stared me dead in the eye for a long second before challenging, “So you’re not going to argue with me about my research?”
“How can I,” I countered easily, “if I don’t know what you’re researching?”
He spluttered, staring at me longer, like he couldn’t believe me. “So you want me to tell you?”
“Well, yes. I don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I’m trying to find a cure for salence.”
A horrible disease, literally strangling people to death, that unfortunately cropped up during the winter months. In the future, it would kill nearly half the population before we could stop it. I knew Royce would indeed find the cure, and I wasn’t about to dissuade him.
“An excellent thing to focus on. What progress have you made?”
He lit up like I’d asked him the key question to winning the kingdom. “I’ve isolated the main cause.”
Oh? He’d been hard at work. “Can you outline preventative measures for avoiding the disease, then?”
“A basic measure, yes.”
“Any measure is better than none. Let’s spread the word as best we can to people. Prevention is often the best cure. But I do want to support your work, if I may? I heartily believe this is a cure we need.”
“I, uh”—Royce was definitely overwhelmed by my show of support, but a smile stretched from ear to ear—“yes, of course. I’m honestly low on funding for what I need to test next, and I’d resigned myself to waiting until next quarter’s budget. I don’t know if you can help?”
“For this, I’ll either find money or pull money out of my own budget.
” I meant every word. The faster he found the cure, the more lives saved.
Plus, it automatically put me in better standing with him.
“Can you come by my office tomorrow? We can talk about what preventative measures to coach people on and how much you need. All the nitty-gritty details.”
“Yes, of course!”
“Good. I’ll tell my people to expect you.” Maids approached with trays so I added, “Ah, excellent, lunch has arrived. Let’s dig in. I’m quite famished.”
Conversation paused there as we were served. I bit into a very scrumptious salad with fresh salmon, my mouth happy.
“James.” Helena moved lettuce about with her fork, her attention clearly not on the food. “You really intend on being a brother to us?”
“Well, yes. I grew up an only child. I’m actually quite excited to finally have siblings.”
Helena was clearly judging every word coming out of my mouth. Whatever she decided, she acted upon it immediately. “If you’re sincere, I would like some help on an issue.”
“Name it.” I didn’t know what she’d ask for, although I could hazard a guess.
“Our parents seem to listen to you. Help me break my engagement.”
Ah-ha, I’d guessed correctly. “Helena, I have to tell you, I’m so glad you brought that up.”
She blinked, her clear blue eyes puzzled. “You are?”
“Yes. I’ve already heard rumors about Lord Gillespie and they’re…alarming. I think alarming is the right word. I’m told this man doesn’t have the mental capacity to even dress himself.”
Royce snorted as he put a bite on his fork. “He doesn’t.”
“He also has the temper of a three-year-old denied a treat. I’m both appalled on your behalf, because you certainly deserve a better spouse, and afraid of what would happen if you two did marry.
” Afraid because I knew precisely what would happen.
“A man with his stupidity shouldn’t have power to wield over people. ”
She sank back into her chair, huffing a breath. “I’m so relieved. Thank you. That’s precisely the point I’ve argued and failed to get across to Mother.”
“I heard this man is the son of her friend?”
“Yes, you’re correct. Mother’s wrapped up in the romance of it all, tying our families together by marriage so she’ll be related to her friend. She completely ignores the fact that he’s a fucking idiot.”
I’d never heard Helena swear and was immediately charmed. She wasn’t holding anything back now. “I was warned about him before the adoption and have in fact been researching him on my own. I’ve found some truly disturbing things, starting with him having multiple bastard children.”
Helena nearly dropped her glass. “He what?!”
“Didn’t know that, I see? I’ll give you the report so you can read it later, but he’s got at least three kids, the youngest being about six months old.
Lord Gillespie is also incredibly gullible and, I believe, in cahoots with Victor in all the wrong ways.
It’s why I’m very, very glad you are actively trying to break the engagement.
I will do everything I can to help, and quickly.
You do not deserve to suffer because Mother has Ideas. ”