Chapter 65
Sixty-five
Edwin
Eventually, we called for lunch to be brought up to our rooms. After a nice bath together, I felt more physically relaxed. I could not say the same mentally. After having a few hours to adjust to the idea, the realization of what I had taken on, work-wise, seemed overwhelming.
I had literally become royalty.
While I appreciated those who had reassured me I was perfect for the job, it didn’t change the fact that I had become a king. Consort. Something. With no warning! Even when I’d encouraged James to become king, I’d somehow overlooked my own position changing. Was this part of my Task too?
How—why—how had this even happened?
Despite living through it, I had no explanation.
Did I panic? It felt too late to panic. Worry, though…I could definitely worry. My anxiety grew like a sinkhole, growing ever wider and more chaotic by the second.
Nimus preserve me, what had I gotten myself into?
Perhaps my anxiety showed on my face. James pulled me to the couch and asked, “Second thoughts?”
“Not those, per se, just…” I stared at the carpet, trying to formulate my thoughts into words. “James, what am I? You called me a co-ruler before. But what am I exactly? A consort, a king, or—”
“Technically, at this moment, you’re a consort. You’re married to me but don’t have political power of your own, hence consort. However, I want that to change so you’re king with equal power to me.”
Needing to see his face, I lifted mine to face him properly. He seemed very serious, if understanding of my nerves. “Why?”
“Well, for one thing, I love you, and I can’t stand the thought of you not being seen as equal with me.
Especially when you are the better part of me.
Secondly, Galbraith is right—you can run this country blindfolded.
It makes no sense to limit your powers when you’re more than capable of doing the job.
Thirdly, it’s a matter of practicality. If, heaven forbid, something happens to me, I need you to be able to lead the country.
I don’t want the line of succession to be murky. ”
My unease settled a bit. If two of the most powerful men in the kingdom thought I could do the job, who was I to argue otherwise?
Still, I wasn’t blind to what kind of workload I was letting myself in for. How many decisions I’d make that would impact an entire country.
“I…Let me sleep on this,” I begged. “The reality hasn’t completely sunk in yet, I fear. The emotional impact of my decision is still hitting.”
“I think we both went through enough changes today. We should take some time to process before making the next decision.” James lifted a finger in warning. “Don’t overthink it too much. We don’t have time for it, frankly.”
“Ha.” I sighed, well able to understand what he meant. “I cannot argue that. Still, I’m stuck on the logistics. Having the power of a king means—”
The door was flung open and I scrambled to sit up, not sure who would dare to just barge into a king’s personal bedroom.
Helena.
Well, that figured.
“You got fucking married without me?”
Ah. She was full of righteous fury, completely irritated we had dared to do this momentous thing without her, and from the look of her, she had been at some sort of party.
She wore blue velvet from head to toe, a beautiful set of pearl jewelry, her hair in an elegant updo.
Under the anger I sensed hurt, though, which meant an apology was definitely in order.
I reached for my glasses even as James defended himself.
“It was a very spur-of-the-moment thing,” James explained hastily. “I tried calling for you, but you weren’t in the palace.”
“No, I was at a party! You couldn’t have delayed a few hours?” Hands on hips, her eyes cut to me. “And you’re now king as well? Edwin, for shame, I would have stood as a witness for you!”
“I know you would have. Again, we did try to call for you. Let us get dressed. Call for wine. We’ll give you the breakdown of events.”
She huffed, still glaring. “Fine.”
Then she marched right back out, slamming the door behind her.
James eyed the door uneasily, as if half convinced she’d charge back in at any second. “She’s rather irate.”
“I would be too, in her shoes.” I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache barreling in. “In fact, all my siblings and my parents are likely going to feel the same when they hear the news.”
“Oh. Shit.”
“You forgot about them, didn’t you?”
“Er, temporarily?”
I hadn’t, but there hadn’t been a way to quickly get them here, which was why I’d gone ahead with matters. However, alerting my family of all that had happened was high on my priority list.
Ugh, everything was high on my priority list. Everything. I didn’t even have a mental order for them. I just knew they had to all be done today.
I shook the thought off and went to dress. Not fully, but pants and shirt were enough to have lunch in, and honestly, with the mood Helena was in? She wasn’t going to be very patient waiting on us.
By the time we made it out, lunch had been served and Helena was tearing into a pastry. I felt famished, so I sat and followed suit.
“So.” She eyed James in particular, clearly putting most of the blame on his shoulders.
“Last I heard, I was a candidate for being your bride, and you were steadfastly refusing to even be king. Might I ask what happened? What changed your mind? I only got the briefest explanation, but apparently you managed to wrangle my parents into giving you full power and marry Edwin in the same breath.”
“Er, yes and no.” James doctored his tea while answering, expression wry. “Edwin negotiated me becoming king and your parents leaving the capital by the end of next week.”
Helena’s gaze flicked over to stare at me. “You did?”
“I did. I felt I had to, or we had to use plan B.” I glanced at my new husband. “Although he hasn’t fully explained why he went along with me.”
James’s nose scrunched up in distaste, but he did grudgingly answer.
“Much as I do not want the throne, the price of avoiding it became too steep. Our personal happiness versus losing everything we hold dear, including King’s Paper, the harm Patrick would willingly inflict on the country by defunding everything, and losing any chance of Paradise?
I just…floundered. How could I justify choosing my needs and desires over an entire country’s?
Your compromise might still put me on the throne, but you did it in such a way as to lessen the personal booby traps.
I’m confident my reign won’t be the same disaster it was the first time under the conditions you set. ”
Gods above and below, this man. This wonderful, caring man who would sacrifice himself for the greater good. Thank Vuheia for giving me a pointed shove, because clearly me stepping in was the only way to protect James from self-sabotage and a future too bleak to imagine.
“I didn’t get the details on what you negotiated,” Helena told me.
“Something about them immediately transferring all power to James, and James immediately using it to marry you? There was a lot of yelling as I got in. I did hear that my father threatened the well-being of the country in order to force your hand, which disgusts me. I honestly thought better of him, but he acted no different than a child throwing a tantrum to get his way. I also heard my parents are divorcing, retiring, and leaving within a week?”
“True, on all accounts,” James confirmed as he dug into his food. “Also part of what Edwin negotiated, and the main reason why I agreed.”
“The main sticking point, really, is that your parents can’t be trusted to keep a promise,” I pointed out to her.
“Remove them and their shaky memories from the equation, and half the battle’s won already.
I knew that and negotiated for them both to leave so they couldn’t meddle.
I hoped it would be enough to convince James to take the throne, and thankfully, I was correct. ”
“Don’t know why I didn’t think of getting Beatrice and Patrick out of the picture before,” James muttered.
“I was too focused on not taking the throne at all, I guess. Anyway, once Edwin put it out there, we all agreed. I called for Galbraith, and he put his seal to the agreement. Your parents are to pack and be gone by the end of next week.”
“You don’t even want them here for your crowning ceremony?”
“Not for any reason do I want them to linger.”
Helena made a face. “I suppose that’s fair, considering their history. Why marry on the spot? To prevent people from arguing with you?”
“More or less. I’m past the point of taking chances. Especially where Edwin’s concerned.”
“Also fair.” Her eyes narrowed on her brother’s face. “You intend to make Edwin co-ruler, then?”
“I do.”
“Good. Really, Edwin, I’m of the opinion you’d do a better job than anyone else.”
Hearing her say that was highly flattering, especially since I knew she meant it. “Thank you, Helena.”
“You’re welcome. I will absolutely support your rule, both of you. Now, I do have two questions.”
James had his mouth full but waved her on.
“Now can I have your business?” Helena gave him an arch look. “You can’t run it and the country at the same time. And you know I’m getting good at it.”
James sighed, eyes on her for a long moment, then shrugged. “Fine. You’ll stay as an intern for the next year because there’s still a lot for you to learn. But when I feel you’ve got a good grasp on running it, I’ll make you co-owner.”
“Ha! Thank you, James.”
“In return, your future children are my potential heirs.”
“Oh, are you and Edwin not going to do a surrogate?”
“Absolutely not. I won’t bed anyone else, not for any reason.”
“I suppose that’s fair. And we’d like to keep the succession clear, I suppose. Alright, agreed. I have no issue with that.” She rubbed her hands together, gleeful. “Now, second question. Whatever are you going to do with Victor and Valentina?”