Chapter 65 #2
“We unfortunately can’t just send her home,” I said.
“Too many diplomatic pitfalls if we try, and legally, we can’t interfere, as it’s Victor’s engagement.
All that said, I don’t know if Victor even wants to marry her at this point.
She’s already publicly thrown him over in favor of you several times, which is embarrassing, if nothing else.
You’re now king, so once he hears you’re on the throne, he might choose to give up the whole idea altogether. ”
James nodded. “I think you’re correct. I suppose we can offer him the same options as before. Either exile in one of Beatrice’s villas or an exile out of the country with a lump sum. Either way, I don’t care what his parents have promised him, he’s not getting reinstated.”
“I feel like you’re being very generous after all he’s done.”
“I agree, but I also think he’s not intelligent enough to take the deal. If he refuses, it’ll leave him to the tender mercies of Ascor for defiling their daughter. If they for some reason are lenient, he’ll be at the mercy of the world then, and honestly, I don’t think he’ll survive for long.”
Considering his own stupidity had gotten him killed in the first life?
I had to agree. James’s offer might be to assuage his own conscience, but I was fine with that if it helped him sleep better at night.
I personally didn’t care one way or another.
Putting Victor in a safe place with a budget would be cheaper than constantly coming in behind him to clean up his messes. Not to mention less stressful.
Helena swallowed the bite in her mouth before tacking on, “I think you’re right, he won’t take it, but I’ll be there with you to try and talk him into it. I’d rather not see Victor again, honestly.”
“I don’t think anyone wants to. We will need Patrick to do one last thing before he leaves,” James mused.
“Or perhaps I can do it. I’ll check with Galbraith to make sure I’m not tripping over any laws, but someone has to let Lenville know the situation has drastically changed.
We must do that no matter what Victor decides, because the Ascorian monarchs need to understand there won’t be a formal royal engagement to anyone. ”
“Make it a tomorrow problem,” I said. “We have too much to do now.”
“Speaking of”—Helena looked between us—“what can I do to help?”
“Help me,” I said. “I need to plan a crowning ceremony and joint wedding ceremony.”
“Oh, yes, that’s a tall order. When?”
“End of the month?” James glanced between us as if judging whether this was feasible.
I immediately panicked. “Less than a month?! Are you insane? It’ll take that long to get invitations printed and sent out!”
“James,” Helena rebuked, “do not stress out your new husband. Three months at least.”
Even three months was pushing it. Very much pushing it.
James sighed and acquiesced. “Fine. Three months.”
We fell to planning in rough, broad strokes; we didn’t have time to really get into the details. Good thing I had Helena’s support, which would turn the tide decidedly in my favor, because the workload coming in my direction was absolutely insane. I’d take all the help I could get.
With so very much to do, most of it needing to happen all at once, I chose to go into the office early the next morning. I needed a little time alone to think, as well—something I’d not gotten at all yesterday.
I intended to sit at my desk and consult the calendar, try to find the soonest opening to bring my family here and tell them in person what had happened, but the moment I sat down, it all hit me.
This wasn’t my desk anymore.
This might not even be my office anymore?
Would I share offices with James? Share staff? Gods below, no, that was too much work for one group of people. I’d either need to set up my own office or bring in more people. I couldn’t just use this same body of staff and assume they could handle the work of two monarchs.
What would my responsibilities even be? Beatrice had been more of a hostess in function; she did very little with political impact.
The office of “queen” wasn’t a robust political power.
Would I just step into her shoes and assume what little she did do?
No, wait, James had said he wanted me as an equal partner, so that was clearly not what he intended for me.
I didn’t like the idea of doing so little, either, not when I knew well the workload of a king.
Still, could I do this? Would I even be good at ruling, as other people had already assumed? Would the people I’d spent over a decade working with be able to accept this change and see me as a king?
How could they, when I didn’t feel like a king at all?
The door opened and I looked up, surprised to see Ramsey walking inside. He gave me a slight smile as he closed the door behind him, then came straight up to the desk before giving me a bow.
“Your Majesty, congratulations on your marriage and your ascension to the throne.”
This man had known me since I’d started as a runner in the palace. He’d watched, in fact, three generations ascend the throne. If this man who had seen it all could so easily and sincerely greet me, then perhaps there was hope after all.
I bowed in return. “Thank you, Ramsey. I admit to having second thoughts.”
“You shouldn’t.” He straightened and gave me a piercing look, the one that made you feel as if he could see every wayward thought.
“Word has already spread among the staff. You have no idea how excited they all are, clearly; otherwise, you’d not be sitting there looking like the world has dropped on your shoulders.
They cheered, Edwin. When they heard James had been made king and married you, they cheered. I saw a few people cry in pure relief.”
I couldn’t quite imagine that. “They cheered?”
“They did. Finally, finally, they have a voice. With King James at the helm, with you at his side, they know the people’s voices will be heard.”
Well, fuck, and didn’t that put the whole situation into perspective? They were entirely right. I wouldn’t ignore someone coming to me with a problem, nor would I care what rank the person held. In that regard, wasn’t I already better than the previous monarchs?
Food for thought indeed.
Ramsey wasn’t done. “I came not only to congratulate you but also to relay several offers.”
“I can’t imagine what you’re about to say next,” I managed around a choked laugh. “And somehow, I can. What offers?”
“First, all of Queen Beatrice’s and King Patrick’s staff from the secretarial side wish to join you and King James.”
I knew all of them, knew how capable they were, and didn’t need to think on the decision. “I’ll accept them, every single one.”
He gave me an approving nod. “Very good. Will you take over the queen’s study, then?”
“Hmm, about that, I’m not sure if I want to. I’d prefer my desk to be side by side with James’s, in fact, so we can confer with each other as needed. None of this back-and-forth, he said, he said nonsense.”
“You’ll be co-ruler and not consort, then?”
I faltered. “James has said he wants to make me co-ruler, but I don’t…I don’t know? I do not want to be consort in some ways, as that will limit how much I can help him, and I don’t want to leave the full burden of ruling on James. But I wasn’t educated on how to be king—”
Ramsey snorted. “My young monarch, you spent fifteen years learning how the palace operates from the ground up. You are more qualified than Queen Beatrice was when she first took the throne.”
If anyone would know, this man would. “How bad were those early days?”
“Bad. It’s why her role was whittled down to what she now does. Or used to do, I should say. Hosting alone was not the proper role of queen before. It was adjusted to what she could reliably handle.”
Well, that said a lot, didn’t it?
Ramsey softened a little and leaned in, a small smile gracing his face.
“Edwin, if I could handpick a man to rule this country, it wouldn’t be anyone from the royal family, not even King James.
I’d pick you. King James is formidable and does a good job, but you understand the nuts and bolts of how a country is run.
Because you’re a commoner by blood, people will more readily turn to you for help.
They’re not going to be as intimidated. Those outside the palace who don’t know you might not understand why King James chose you as his co-ruler.
But those of us who do know you understand it perfectly.
Do not second-guess yourself. You are far more qualified than any monarch who has come before you. ”
My eyes grew misty. I hadn’t known he thought so highly of me and respected me this much. He’d touched my heart. I respected Ramsey a great deal, and he’d been a mentor as I’d grown into my role as a palace secretary, so if he had faith in me, then I should believe in myself.
Silly doubts, you needed to leave. I had things to do and no time to doubt myself.
“You said what I needed to hear. Thank you, Ramsey. I suppose I felt overwhelmed.”
“By rights, you should be. Not everyone is married and made king in the same hour!”
I released a pained laugh. “Yes, quite. Well, what will you do now your charge has retired?”
“Retire,” he answered bluntly. Pulling an envelope from his pocket, he handed it to me. “In fact, I came in part to give my resignation. It’s long overdue.”
“Indeed, so it is, but I’m still very sorry to see you go.”
“Thank you. I still want to attend your coronation.”
“I’ll make sure you have the best seat,” I promised him. “Will you leave by end of next week as well? I assume you want to stay long enough to transfer the work.”
“I will.”
The door opened again, and this time it was James and Knight Commander Harland who strode in. James spied Ramsey and greeted him warmly.
“Hello, Ramsey. I trust you’re here for a good reason? Not because something untoward has happened?”
“I’m tendering my resignation,” he explained.
“Ah. Well, I can’t say I’m surprised, but I am sorry to see you go.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I do wish to attend the coronation.”
“I’ve promised him the best seat,” I threw in.
“As you should.” James extended his hand, shaking Ramsey’s. “Thank you for your service. I know it wasn’t easy.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Also, I must relay that everyone who has heard the news of your marriage and ascension to the throne cheered. Many people have volunteered to be your new staff. And King Edwin’s, of course.
I will spend the rest of the week transferring things over to your office, as well as anything that needs to be dealt with, and am happy to reorganize the staff before I go. ”
“I will happily take your assistance.”
Commander Harland came closer to my desk and asked, “Do you have specific knights you like?”
For a full second, his question sounded nonsensical to me. Why did it matter if I had knights I liked? Then it hit me—I was a monarch now. Consort or king, didn’t matter, I had to be protected.
Which meant I now had my own knights.
Or would, once I picked them out.
“You’ll need at least a dozen,” James said.
I looked between their earnest, determined faces and felt overwhelmed all over again. “Can we try to tackle decisions one at a time? Starting with, are we going to publicly announce our marriage and ascension before we do things like move desks, staff, and knights around?”
James rocked on his heels. “Huh. We should probably do a formal announcement before making staff changes. It’ll get confusing and messy otherwise.”
Ramsey gave me a speaking look, as if to say See what I mean? You understand the nuts and bolts better.
I understood his look and agreed with him on some level. Which meant, all said and done, it behooved me to be a king.
If I was going to sit on the throne, I was determined to do a good job.