Chapter 15
Maple
Reading Sagan’s response to those catty bitches and their pathetic segment on the trap that had been sprung on her had broken part of my soul. I once again cursed out Rhys and Amelia where they were with the gods.
How could they not have protected her better? How could they not have loved her more so she could love herself so she didn’t suffer for peace?
I wasn’t sure, but my mind reeled with what to do as I read it again.
“Equality for women in Thovudin will not be achieved by our gender behaving as badly as the men we chastise.
I was disappointed and honestly disgusted by the behavior of the hosts of Our Perspectives.
The seventeen men who come from the families of our area leaders and are respected in Thovudin are not stud horses.
“They are not sports players with stats to be traded nor collectables people should aspire to have a group of.
They are people. People of our country and dragons.
I understand there are shows where cameras roll and the entertainment is drama, but this is about the mating of a world leader and our future as a nation.
“It’s not a light matter to discuss during the commercial break and how attractive a pair of men would look at a function.
It’s grotesque. These are men willing to see if they are the right match to support the ruler of a country as my mother did my father.
They are leaving their family, jobs, and lives because of a tragedy and the co-hosts ranked their body parts on a points system.
“We are better than this as women. I won’t bother sharing my thoughts on what was said about me, but any woman with intelligence who has been torn down by other women knows that answer. It was shameful. We as women should always support each other.
“That’s all I will say on the matter besides the next time someone in the public spotlight loses weight from grief when they lost loved ones, I hope they aren’t treated as I was.
I hope people check they are being supported and words of kindness are passed along while they are suffering instead of comments the weight loss was overdue.
“I am so very glad some women are thrilled about the change of my suit size even if it took the loss of my parents, the leaders of Thovudin. I pray to the gods that sanity returns to people and they find their priorities and that no one—no one ever experiences the same when they lose their loved ones, especially so soon after it happens.”
If that wasn’t enough, hearing from Myriam that Sagan skipped two meetings and it took effort to get her out of bed had me wiping tears. Sagan was so much stronger than all of us and it wasn’t the stupid pettiness of those women… It was simply the last straw.
It was the tunnel that she was stumbling through that never had any sort of light or hope.
Fraser, Darren, and I were all on the same page about that. We were worried for Sagan and how this madness with all the Alpha families forcing prospective mating candidates could break her in her grief.
And we weren’t sure if that wasn’t the plan.
So we were making plans of our own behind the scenes to help Sagan. Would I have preferred to talk to her directly and make it clear to the public that I was on her side and had her back?
Yes. Yes, of course I would have, but the way things were going they would have twisted everything around to act like she needed us to survive. Or we were abusing her—using her.
We just didn’t know, so we all agreed to do what we could quietly. Darren directly only since he wasn’t a royal and was an incredibly smart choice for Sagan to have as an advisor.
Right then, I was on the assignment I’d given myself, but I was going to go off script a bit. I’d caught enough of the Monday morning reactions to the show and Sagan’s response that just about everyone wanted a comment from her or anyone they could.
Why not give the people what they wanted?
“I’m being told we have Princess Maple on the line,” the anchor of the biggest lunchtime news show said after I came off hold.
And they just so happened to be the station that was the main competition of the one that aired Our Perspectives.
Fun, right?
“Thank you for letting me interrupt your busy program,” I greeted after he did me in the appropriate and respectful manner.
“Of course, the honor is ours. I assume this is in response to the statement your niece the queen put out?”
I chuckled lightly. “Oh, no, Sagan’s statement was elegant and as impeccable as she always is. I couldn’t improve upon it if I spent hours trying. No, I had some thoughts about how their lack of professionalism as a news commentary show should be discussed between actual members of the press.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand what you mean,” he hedged.
“More like there are so many ways we could chastise their behavior that your list of options is too long. No, of course, let me specify my upset that it was discovered that my brother and his mate died because of corruption and neglect to their planes and that wasn’t discussed on their show or others.
It was ignored while people focused on what the high priest leaked illegally.
“Doesn’t that upset you and others in your field who are decorated for actually reporting news?
Three elders gave jobs to unqualified members of their family, falsifying their resumes and pressuring the royal family to hire them to keep their favor.
If that wasn’t enough, they were embezzling funds meant for upkeep and it led to the deaths of our nation’s leaders.
“How is that less important than the rumored list of who could be considered as a candidate to mate Sagan? Doesn’t that speak to the nation’s priorities and even possibly some corruption in the media?
That show didn’t even discuss what the high priest did or who was supporting this movement.
The elders’ reach is far, and yet—I cannot be the only one who worries? ”
“No, you’re not, Princess,” he confirmed. “Not only because of the possible leaks in the castle and how the high priest received this list—”
“Not to point fingers or say it couldn’t have been that way, but most of the elders, every Alpha, and a few of their respective parties were at that conference.
The amount of people at that meeting where it was discussed was long, so it’s not as simple as someone in the castle slipped the high priest a list. Or the ward who tried to give herself the title of princess who bedded the high priest did. ”
He cleared his throat, probably shocked I was so bold to say that.
For Sagan? Damn right I would.
I’d do a lot more than that and honestly tank my reputation to help her. To take some of the pressure off of her with the media.
In a heartbeat.
I talked with him a bit longer about the integrity of the media currently and the state of reporting, honestly impressed with how intelligent and easily he handled my challenging of so much. He was quick on his feet and undoubtedly deserved his role.
“It was genuinely a pleasure talking with you, and you give me hope that with the right voices in the right time slots things can turn around,” I praised him.
“Thank you, Princess, that’s high praise from you.”
“I will make sure you have my personal cell number after I speak with your segment manager again.”
He coughed for a moment. “I’m sorry?”
I chuckled, understanding what he thought.
“I wasn’t asking you out. I’m saying this was productive and I’m keeping the line of communication open so the next time you have real questions for a member of the royal family, you, as a reliable and honorable member of the media, have a direct line.
That’s the goal. Freeze out the problems and get back to actual news. ”
But it was flattering he stumbled over himself at the idea. He was very handsome.
And amusing.
“We’ve located her, Your Highness,” the head of my security told me about ten minutes after I’d wrapped up the call. “She’s been escorted to a quiet location.”
I snorted. “She let them.” I stood and followed him, ignoring when he was frowning. I understood they would take it as an insult because they were fantastic at their jobs, but… She let them.
I wished some of them would try for jobs to protect Sagan, but I understood why a lot of private security preferred to stay private even when working for the royal family still.
Being a Queen’s Guard was seen as a calling and life allegiance whereas my security could retire or change jobs when they wanted.
It was also the pressure of protecting me, but that was very different than protecting one of the most powerful leaders in the world. Still, I hoped a few did.
Even if it meant I was less secure. The company could hire more.
Sagan was at risk of snakes using her situation to her advantage. For now, I thought it smart to sneak in some private security until the situation was fixed, but Fraser didn’t think that possible.
Who would know? They didn’t have to be the visible ones. Have them in the security office and other roles.
Why did men always make things so much more complicated?
“Long time no see, Belinda,” I greeted the mystic dragon.
She barely dipped her head to me, basically saying she had no problem with me, but not what she should do given my birth. She never did, but it made the others in the room go tense.
And that was before she doubled down.
“Glad to see you’re taking your security more seriously, Maple.” She focused on the truth dragon with me. “I’m of no threat to her. You can leave us.”
I snorted but waved them off when one of them went to blast her. “It’s fine, she more than deserves her disdain for our family. I’m amused because I know reality and she could fool you and your dragon should she want.”