Chapter 16 #2
He already knew he valued her insights. She should have a seat on the Council soon. It would need to be officially approved by the rest of the Council, but they shouldn't have any reason to deny her.
Unless they tried to use her dual citizenship. Filling the seat might have to wait until her dual citizenship paperwork was completed. It had been official as soon as they were legally married.
Abruptly, Victoria moved the chair to it's upright position and stood, leaving the blanket hanging over the arm. "I need to get back." She waited for him to stand and join her.
Enzo winced as he stood. His backside felt almost numb. How long had they been there anyway? He wouldn't check his watch or phone. Victoria was more important. The two things he knew for certain were that it had to be past lunchtime and the sun wasn't anywhere near setting.
"I would love it if you would join me for lunch." He waited for her to leave through the opening then followed her.
"I didn't order anything."
The easy smile crossed his face, though he knew she couldn't see it.
"I am certain we can find something for you.
Chef will be delighted to ensure you have lunch.
" With that, he did pull his phone out of his pocket.
Though it wasn't for the purpose of checking the time, he noted it had been longer than he thought.
He sent a message to the kitchen to have lunch sent to their quarters as soon as possible.
When they reached a corridor Enzo had recognized, he rested a hand on her back and gently urged her away from the direction she'd planned to go. "This way will take us to our quarters. Lunch will be there before long."
Victoria didn't say anything, but did walk with him through the back corridors until they reached a narrow set of stairs leading to the family quarters above.
Once they made it to their living quarters, he could tell a bit of strain left Victoria's shoulders.
A light lunch already waited for them. As they ate, Victoria led the conversation but avoided the topics he would have preferred to address. It would have to be on her terms and in her time.
One thing she did want to discuss was an event the next evening that had been scheduled for over a year. The black-tie fundraiser for the arts was one his mum attended every year. He wouldn't miss it unless it was absolutely unavoidable.
"Do we need to color coordinate?" She took the bite of salad off her fork. "Or is that not something that you do in Dellisole?"
"I honestly have no idea. I guess ask the stylist? Or I can ask my valet. Either one of them should know. Do you know what dress you're going to wear?"
"I've got a couple in mind. One is a rose and burgundy filmy, flowing dress.
The other is an emerald green color and more of a traditional evening gown, I guess.
" Using her fork to push the rest of her salad around on the plate, she didn't look at him.
"I don't know what's really considered appropriate by the people for the queen at an event like this. "
Enzo knew he had no idea. "I have no doubt anything you chose would be both acceptable and lovely, but if you want confirmation or advice, have a meeting with the stylist. She won't steer you wrong."
Victoria gave a nod.
A notification on his phone told him he needed to get back to his office, but he didn't want to leave Victoria if she was still feeling vulnerable.
"You have another meeting?" She looked at him this time but seemed to have carefully schooled her expression.
"I do," he confirmed. "Unfortunately, this one can't be postponed."
"I understand. Go."
After giving her a kiss, Enzo went to his office. The meeting with the Chairman of the Council was as exciting as he would have thought - not at all. He did broach the subject of Victoria's seat.
"When will my wife be granted her seat on the Council?"
The Chairman couldn't hide his look of... contempt? Disdain? Enzo couldn't be certain but knew it wasn't a look of approval.
"She won't be. As a subject of the Southern Santierian crown, she's ineligible for a seat on the Council."
"That's not accurate." Enzo did know that much, at least not for the seat reserved for either the consort or the heir. "And you know it. Besides which, she legally has dual citizenship."
The other man let out a snort. "If you wanted your wife to be on the Council, you should have married a Dellisolian.
At the very least, you should have sought the approval of the Council and Parliament.
If you had, any concerns could have been addressed much sooner.
Since you didn't, and your wife is not a native Dellisolian as well as a member of the line of succession in another country, there is no obligation to seat her. "
Enzo leaned forward slightly. "The queen is entitled to the spot. If you won't seat her in a timely fashion, I will enact Section 47, Subsection D of the Council Charter."
He didn't need to say anything more for the color to drain from the Chairman's face.
"You wouldn't dare," the Chairman hissed.
Leaning back in his chair with a nonchalance he hoped was convincing, Enzo simply gave a shrug as though to say try me.
Would he really be able to forcibly remove the Chairman?
Maybe. Maybe not. But the threat of it should be enough.
Even if the attempt wasn't successful, it would be big news.
the process hadn't been started in over a century.
The pressure from the media and subsequently from the people should be enough to force his hand.
The challenge to the supposed authority of the Chairman seemed to surprise the other man as much as it surprised Enzo that he actually had the fortitude to do it.
"I'll look into it." The noncommittal answer was as much as could be expected at this point.
"I expect you will arrive at the appropriate conclusion quickly." If things didn't progress in the next few days, Enzo would make an appeal to the full Council. They would likely have a very different attitude and have no qualms about removing the Chairman from his seat.
It wasn't the way Enzo wanted to go about it, but he would if given no other choice.
His wife was worth it.