Chapter 6
Frederick found himself feeling a sense of relief for the first time since he returned to Southern Santiero.
Yes, the thought of talking to Elise had occurred to him that first morning, but he didn't regret not doing so. This was her own choice, her own idea. He wasn't asking her to do anything, simply accepting her offer.
He suspected there would still be feelings of guilt from time to time, but he would always know he hadn't pressured her into something she wasn't certain about.
"So are you going to kiss me?" Elise's teasing tone pulled him out of his thoughts.
It didn't take much for him to lean forward and kiss her gently. Though very different from the kiss a few minutes earlier, it was no less meaningful for the change in their relationship.
"What do we need to do now?"
Frederick returned to his seat. "I'm not certain. I'll have George join us shortly. He knows the protocols. I suspect we'll need to either invite certain members of leadership to the legal ceremony or make sure they're informed under prescribed protocols. Then we'll have a ceremony."
"I will have to go back to shooting soon, unfortunately.
" She wrinkled her nose. "I had some unexpected free time today while they worked on other things that didn't require me.
" After a glance at her watch, she sighed.
"I have about ninety minutes before I have to be back.
I'll need to leave here in less than an hour. "
With a grin, he stood and pulled her with him. Resting his hands on her waist, he marveled at how quickly his life had change. "Well, there's a benefit to being the king's fiancée, you know. You'll have escorts and those escorts know how to get you around town the quickest ways possible."
"Escorts? Like security?" Her hands rested on his upper arms. "I suppose it's necessary. I've had security at times before, but never permanently."
"It's an unfortunate reality of sharing my life." He brushed a bit of her blonde hair off her temple. "There are some cool perks though. Or so I'm told. I don't wear a lot of tiaras, but my mum and sister tell me they're fabulous."
Elise laughed. "That does sound pretty cool." She sighed. "I hate to put a damper on this, but maybe we could talk to George and see what needs to be done immediately?"
"Of course." He gave her another quick kiss - because he could - then hesitated. "I suppose I should probably tell you something before this goes any further."
She waited expectantly.
Frederick could feel his face heat up and couldn’t look straight at her.
"I had a huge crush on you a few years ago.
I found SPACE while my father was dying.
It was my escape. You were there for me.
I get it wasn't real, but it felt real in some ways.
I never thought I'd actually meet you, much less end up in a situation like this. "
Her wide smile gave him immediate relief. "I think it's kinda cute. I'm glad we were able to help you deal with everything you had going on."
"To be honest, I didn't love the movies. I'm not a big fan of musicals in general. I have seen the Christmas Carol one you're doing now in the theater, and as soon as I heard about it, I planned to see if we could get an early copy to screen here in the palace."
"Can I tell you something?" She glanced around the office as though she needed to make certain they were alone. "I love musicals, but I didn't love the SPACE movies. I don't know why, but I wasn't a huge fan."
Before he could say anything else, the intercom on his desk buzzed. Frederick couldn't stop himself from giving her another quick kiss before he walked over to answer it. "Yes?" he asked as he pushed the button.
"Sir, there are a few things we need to discuss with regard to the project we've been working on." George's voice sounded tinny through the speaker.
"Please come in."
A few seconds later, the side door opened, startling Elise who likely expected him to come through the main doors.
"George, you remember Elise Stephens?"
Frederick walked toward her, stopping at her side.
"Of course. It's a pleasure to see you again, ma'am." He tipped his head toward her.
"The pleasure is all mine."
George turned to Frederick. "Sir, I hate to cut your meeting with Ms. Stephens short, but we need to complete those tasks as soon as possible."
"They've already been taken care of," Frederick assured him, reaching for Elise's hand. "Ms. Stephens and I will be legally married as soon as possible then have the official ceremony as soon as it can be arranged."
Confusion crossed George's face. "Sir?"
"You know none of those other women would be the right choice.
I'm certain one of them and I could have made it work to an extent, but Elise and I had a chance to become well-acquainted on the trip home from Eastern Novigradia.
This feels right to both of us." Frederick also knew there would be no questioning the decision in front of Elise.
"I was about to call you to see what we need to do to make arrangements for a very low-key legal wedding as soon as we can.
I'd prefer to keep her name out of it until the filming on Becoming Mrs. Scrooge is complete. "
George nodded slowly. "I understand the need for that, sir. However, as queen Ms. Stephens will not be able to continue her career as she has been. Security teams won't allow it, besides the other implications of a working queen."
"I understand that, George." Elise gave him a genuine smile.
"We discussed that I do have some contracted things to finish, but I won't be signing any new contracts.
Well, except one I've already given a verbal confirmation for.
We'll have to discuss it later, but I would like to keep that verbal commitment. "
"She'll have security with her at all times," Frederick promised. "We won't risk her safety. As for longer term planning, that will be a discussion for a later time."
"Very well." George looked at the tablet in his hand.
"We'll need to have the legal wedding as soon as we can.
If we can get an officiant here before Ms. Stephens needs to leave, we can do it now.
I know it's not ideal, but we can. We'll need to inform the various leaders in Parliament and the Council.
At the same time, we'll emphasize to them that the bride's identity is considered a matter of national security for the time being and therefore cannot be discussed with anyone outside of the very small circle, not even their closest aides.
That should protect Ms. Stephens and her coworkers for the time being. "
"Thank you, George." Elise's sincerity was evident and didn't seem like an act she was putting on. That would work well for her in the future.
In less than twenty minutes, the most senior member of the judiciary stood in front of them as Frederick and Elise spoke their vows. It only took a few minutes to complete the ceremony. They sealed their vows with a kiss.
And then...
The new Queen Elise left to go to work.
Being back on set was more than a bit surreal for Elise.
She knew she needed to let a couple of people know - the producer and director maybe?
The increase in security personnel was certain to be noticed.
Or maybe she wouldn't and just say her team was concerned about an unspecified threat so they sent security with her for the rest of the shoot.
That was probably the best option.
The rest of the day went quickly with the scenes going well, with no major problems at all, and no questions about the new men keeping an eye on her on set.
As she finished changing clothes and removing her makeup, something else occurred to her.
Would she go back to her hotel? Or to the palace?
She hadn't thought through the logistics, and she doubted Frederick had either, at least not before she left the palace.
She hadn't thought to have even a change of clothes with her in case the palace turned out to be her destination.
When she exited her trailer, the men sent with her from the palace were waiting.
One walked with her while the other stayed a bit behind.
There would be questions the next day. If it hadn't been noticed when she returned, it would be now.
And on the off chance it wasn't now, it would be when she arrived or when she had constant shadows on and off set.
She took her spot in the rear of the black SUV with darkly tinted windows. The two members of her security team spoke quietly to each other but not to her.
"Your Majesty?" The one in the passenger seat spoke while the other put the SUV in gear.
Elise stared out the window, his words barely registering.
"Your Majesty?" He spoke again, a bit louder, and this time turned partly around in his seat.
She blinked. "Are you talking to me?"
The look that crossed his face could be annoyance, disapproval, amusement, a combination of all or none. "Yes, Your Majesty." This time he emphasized the title.
Her nose wrinkled. "I know I'll have to get used to it at some point, but could you please not call me that for the time being? No one is supposed to know, but you can bet it will spread like wildfire if someone hears you."
This time the look definitely had overtones of disapproval. "We'll discuss it."
Elise didn't think she'd be in on those discussions.
"Regardless, we'll be taking you to the hotel. You'll move to a different vehicle that will exit a different way than we came in. You'll be taken to the palace via an underground entrance."
That answered one question, though it still didn't tell her if she'd be living there for the time being or not.
Neither man seemed to be open to any further questions, so Elise kept them to herself.
She pulled her phone out and returned a couple of text messages but avoided social media or the news sites.
Speculation about Frederick's plans would certainly be all over the local outlets.
She wasn't sure she wanted to see who the press was choosing for him.
Or would a press release have been sent out already? Did she have to be with Frederick when the leadership was informed? Surely not.
There were fans outside the entrance to the hotel as there had been every other day. She smiled at them through the windshield and knew her photo had been taken. Would word get out that she had palace security with her?
Once in a secure area of the parking structure, she was asked to get into the back seat of a bright blue extended cab pickup truck and given a ball cap to put on.
Rather than sitting normally, she had to lean over and cover herself with a blanket.
These windows were also tinted but not to the same extent as the- ones in the SUV.
After several turns, she was given the all-clear.
The drive back to the palace took them a route she hadn't driven before, but it soon became apparent why.
There was a ramp of sorts that led to a roll top door big enough for reasonably sized delivery trucks to enter through.
Signage told delivery drivers what they needed to do to gain entrance.
They stopped at the checkpoint at the top of the ramp but only long enough for the gate to raise.
Something must have identified them as an official vehicle that didn't need to be checked.
Were these things that she would have to think about constantly from now on? Or would it become such a routine part of her life that she wouldn't notice but would trust the members of security around her to keep her protected?
Once inside the underground structure, she was driven past what looked like loading docks - for the kitchens maybe?
- and to a section that was secured by another guardhouse and gate.
That area held a number of vehicles that appeared to be those used for official business.
Dark SUVs and sedans outnumbered any other kind of vehicle by a significant amount.
The truck drove to what appeared to be a valet stand, except there were no valets to be seen. The security officer in the passenger seat was out of the vehicle before they came to a complete stop. He opened her door and held out his hand to assist her as she exited the auto.
"Right this way, ma'am." He indicated that she should walk in front of him through the door next to the valet stand.
Inside, George waited. "Thank you." He tipped his head toward Elise, though he also bent at the waist, more than he had earlier in the day. "Ma'am."
She didn't quite know what to say so she gave him a nice smile and nod.
George didn't speak any more than necessary as they traversed through corridors that would never be on any kind of a school visit.
She suspected there were cameras watching them, but she didn't see them.
They also didn't pass any other members of the staff.
Had everyone been told to avoid the area for the time being or was the area so secure that very few people used the corridors in the first place?
In a few moments, they emerged into an office, though she couldn't tell whose it might be.
George opened another door. "The king is waiting for you, ma'am."
"Thank you, George." The door let her into the king's office. She thought it was the same one George had used earlier in the day, but she couldn't be certain. Surely an office the size of her first apartment had more than two doors.
Frederick sat in his chair with his desk phone held between one ear and his shoulder. She stayed back so she wouldn't accidentally stumble onto a state secret or two.
He swiveled in his chair and smiled when he saw her. Motioning for her to come over with his free hand, he told whoever was on the other end that his time was up, and they would need to finish the conversation later.
As soon as he hung up the phone, he stood and walked toward her, meeting a few feet from his desk.
She slipped her hands into his outstretched ones as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.
"Welcome home, Queen Elise. I'm very glad you're here."