Chapter 11
New Year’s Day—my coronation day—dawned with bitterly cold temperatures and drifting snow that came above my knees in some spots.
Crews had worked through the night to clear the roads of ice and snow, but when you live in a mountain country where it snows for over half the year, snow removal can be a bit like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos at the same time.
Thankfully, the flurries had subsided a few hours ago, and we didn’t anticipate any issues getting to the House of Lords for the ceremony.
I stood on the front steps of the palace and watched as the emerald-and-gold horse-drawn carriages were brought around, knowing this would likely be one of the few moments I’d have to myself for the rest of the day.
I took a deep breath, letting the crisp, cold air hit my lungs before slowly letting it out.
“Why are you just standing out here? You’re going to get frostbite. Is that how you want to start your first day as King?” Rosie groused from behind me.
I turned, letting out a soft laugh, and wrapped my arm around her. She wore a thick wool coat and rubbed her gloved hands together, her eyebrows drawn together in consternation. “I’ll be fine, I promise. I just needed a bit of fresh air. For the nerves, you know?”
Rosie nodded, nestling in under my arm. We stood like that for a few moments, watching the staff as they bustled around, making final preparations for tonight’s coronation dinner.
They wore heavy coats, hats, and scarves in shades of navy and green, and I smiled as I heard a trio talking and laughing animatedly as they finished shoveling and salting the walkways.
This is whom you’re doing all of this for, I reminded myself, swallowing past the knot in my throat. For them, for every Wexstonian.
I knew that Rosie would stand out here with me for as long as I needed, but her nose was beginning to turn red, and I didn’t want her catching a cold. I squeezed her shoulder.
“Come on, kid. Let’s wait in the foyer for everyone.”
“Oh, thank God.” She rushed back through the front doors and posted up near the base of the grand staircase, where we both knew a nearby heating vent provided a particularly warm spot.
Heels clicked along the white limestone floor, and I turned to find Knox and Birdie making their way to us.
Knox wore a perfectly tailored three-piece black suit with an honorary medal pinned to the chest pocket of his jacket, just underneath a champagne pocket square.
Birdie, meanwhile, was wrapped in a calf-length tan wool coat, with emerald gloves that matched the tea hat perched on her mahogany hair.
They whispered to each other in hushed tones before Knox placed a quick kiss on Birdie’s cheek and they both greeted me.
Birdie shot me a cheeky grin. “Good morning, Your Highness—or, should I say, soon-to-be Your Majesty,” she said as she dipped into a curtsy.
“Don’t start that shit.” I rolled my eyes and then brought her in for a hug.
She giggled. “You know I had to.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I gave her a half-smile.
I pulled back and looked Knox over. It was strange seeing him not in his usual jeans and flannel, but he aways looked great in a suit. I was reminded again just how different our lives were from even just a few months ago and was overcome with gratitude toward him.
“I’m so thankful that I have you by my side during this,” I said, clasping him on the shoulder.
I knew that, had circumstances been different, Knox would have preferred to lay low during the coronation, rather than riding in the family procession.
But as my best friend, honorary brother, and now stepping into his new role as my Chief Counselor, he knew I needed him by my side.
After all, this day was always meant to belong to Xavier, not me.
We were all experiencing something new and unexpected.
“There’s no one else I'd do this for.” He winked at me and then pulled Birdie back to his side, lacing his fingers with hers.
My heart warmed as it always did when thinking about how they had found each other in this world.
It had been clear from early on that she and I were more friends than lovers and would never be together romantically.
Birdie had been Knox’s from the start and he hers, even if it took a while for them both to realize it.
I held back a laugh as I thought about how their bond had been crystal clear to everyone except for them. They were both what the other wanted and, perhaps more importantly, needed.
“Good morning,” a soft voice greeted from my side.
I hadn’t even heard her come down the stairs.
Adelaide was breathtaking. There wasn’t a day that passed that I didn’t find her beautiful, but this morning she looked particularly stunning, outfitted in a chic sapphire day dress with a matching fascinator that had a peculiar flower on the side.
“Hi.” It was all I could manage as I took her in.
She smiled warmly as she took in my black tuxedo, accented with gold at the cuffs and collar. Across my torso lay a royal blue sash hung with a variety of medals, most of which were more honorary than anything, given my lack of military service. “Are you ready for today?”
I suppressed a snort. “Not even in the slightest.”
“Oliver Courtwright, are you nervous?” Her tone was teasing, but her gaze had softened, a hint of worry behind her eyes.
“Would you think less of me if I said yes?”
She shook her head. “No. I’d think that you understand the weight of the responsibility you are about to take on.”
Damn.
Adelaide always had a way of understanding me. Not Oliver, The Prince or Oliver, The Future King, but just me. Oliver, The Person.
I loved it and hated that I may not get to have that forever.
The hard beat of Gram’s cane against the stone floor sounded from down the hall as she made her way, along with my parents, to the front of the palace.
“Honey, do you have any last-minute questions?” my mother asked as she stopped in front of me, straightening my sash and brushing off an invisible speck of lint from my shoulder.
“Isobel, stop fussing. He’s going to be fine,” Gram chided gently, rolling her eyes. “This is my third one of these and they’re all the same. Walk to the dais, put all the old shit on, wave, and leave. You know how to walk, don’t you Oliver?”
Rosie and Birdie snorted as I let out a laugh.
“See? Exactly. Then you have nothing to worry about.” She smiled, patting my arm.
Dad ran his hand over his face as Mum gawked at Gram.
“Gram,” Rosie giggled, “you’re stressing Mum and Dad out.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you all, there is no need to stress out. It’s going to be great.”
“Says the crazy ol’ bird who hasn’t a care in the world and won’t have to deal with the fallout if anything does go wrong.” Knox laughed from the other side of Gram.
“You all should be more like me. Not worrying is the best way to go about life.” She reached up and grabbed Knox’s ear. “And call me ‘ol’ bird’ one more time and I’ll give you something to truly worry about.”
Birdie fell into a fit of laughter as she took Gram’s coat from the doorman and helped her into it.
“You know,” my father said, clearing his voice and looking at each of us in turn, “Xavier has that exact same mindset, and that is what got us into this whole ordeal in the first place. I think it would behoove all of us to worry a little more about the things that happen and are said.”
“Agreed, my dear,” Mum murmured as she smoothed a wrinkle in her gold dress.
Tension immediately settled like a fog over the foyer, silencing us all.
While the people of Wexstone generally supported our family, the pressure to manage the transfer of leadership well and without fault was heavy.
Certainly heavy enough to lead me into a fake engagement; it was the driving force behind all my decisions of late.
And though my parents’ worry was natural, ultimately the responsibility to successfully navigate our country and family through these next few months fell on me alone.
I cleared my throat. “Is everyone ready?”
Everyone murmured their assent, as if we had any other choice.
We made our way out the door and down the steps to where the carriages sat in a pristine line.
“See you soon, King Oliver,” Knox said as he tapped my arm, then grabbed Birdie’s hand and led her to the first carriage. He helped her climb in, shooting me a quick wink over his shoulder before disappearing inside himself.
The driver of the second carriage helped Rosie inside, while Dad assisted Gram into the third, passing her cane to her once she was settled.
“You’re going to do amazing, darling,” my mother said as she placed a soft kiss on my cheek.
“Thanks, Mum.”
My father stepped up in front of me and placed both hands on my shoulders, giving them a light squeeze.
“I’m very proud of you, son.” His voice cracked. “I have full confidence you are going to do amazing things.”
“Thank you,” I answered, trying not to let the sudden surge of emotion choke my words.
Intellectually, I knew my dad had always been proud of me, but it was something else to hear the words.
He was a good father, but he had spent most of his time with Xavier while we were growing up, no doubt passing along the knowledge he thought my brother would need to become king.
It wasn’t something I had ever resented, but hearing him voice his pride and confidence in me made my chest tight in an unexpected way.
Mum slipped her arm through Dad’s as they walked to the fourth carriage in the line. Once they were inside, the procession started, each carriage setting off slowly down the cobbled drive.
Adelaide stood beside me, silent but comforting in her presence. I let out a relieved sigh, glad that it would be just the two of us for this next bit.
“Ready?” I asked in a hushed tone.
“Are you?”
I huffed a laugh. “Sure. As I’ll ever be, I suppose.”