CHAPTER 14 #2
Katy cast a curious eye around the council chamber as she followed King Steffan inside. It was a long, narrow room with tall windows along one side. A wide table filled the middle, and a row of chairs for visitors offering testimony or reports lined the opposite wall.
Several council members raised surprised eyebrows when Katy settled into Axel’s seat, but most either ignored her or scowled at her. She sent cheeky waves to the latter.
“Please control your liveliness, Katrin,” King Steffan muttered. “While I normally appreciate it, it will not help our case today.”
Nodding in acknowledgement, Katy watched the physician lower himself into one of the visitors’ chairs. “Sorry; I’ll do my best. Remind me again why Lord Ulrich gets to present names instead of choosing someone from your extended family?”
King Steffan angled his head toward her and kept his lips as still as possible while answering.
“My ancestors married their siblings off to other kingdoms to foster alliances. It may have been a wise political move at the time, but even my brother’s daughter would cause strife.
Candidates whose families have lived outside Ralnor for generations would be even worse. ”
She nodded slowly. Axel had said something like that, and she understood the sentiment, at least where the wider family was concerned. She thought Marielle would make a fine queen, but the council wasn’t interested in Katy’s opinion.
“Where is the prince?” Lord Ulrich challenged as soon as King Steffan opened the meeting. He sent Katy an oily smile. “Did he not feel he could take the pressure of today’s performance, so he sent his wife instead?”
One side of Katy’s lip began to curl up. The disdainful way he said it and the sneer in his voice as he labeled the meeting a performance made her want to light into him. How dare this man attempt to belittle her husband for his passion? If he had been saying such things in front of Axel—
“Katrin.”
The king’s voice was quiet, meant only for her ears. That didn’t lessen the reprimand. She fought to smooth her expression while he handled the infuriating advisor.
“On the contrary, my son would have joined us with pleasure this morning. Unfortunately, he was forced to take an unexpected journey in response to an urgent letter from Daraigh’s crown prince.”
“An urgent letter? He disappeared on a week-long trip on a whim?” Lord Ulrich shook his head slowly and scanned the room.
He wore the sad expression of an indulgent uncle learning of his nephew’s latest foolishness.
And we expect this young man to rule the kingdom?
He didn’t say it out loud, but he didn’t have to. “We will have to proceed without him.”
“It was not a whim.” The muscles along the king’s jaw stood out as he glared back. “And it isn’t a week-long trip. I sent him, and Prince Michael and his wife are currently in residence at Reineggburg. I expect my son home tonight.”
Lord Ulrich appeared surprised by this news, but he quickly recovered. “I’m glad to hear that he will soon return. However, the issue of the succession must not be delayed. We will continue as planned.”
From her position, Katy could see the king’s hand curling into a fist on his lap.
“Must I remind you, Ulrich, that you are not in charge?” He paused, taking a deep breath through his flared nostrils and releasing it slowly.
When he began again, the tightness around his eyes had disappeared, and he spoke in a much calmer voice.
“We will not be accepting names today; new information has come to light which makes the issue moot.”
Lord Ulrich opened his mouth, but Lord Carolus – Tobias’s father – leaned forward on his elbows. “How so, Your Majesty?”
The king reclined back in his seat. “My daughter-in-law, Princess Katrin, is here today so she may acquaint you with it.” He waved a hand toward her, indicating that it was her turn to speak.
Pushing herself shakily to her feet, Katy scanned the gathered noblemen. Speaking in front of a crowd was Axel’s thing, not hers. She could pop off a sassy comment or infuriate court members with her waves and winks, but it was terrifying to stand in front of them while they sat.
Still, she lifted her chin and clasped her hands behind her back to hide their trembling. “In about six months, Axel and I expect to welcome our first child. You will have your heir.”
For a moment, they simply stared at her as the news sank in. Then the table erupted as everyone began talking at once.
“That’s not possible!” Lord Ulrich yelled, the scrape of his chair legs as he shot to his feet barely noticeable in the clamor.
His face twisted with barely concealed rage.
“He told me—” Gathering himself, he folded his arms and glared at the room while King Steffan settled back in his chair.
A slight smile played across the king’s lips as he watched the disruption Katy had caused.
Finally, he called for silence. “With that order of business out of the way, let us move on to the next item on our agenda.”
Lord Ulrich had yet to take his seat. “The timing is too convenient,” he sneered. “Why wait until the day we are to bring names to make the announcement? She must have known before now.” His oily eyes focused on Katy.
She met his glare. One-on-one she could do, even if they did have an audience. “I wanted to be certain before I raised hopes.”
“And you’re certain now? Why should we believe you?” The advisor’s eyes flashed.
A cleared throat from the wall of chairs drew their attention.
The physician, a middle-aged man in dark brown trousers and with the sleeves of his white shirt rolled past his elbows, rose to his feet.
“I have examined the princess and can confirm that she is with child.” His deep voice rang out confidently in the room.
“Unlike before, this displays every sign of being a healthy pregnancy. It should carry through to term.”
Katy winced at his clarification when Lord Ulrich’s eyes lit up. “Unlike before? What do you mean by that?”
The physician was either oblivious to the setting or more bound to relaying the full truth than even Katy.
He turned his clinical gaze to the advisor and replied calmly, “The previous times that she may have conceived were not confirmed. Either she had not, or she miscarried early. However, as I stated, she is several months along and is progressing well.”
“She has a history of miscarriages?” Lord Ulrich’s eyes gleamed as he turned back to the king.
“Let me be the first to offer my congratulations. Unfortunately, Princess Katrin’s history concerns me.
I do not believe we should halt our endeavors to ensure the security of the succession.
It would be an even greater blow to the people’s confidence if she were to lose this long-awaited child and we lacked an alternative. ”
Lord Carolus raised a staying hand. “Surely we could delay it a month or two. According to the physician, she has already made it farther than before.”
Lord Ulrich opened his mouth to reply, but the king cut in. “If Katrin’s news is not sufficient for you, there is another possibility. However, I would prefer not to announce it until it has been proven.”
“Again, how convenient,” Lord Ulrich sneered. Katy was surprised at how bold the man was. “How long will it take you to prove this? Six months? A year?”
“Tonight,” the king replied, an admirable calm on his face. “Surely that is soon enough for even you, Ulrich?”