CHAPTER 21
Katy
I
’d rather practice my archery.” Helena folded her arms and pouted, but she kept pace at Axel’s side as they strode through Himmelsburg Castle.
“You are no longer thirteen,” Axel growled through his pleasant smile. “You have responsibilities, and this meeting is one of them.”
Katy held her tongue. Many remarks came to mind, but she was trying to show the princess grace. Returning to life after a twelve-year absence had to be difficult.
“I haven’t been in the line of succession for twelve years. Why should that change?”
“Because your kingdom needs you.” Axel nodded to a passing servant and set a light hand on his sister’s shoulder.
“You may never be called upon to serve as Ralnor’s sovereign, but the tender sensibilities of our council members will rest easier once they have satisfied themselves of your continued existence. ”
Helena shook off his hand and glared at Katy. In the face of Michael’s rejection, she’d taken offense to her brother marrying his childhood sweetheart. “Katy will be there with her precious baby bump. Isn’t that enough?”
“In a perfect world, it would be.” Katy wanted to snap, but she kept her voice sweet; it always stung more that way. “But real life isn’t perfect, and we have to deal with it. It’s called growing up.”
“What my dear wife intends to say,” Axel jumped in, squeezing her hand warningly, “is that certain council members are overly concerned by how long it took for Katy’s ‘precious baby bump’ to make an appearance. Your presence will help assuage their concerns.”
The lack of sparkle in his eyes made her want to fight, but Katy recognized that it wouldn’t help this time.
When they reached the council room, Axel commandeered a servant to move two chairs from the wall to the table. It was a power play: ordinarily, he would have done it himself, but the stuffy noblemen were watching. He was setting the expectation that he was in control from the start.
They would need every advantage they had today.
As agreed beforehand, Katy took the seat next to Axel, while Helena plopped into the chair on Katy’s other side.
The corner of Katy’s mouth twitched downward at the juvenile display, but at a cleared throat from Axel, the younger princess adjusted her posture, pasting on a patently false smile.
Across the table, Lord Ulrich folded his hands and settled back in his chair, a pleased smile on his own face.
King Steffan made a grand entrance a few minutes later, and the meeting began. He deftly kept the topic away from the issue of the succession until the allotted two hours were almost up. Katy listened with her best politely interested expression, keeping one hand on the slight swell of her abdomen.
Five years ago, she would have struggled with putting on the show, but she’d learned the benefit of concealing her thoughts and playing the room. She didn’t like it. She didn’t do it when it wasn’t necessary. But politics were what they were.
Her sister-in-law, on the other hand, wore a strained half smile as her green eyes darted repeatedly to the long windows on the far wall. Over the course of the meeting, Helena’s back had curved as she slouched deeper in her chair.
Axel had tried to explain her behavior to Katy. Since Helena was unlikely to wake from her curse, King Steffan hadn’t wanted to confine his little girl when she was growing up. Confine her to Reineggburg for her safety, yes. But not to regular studies and princess-like behavior.
Katy feared he was going to regret it before long.
Lord Ulrich pounced on a lull in the discussion. “We have postponed for a month now; I believe it is time to resume our discussion regarding the succession.” His eyes drifted to the younger princess. “I assume that is the reason for your guests?”
The king’s jaw tightened for a moment. “You already know my son’s wife, Princess Katrin. She is here to provide evidence that the child she carries is doing well.” Katy smiled broadly and gave Lord Ulrich a little wave. “Next to her, may I present my daughter, Princess Helena.”
Helena leaned her elbow on an armrest. “Charmed.”
“One month of training, and that’s the best you could do?” Lord Ulrich showed his teeth. “Really, Your Majesty, I expected better. Especially with His Highness’s expertise and connections at the theater.”
Katy’s eyes narrowed as she set a hand on top of Axel’s under the table. His eyes glittered, but he needed to keep his cool. She opened her mouth, prepared to let her well-known snark bear the council’s disapproval.
“You leave my brother out of this.”
Surprised, Katy whipped her head toward Axel’s sister. No longer slouched, Helena sat with a dangerous poise. Her fingers were slightly curled as if they itched for her bow, and her eyes looked ready to shoot the fire that her ancestors were known for conquering.
“Deportment has never been high on my priority list. Even if Axel had tried to teach me, it wouldn’t have made a difference.
” Her shoulders tilted forward. “If, however, you would like to test my training, meet me on the archery field when we’re finished.
I’d be happy to show you how I spent the first thirteen years of my life. ”
“An admirable defense,” Lord Ulrich sneered. “Quite becoming of a princess.”
“What good were politics when I only had sixteen years to live?” Helena retorted. “Father’s tutors tried to teach me, but I didn’t listen to most of it.”
“Again, a fine princess.” Could his lip curl any farther? “But anyone could make that claim. How do we know that you are the true princess? I’ve never seen you before.”
Gripping the armrests of her chair, Helena bent forward like a cat preparing to pounce. “I was isolated at Reineggburg, but I visited Flussendorf plenty of times. If you don’t believe my father or brother, ask Katy. She knew me back then.”
“Princess Katrin is hardly a reliable witness,” the insufferable lord argued. “It is in her best interests to agree with her husband and the king.”
“It is in your best interests to—”
“I could request the presence of Prince Michael and Princess Arabella of Daraigh,” Axel cut in pleasantly.
“They, along with a host of guards and servants, can testify to the thorny tower, the mind magic that encouraged them to seek it, and the sudden appearance of my sister during their stay at Reineggburg.” He rested a casual elbow on the table.
“Unless you wish to insult our allies by accusing their royalty of lying as you have accused your own?”
The light murmurs that had formed a backdrop to the charged discussion vanished at his challenge. While Axel’s face remained docile, his voice held a dangerous edge.
A hint of annoyance flickered across Lord Ulrich’s face. When no one spoke up, he dipped his head in a shallow bow. “That is not necessary. Please forgive my distasteful jest, and allow me to be the first to welcome Her Highness home.”
Helena glared daggers at him. Everything from her expression to her stance said that she didn’t believe him any more than Katy did, but Katy hid it better. At least, she hoped she did.
“Thank you, Ulrich,” King Steffan graciously acknowledged. He didn’t add a nod. “Then I trust your concerns regarding the succession have been laid to rest?”
Instead of agreeing, the irritating advisor cast a sideways look at Lord Carolus.
Katy felt Axel tense under her hand. “I rescind my motion to collect names for the next heir.” His voice turned oily.
“However, due to the...tumultuous nature of the situation the last several years, many of us feel it would be prudent to further cement the future of your line.”
“Meaning?”
Lord Ulrich smiled. Heavens, Katy hated his smile. “Nothing noteworthy, Your Majesty. More royal offspring would do the trick. Therefore, I propose that we arrange a marriage for Princess Helena so she may begin producing at once.”