Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
NATE
N ate’s chair creaked as he shifted on it, his heart thudded hard against his ribs. A vote had been called for on the decree lifting the royal marriage ban.
His mind swirled as he wondered if his testimony would help or hurt. He’d blurted out things he hadn’t intended, like his love for Elena.
He wondered if the king would throw him in a dungeon. Did they have a dungeon?
He wiped his sweaty palms against his pants as a hush fell over the room.
Alexander shot him a consoling glance as he leaned closer. “It will be all be over soon, one way or the other.”
“It’s the other I’m worried about. I probably ruined it,” he whispered back.
“It was an impassioned speech. Let’s hope it helped rather than hurt.”
The man at the podium spoke again. “The royal decree on the floor requires a vote. To be clear, because of the previous decree a super majority is needed. Therefore, we require one hundred and thirty-four votes for this to pass.”
Sweat beaded on Nate’s brow as he scanned the faces of the two hundred delegates in attendance, wondering if they’d make the cut.
“All those in favor of approving the decree amending the requirement for royals to marry titled individuals in order to qualify for the monarchy, please indicate by saying ‘Aye.’”
Voices piped up across the room, though it sounded like nowhere near enough to pass the decree.
“All those opposed?” The man scanned the room as several people shouted, “Nay.”
Nate pressed his lips together, shifting again as it seemed that the Nays had it.
“Abstentions?”
No one abstained.
The man at the podium twisted to a woman furiously typing on a laptop. “Roll call, Mrs. Montgomery.”
The woman bobbed her head, clicking with her mouse for a moment before she began to call out names. “Mr. Abernathy.”
“Nay.”
Nate slid his eyes closed as the first vote came out negative.
“Mr. Armstrong.”
“Nay.”
Another knife to his heart as the second nay came out. They were already down two votes.
“Ms. Attelier.”
“Aye.”
His heart lifted slightly.
“Mr. Ayers,” Mrs. Montgomery called.
“Aye. ”
Nate sucked in a shaky breath. They were neck in neck. He tried to keep track of the no votes, counting them in his head as the woman continued to call out names and record votes. Each no vote felt like a physical blow, his stomach tightening with each one. He gripped the armrest, his knuckles white, as the reality of the situation pressed down upon him.
He lost track somewhere in the D’s. He licked his lips, glancing to Alexander who sat expressionless.
How could the man sit there without reacting at all? Or was it because they were behind in the vote?
He glanced further down the aisle, finding Isabelle with a similar expression. His gaze strayed to King Frederick. The man also stood, hands clasped behind his back, with a completely stoic expression on his chiseled features.
Maybe it was the American in him, but he was barely able to contain his agitation, and he’d been through tough boardroom votes in the past. Emotions often ran higher in the boardroom, though, than they seemed to with the royals.
He shifted in his seat as they reached the L’s in the alphabet, votes pouring in one after the other.
His forehead creased as he faced the possibility that they may have a majority, but not a super majority. Most of the legislature may agree with the measure, but possibly not two-thirds of them.
They reached the S’s, each name being called out in what seemed like an agonizingly slow process.
His chest constricted as the voting continued, and he shimmied around, suddenly finding the seat too hard.
Mrs. Montgomery peered up over her glasses as she called out one final name, “Mr. vanWhyte.”
“Aye,” the man answered.
The woman noted the response before she clacked a few more keys. The moderator stepped over, peering over her shoulder at the screen.
She shifted it toward him, leaning closer to whisper the results. Nate narrowed his eyes, attempting to read her lips, but he couldn’t manage it. Whatever she said would remain a mystery until the man announced the results.
Finally, he nodded and straightened, approaching the podium again. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your votes today. We have our decision.”
Blood rushed through Nate’s ears as he waited to hear what it was, his legs feeling wobbly and his heart hammering.
“The decree…has been approved by a vote of one-hundred-and-thirty-seven to sixty-three.”
Nate’s eyes went wide as a smile turned the corners of his lips. He glanced at Alexander who still sat stoically next to him. Why weren’t they celebrating? Had he missed something?
The moderator at the podium continued to speak for a few moments before he dismissed them. He twisted toward the king with a pleasant smile and a nod.
“Thank you, Mr. Tillman,” King Frederick said with a bow of his head. “I am glad the matter has been put to rest, and I know Elena will be, too.”
Alexander rose from his seat as the legislators filed from the room. Several approached him with a bow and a greeting.
Nate stood next to him, waiting for a moment to speak. “This is good, right?”
“Excellent. Elena will be thrilled. And it looks like you, my friend, are about to become a prince in a few short weeks.”
“I didn’t–“
“Prince Alexander,” Mr. vanWhyte said with a bow as he approached, “I assume you supported this measure? ”
“Whole-heartedly, yes,” Alexander said. “Princess Elena should not be denied the throne simply due to marriage. She has Eldoria’s best interests always in her mind even as she selected a husband.”
The man slid his gaze to Nate. “And you are the selection, I gather?”
“Oh, uh…” Nate began, swallowing hard.
“Yes, this is Nathan Kingsley,” Alexander said as Nate extended his hand to the man.
“Don’t get too used to that, Mr. Kingsley,” Mr. vanWhyte said with a chuckle. “You’ll soon be a royal, and handshaking is not welcome.”
“Oh, sorry. It’s the American in me, but I’m committed to learning all the right protocols and so on.”
“I’m sure you are. If Princess Elena has deemed you fit, you must be one heck of a man. She is a bright, beautiful woman with a good head on her shoulders.”
“Indeed,” Alexander said with a nod.”
“And I must congratulate you, not only on your upcoming engagement announcement, which I expect will be forthcoming soon, but on your impassioned speech. I was against this measure until you spoke up.”
Nate’s jaw dropped open before he plastered a smile onto his features. “Well, I’m glad I had a positive impact.”
“Yes, I’d say on several members. At last count, I believe the straw poll showed the measure would fail by at least a dozen votes. So, you’ve done quite well for yourself, Mr. Kingsley.”
Nate beamed at him, proud to have made a difference in the future of the small country and silently promising to make certain he always kept the country’s interests at heart.
Alexander and the man chatted for another moment before he shuffled off to leave the space behind.
Alexander clapped Nate on the back. “Well, Nathan, you done both Eldoria and Elena proud. She will be quite pleased when she returns.”
King Frederick approached them, a slight smile on his features. “Well, we have done it.”
“Yes, we have, Uncle,” Alexander said with a nod. “And from what I understand, some of that is due to Mr. Kingsley.”
“Yes,” King Frederick said with a nod. “Several of the legislators mentioned changing their vote after his speech. Julian had painted a rather grim picture of the situation that could occur, but Mr. Kingsley managed to restore their faith in Elena and himself. Well done, Mr. Kingsley.”
Nate couldn’t stop his smile from spreading wider across his features. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m so happy I could help.”
“I imagine Elena will be thrilled.” The king grinned at him. “I shall let you be the one to inform her, as it is your doing.”
Nate bobbed his head. “Well, I don’t care who tells her, to be honest. I’m just thrilled she doesn’t have to choose between her crown and me.”
Alexander offered him a coy glance. “I believe she would have selected you, Nathan.”
“But…that would have always been between us. I would have always felt like she’d been forced to leave her life behind.”
“Well, she is very fortunate to have you at her side,” King Frederick said. “Now, let’s return to the palace for a celebration. It will also give us the opportunity to discuss the upcoming engagement announcement.”
Nate bobbed his head as the king motioned for him to precede him from the room. A lump formed in his throat as he considered the engagement announcement. He couldn’t wait to let the world know they planned to marry but he also realized it would likely be without his own family at his side .
His mind returned to Sterling City, wondering if there was any update on his mother’s case. He’d call as soon as he had the chance, but for now, he’d celebrate the win with his in-laws.
They climbed into the chauffeured cars, returning to the palace.
“Please make yourselves comfortable in the sitting room. I’ll retrieve Sophia,” King Frederick said as he mounted the stairs.
Alexander pushed the doors open, a grin finally on his features in the privacy of the palace. It quickly slid away as they spotted Prince Julian in the room.
“Julian,” he said, his nose wrinkling, “to what do we owe the displeasure?”
“Merely enjoying an afternoon of reflection. Soon, this palace will be mine, and I imagine I may spend many an afternoon here.”
“The duties of a king are such that you would not find yourself with many quiet moments of reflection,” Alexander shot back, “but you will not have to worry about that, brother.”
“Oh? I think I may. It seems dear Elena is rather set on marrying the American which will preclude her from accepting the crown.”
“Not anymore,” Alexander answered. “Mr. Kingsley? A brandy?”
“That’s great, thanks,” Nate said as the brothers continued to battle.
“What are you prattling about, Alexander? Once the measure is brought a vote, it will fail. Elena will not be allowed to take the throne.” He wiggled his eyebrows as he eyed his brother. “And neither will you if you continued to dodge Lady Margaret’s attentions.”
“Save it, Julian, you’ve lost. ”
The man grinned at his brother. “No, brother, I don’t think so, I have the votes.”
“Except you don’t,” Alexander answered as he handed the brandy to Nate and clinked his glass. “To you, Nathan, for finding the royal decree suggesting royals be permitted to have free marriages and bringing it to a vote in the legislature today.”
The grin slid from Prince Julian’s features as he flicked his gaze back and forth between them. “What sort of mistruths are you telling, brother?”
“No mistruths. We visited the archive this morning. Mr. Kingsley found a royal decree from our grandfather that was never opened. Uncle Frederick took it to the legislature, and the vote as been concluded.”
“What was the split?”
“One thirty-seven to sixty-three. Sorry, brother. You have lost.”
“It can’t be,” he whispered as he stared into his drink. “No, I…I had more than that assured.”
“Well, you may have, but Nathan made quite an impassioned plea and several of them changed their mind.”
“What?” Prince Julian’s features twisted as he slammed his drink down. “You won’t get away with this.”
“It is done, brother. You will return to your original place in the line. Sorry to burst your bubble.”
Julian sneered at them as he stormed to the door. “You will pay for this. Mark my words. As I live and breathe, you will pay for this.”
The man stormed from the room, slamming the door shut behind him. Nate stared after him, wondering what other trouble he may bring.
“Don’t listen to him,” Alexander said with a clap on Nate’s shoulder. “He will soon realize he’s lost.”
“I don’t put it past him not to make more trouble for us. I just…don’t want Elena to face anything else because of me. We’ve been through enough.”
“Love is often not the easy route, my friend.”
Nate huffed out a laugh before he sipped his brandy. “You’re right. We’ve fought hard to be together. I can’t believe we’ll be able to announce our engagement without too much trouble. I can barely believe it. It seems surreal.”
“It will happen. Why not call Elena and give her the good news?”
“Oh, uh, I was going to surprise her when I saw her,” Nate answered.
“Surprise her? Like last time? Haven’t you learned yet about those surprises?” Alexander grinned at him.
“Right,” Nate said as he set his glass down on the table and tugged his phone from his pocket.
He pressed the call icon next to Elena’s name, allowing the line to trill until it reached her voicemail. “Voicemail,” he said as he ended the call. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to check in with my parents to see how things are going.”
“Absolutely. Please, feel free.”
“Thanks,” Nate said as he dialed his father. The line rang until it went to voicemail.
He crinkled his brow, trying a call to his mother, then his sister, all with the same results.
As he ended the last call, his heart pounded out a frenetic beat against his ribs. Had something happened to make them all go radio silent?