Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
ELENA
E lena drummed her fingers on her thigh as the plane buzzed over the ocean toward Eldoria. The clouds swirling outside of her window mirrored the tumult of emotions that twisted her insides. Each mile closer to home brought both a surge of hope and a pang of apprehension, threading through her thoughts like the delicate lace of her bedroom curtains.
After the drama in the courtroom, the Kingsleys, along with Elena and Caroline, hurried back to the house to pack their bags and make the trip to Eldoria.
She hadn’t called or texted Nate or anyone in her family to warn them, hoping to surprise everyone with the good news of Victoria’s freedom.
The last surprise she’d planned hadn’t gone the way she expected, though, so she questioned her plan partway through the flight .
Victoria crossed to her and eased on the couch next to her. “You don’t look very pleased to be going home.”
Elena forced a smile onto her features. “I am, I’m just…questioning our secret surprise. The last time I did this…”
“Nate was doing the same thing and you missed each other.”
Elena bobbed her head. “Yes. Exactly.”
“But I don’t think he’s coming home. We told him to stay in Eldoria, and from what I understand, Stephen wasn’t too keen on coming back. He apologized profusely for it, but he really couldn’t handle the pressure.”
“It was awful,” Elena said, patting Victoria’s hand. “Mostly for you.”
Victoria sucked in a breath, her gaze falling to her lap. “I wish I hadn’t gone to her apartment that night, but…it was one of those decisions I couldn’t stop myself from making.”
Elena offered her a warm smile, this time genuine. “I understand.”
“She’d done so much damage to my family and my boys. I just wanted it to stop.”
“I hope I will be as good a mother as you are, Mrs. Kingsley.”
Victoria squeezed Elena’s hand. “I have no doubt you will be. The way you did what you did for me…you’ll do anything to protect your family and your children. And I don’t mean to get ahead of myself, but I do hope you and Nate will be giving us our first grandchild in the shorter term.”
“Well, heirs are very important,” Elena answered, “so I’m certain my parents feel the same way.”
The warmth faded from her features as she glanced down at her feet. “If our children will be the heirs, that is.”
Victoria rubbed Elena’s shoulder. “Oh, I hope this works out for you as well as my trouble worked out for me. If there is anything I can do to help… ”
“Thank you,” Elena said with a nod. “My father is handling the situation for now, but I will let you know. I do hope it sorts itself out. I love Nathan, but…it will be rather a damper on our engagement announcement if this is dangling over us.”
Elena snapped her gaze to Victoria, her features pinched. “Oh, I don’t mean that to sound so awful.”
Victoria laughed and waved the comment away. “It doesn’t. This is your entire life. You’ve spent years being geared into becoming Queen. To have that threatened because of who you chose to marry is…awful. I completely understand why it would darken the day.”
“Thank you. I…I wanted so much for this to be a happy moment for us. Perhaps it will be best to postpone the announcement until it can be. If it can be.”
“Is there any hope?”
“A glimmer,” Elena answered. “My father has been speaking with the legislators about reversing the decree. He must secure a super majority of voters which is quite a lot. I am hopeful we can do it, though…I’m uncertain, honestly.”
“Well, it seems like your family is really beloved there. Surely, they’ll want you to be happy when you are their monarch.”
“Customs and tradition can play a large role in expectations in Eldoria.” Elena curled her fingers into fists. “That and my oily cousin, Julian, has been painting a bleak picture of the future with a commoner as a ruler.”
Victoria clicked her tongue.
“I am sorry, Mrs. Kingsley. It’s nothing personal. Julian will take any opportunity he can to attempt to claim the throne.”
“Oh, I know. I’m just…sorry for you. And for Nate. I raised a good boy who turned into a strong, fair-minded ma n. To think your cousin would paint him in another light is…”
“Frustrating, I agree,” Elena said with a nod. “But his envy knows no bounds. Even Isabelle has turned against him, agreeing that he has gone too far this time.”
Victoria raised her eyebrows. “Oh, well, that’s good news. At least you have several people on your side.”
“I agree. I am hoping it will work to our advantage in the end. I know my father will be cautious, though. He will want to make sure he has everything just so before chancing a vote. Which is why I warn you…we may postpone the announcement.”
Victoria pressed her lips together into a tight-lipped, consoling smile. “I hope not, for your sake. I know you were looking forward to it.”
“Immensely. We’ve fought so hard to get here, and now it is all threatened again.”
The plane began to descend through the air, and an announcement came from the cabin about their landing.
Elena shifted in her seat. “Well, we will soon be there. I cannot wait to see the expression on Nathan’s face when he sees you and you give him the good news.”
“You ought to be the one who delivers that,” Victoria answered. “It’s due to you that I’m on this plane and not sitting in a jail cell or sporting an ankle monitor as my latest accessory.”
“You didn’t deserve that. I’m so very pleased we found that evidence to prove your innocence.”
After exchanging a hug, the two women settled back in their seats until the plane’s wheels bounced across the runaway before it slowed to a stop.
They climbed to their feet, collecting their belongings before they stepped into the warm Eldorian afternoon air .
Elena sucked in a breath with a smile as she shielded her eyes. “It’s nice to be home.”
“Yes, it is,” Caroline agreed with a grin as they descended the stairs and made their way toward the waiting cars.
Within minutes, they were on their way to the palace.
“I called ahead and asked the staff to ready the Kingsleys’ rooms,” Caroline said as the car careened closer to the palace.
Elena snapped her gaze toward the woman.
“Don’t worry, I was discreet. The surprise is not ruined.”
“Good,” Elena said with a nod. “Nathan will be thrilled to see his mother, I’m certain.”
“And all due to you, Your Highness.”
“And you and Maddie,” Elena added. “It was a team effort.”
The car slowed to a stop outside of the palace doors, and the guard pulled the door open, greeting Elena with a bow. “Welcome home, Your Highness.”
“Thank you,” Elena said with a nod as she passed him and entered the expansive foyer. “I wonder if anyone is home.”
“I hear voices in the sitting room,” Caroline answered. “Why don’t you go upstairs and settle in, and I will see that the Kingsleys are settled then search for the king and queen?”
“All right.” Elena took a step toward the stairs when the doors to the sitting room burst open.
Julian stepped into the hall. “As I live and breathe, you will pay for this.”
He slammed the doors closed behind him, his features pinched with fury as he stormed toward the front door. His eyes went wide, and he stopped dead as he spotted Elena.
His features twisted into a deep grimace. “Here to celebrate?”
Elena raised her eyebrows, lifting her chin. “That is none of your business. What has put you in such a sour mood?” Elena shook her head. “Wait, what has soured your normally bad humor even further?”
“As if you don’t know. You slink off to hide away while everyone else does your dirty work. One day, this will catch up to you. And I shall be there on that glorious day to watch you fall.” Julian frowned at her again before he pushed past her and disappeared through the front door, nearly running over the Kingsleys.
“He seemed upset,” Victoria said as she stepped into the palace.
“Very,” Elena answered. “I am uncertain why. It seems, though, our little surprise may be ruined. I assume word arrived about your day in court. Perhaps that is what had him in a tizzy.”
“Your Highness,” Caroline said, “Prince Alexander and Mr. Kingsley are in the sitting room.”
Elena twisted to find them both stepping into the hall. She grinned at Nate as she spotted him, warmth rushing through her.
“Ellie,” he exclaimed before he rushed toward her and scooped her into his arms, lifting her feet off the floor.
“Nathan,” she said as her feet hit the floor again, “oh, it’s so good to see you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” he asked.
“Well, I have a bit of a surprise.”
He groaned a little. “Another surprise? Well, at least we didn’t miss each other this time. And…I have a surprise, too.”
Elena arched an eyebrow. “You do? You first.”
“No, you first,” he insisted.
Behind her, Victoria cleared her throat, giving her son a slight wave.
Nate's expression morphed into surprise as he glanced from his mother to his father and sister. “Mom?”
“Hi, honey. ”
“What…what are you doing here? Did you get permission to come?” The smile slid off his face, replaced by concern. “Are you...are you running from the law?”
Victoria stepped forward, laughing as she pulled him into a hug. “No, Nate. That’s all cleared up. It’s all over. Ellie found evidence to exonerate me. I’m free.”
Nate pulled back, his features surprised as he slid his gaze to Elena. “What?”
“It was a team effort,” Elena answered. “Maddie, Caroline, and I went to Chloe’s apartment and found a video camera. It had recorded the entire unfortunate event, and, while the face isn’t shown clearly, it’s obvious your mother was not the killer.”
Nate pulled his mother into a tight embrace again, his features softened as the lines of worry that had etched themselves over the weeks smoothed with relief. His eyes, bright with unshed tears, reflected his raw emotion and gratitude. “Oh, that’s really good news. I’m so happy for you, Mom.”
“So am I,” she said with another chuckle. “And thrilled to be able to come to Eldoria.”
“Yes, I’m very happy to have everyone here as well, though…I have already explained to your mother than we may need to postpone our engagement announcement,” Elena said ruefully.
“Actually…” Nate grinned at her. “We should be able to announce it as scheduled…unless there’s another reason to postpone.”
Elena furrowed her brow as she studied him. “No, not on my end. Whatever the end result with the decree is, it will not change my mind about us. Although, my father may wish to wait until after a vote as been held.”
“A vote has been held already, Elena,” Alexander said. “Earlier this afternoon. The matter is settled.”
Elena’s stomach twisted into a tight knot, each heartbeat like a drumroll as her mind raced. The haunting question of what had happened with the vote loomed over her. “It is? It’s finished?”
“Yes. Nathan found a decree from our grandfather suggesting the previous one regarding royal marriages be rescinded and replaced with the freedom to choose one’s spouse. It went to the legislature for an immediate vote.”
Her heart hammered in her chest as she awaited the result. They needed a super majority. Had they gotten it?
“You tell her, Nathan.”
Nate grinned at her. “The vote passed. One hundred and thirty-seven to sixty-three.”
Elena’s jaw fell open as an excited exclamation escaped her. “Really?”
Alexander grinned at her, nodding. “Your Mr. Kingsley gave quite an impassioned speech that changed the minds of several legislators just before the vote. Had he not been here…we likely would have lost.”
Elena stared up at her fiancé with admiration filling her eyes. “An impassioned speech?”
He shrugged, color rising in his cheeks. “I just…told them how great a queen you were going to be no matter who you married.”
“Oh, Nathan,” she said with a grin as she flung her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on him. “This is excellent news.”
“Elena?” her father’s voice boomed from the top of the stairs.
“Father! Nathan has just told me the wonderful news.”
“Indeed,” he answered as he led her mother down the stairs to join them. His eyes fell on the Kingsleys. “And it appears you have good news, also.”
“Yes. Mrs. Kingsley has been exonerated of all charges,” Elena said .
A moment of silence stretched between them before Elena glanced at her father again. “So, may I presume with all our issues solved that we may proceed with the engagement announcement as planned?”
His lips twisted into a smile. “You may. Given the instincts Mr. Kingsley has shown today, I am proud to welcome him to the family.”
Elena beamed at her father before she kissed him on the cheek. In a matter of days, their relationship would be public, and in a few short weeks, she would wed the love of her life on Christmas Eve.
After all the struggles, her life was finally on track. And she intended to enjoy it.