Chapter 18 #2
“I’m not, and I will show you the proof so you can report on what you saw, but I will not be releasing it all because investigations are still ongoing,” I told her and everyone watching.
“Also, the four people weren’t aware of what they were being dragged into.
Well, not that I have any proof of, and I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt they thought they were just matches. ”
“Who are the elders to declare someone a match for you when it’s not allowed to force a royal to mate? And they’re not your parents even?” June demanded.
I gave her a sad smile. “Thank you for caring. Truly. You’re more upset than some of the people in my life and castle.
They didn’t want me to out this and embarrass the elders.
The Alphas didn’t want me to either, and I was going to let it go, but clearly the elders won’t ever stop trying to control me.
“They won’t ever let go thinking they actually lead Thovudin.
I can’t let their corruption continue—I won’t.
They hid it well when my father—a man ruled, but now that I’m a young woman, they are all grabbing for power, and that could hurt our people, not just me.
They don’t care and I do. So it’s time to be honest and let the chips land where they do. ”
She swallowed loudly. “Tell me this isn’t why we’re all hearing whispers about you having some sort of mating contest.”
“Yes, it is. After the elders promised four Alpha families that their sons or family would mate me and be princes, basically rule me. Every Alpha pressured me to have a chance at the same,” I snitched.
“So after the coronation, a contestant—sorry, prospective mating candidate from each of their bloodlines will be staying at the castle to try and win the prize of becoming a prince.”
Pity filled her eyes and I was a bit shocked at the change of heart in her so fast.
Then again… She had a soul. Clearly, she did.
“You aren’t really going to let them do this to you though, right?”
I took in a long, steady breath. “What was the alternative? Realistically?” I smiled sadly when she didn’t seem to know what to say.
“The carrot was dangled after generations of no Alpha family mating into the royal family. And multiple? Alphas are at the top for a reason. They’re driven and competitive. It’s a double-edged sword.”
She slowly nodded. “It keeps their areas thriving but can also be their downfall in aggression and the worst attributes.”
“Like getting tunnel vision and having arguments about me like I’m a whore to breed for the prize of their grandchild being the king one day instead of their queen,” I told her honestly, nodding when she couldn’t hide her horror.
“So even if I survived the coup, the trap was laid, and I did the best I could to not get caught in it.”
“You could have told people and outed this, Your Highness,” she argued.
“I wasn’t willing to risk the damage this will do to Thovudin for what I saw as a needed outcome.
I do need to mate sooner than planned. Male or female, a leader of a nation is seen as more stable when mated.
And in exchange, I received the protections and more that I wanted so there is a better future for Thovudin and I’m supported. Plus…”
Her eyes went wide. “You were worried that no one would care.”
I swallowed loudly. “Yes. Yes, that was a concern. I’m not blind nor deaf.
I know how too many of our people feel about me.
The outcast even her parents didn’t want.
The broken royal that has no chance of being useful.
The freak that was hidden in foreign countries so I didn’t embarrass the royal family. ”
I gave a half shrug when she winced.
“I know who I am. I know the truth. I know what I was really doing.”
“The question is if anyone will really give you a chance to learn it,” she hedged.
“Or cares about the truth,” I agreed. “So this is the truth so far. This is what I have endured since the death of my parents—what I am enduring. I’m fighting to stay free to lead Thovudin as I think is best for the nation and her people.
I’m entertaining this audacious idea of seventeen men in my castle to keep peace among the leaders so we can have stability. ”
“Will you really take four mates?”
“I don’t know and I was clear on that. I have no idea.
I won’t be forced to mate and I won’t mate anyone who is forced.
I’d rather throw myself into an ice chasm and I said that clearly.
It won’t benefit Thovudin. Could that be the outcome?
” Once again, I gave a half shrug. “Maybe it is needed since I’m taking over so young and without the normal handover.
“Who knows? I do know I won’t do it as fast as some want.
That won’t bring stability and can lead to way more problems in the future.
” I nodded when she snorted. “But I will be fair and give everyone a chance as long as they’re honorable in this.
If they want to see if we could be mates, partners as my mother was to my father, then I’ll entertain the idea.
“Everyone needs to understand I will be queen ruler, not regent. It’s ridiculous.
We’ve had other queen rulers. My mother mated into the royal family.
I was born of the royal family. It’s not a difficult concept.
So any who come here to take over to be the authority of my throne will learn first that the rumors aren’t true. ”
She raised an eyebrow at that. “And your plans to show everyone else?”
I gestured between us. “This. I was hoping after this interview and I won you over that we could have a weekly time to discuss how things are. You have your finger on the pulse of everything better than I will given I’m at the eye of the storm. And I think there’s a lot to discuss.”
“Only a few things,” she drawled before turning and pointedly looking at Treena.
“A few,” I agreed, my tone amused. “No fluff pieces, even if it won’t always be live. Things are too chaotic for that and we both know it. We do what we think is best and what is best for Thovudin or you stop at any time. No pressure or caring what your network says.”
Her eyes flashed shock again. “You really want me.”
“Yes, your integrity is well known. I won’t do this unless I know I’ll be treated fairly and the people get the true message.
You would call me before you let someone at your station twist the words or interview.
You’ve done it before. No games when we’re in such worrisome times.
This isn’t the time to worry about ratings and clicks.
“People’s lives are affected by the stability of the leadership and what happens next.
I won’t let anyone get in the way of that.
It’s why I’m airing all of this. Some would want me to cave to the elders over something like how the coronation plays out.
But what is next? What signal does that give them? To keep pushing?
“Who to manipulate next? That I will fold over something small, so I always will?” I blew out a slow breath.
“I cannot know the minds of my parents, but we all know they were smart. The recession would have been so much worse if my father hadn’t taken such bold measures many told him were insane to consider. ”
“I was one of them and I was wrong,” she admitted. “I was very wrong, and I’ve publicly apologized for my harsh criticism.”
“I know. It’s why you’re sitting there as opposed to many who gave brush-offs or never addressed it,” I told her honestly.
“But while he was dealing with all of that and saving so many of our people from losing everything and starving, the elders were sucking our family dry and laughing about it. Undermining him at every turn.
“My father kept me out of range of some of that so they couldn’t touch me—so I wasn’t corrupted by this outdated system.
I saw how other monarchies run and their governments.
I saw firsthand what works and what doesn’t.
I saw from the outside of Thovudin what works and what needs work while studying everything about our beautiful nation I needed to. ”
She was quiet for at least a full minute. “I’m in, Your Highness. If nothing else, I owe it to your father because I was one of the people overly critical about how he sent you off, and I never considered it could have been for the benefit of Thovudin.”
I gave a slight nod. “As a daughter, I hated it too. I’m not going to lie about that.
I also won’t disparage my parents because I constantly hear how much they loved me and praised me.
But as a leader… I see the benefits to the future of Thovudin.
If I’m supported as I should be and given the chance.
If people stop selfishly grabbing for power. ”
“I’d say you have quite the battle ahead of you because power is very seductive.”
I studied her for several moments before shaking my head.
“I don’t know how to reply to that. I’m not sure I can ever be objective, or maybe I am as cold as people think because I never wanted power.
I wanted to do the best I could. I wanted to make my parents and people proud, but I’ve always had power being the heir to the throne.
“So can I not understand because of that and I had it already? Or was I always outside the power struggles?” I glanced at Treena when she sighed.
“What am I missing? I’m missing something, aren’t I?
” I chuckled when she rolled her eyes at me.
“Yes, right, live interview. Probably one of those times you tell me I won’t understand being an only child. ”
She tapped her nose, but I wasn’t sure that was what it truly was. Either way, it was a bit of amusement to a very tense topic and interview because the others seemed to chuckle it off as well.
We talked a bit longer but wrapped it up shortly after. I handled what I mostly wanted to and my goals. I didn’t want it to drag on any longer than needed.
I was shocked when June made it clear once the camera was off that I needed a media coordinator and face. She had some recommendations and offered to forward me contacts or asked where they could send resumes.
“She’s not wrong,” Treena said quietly.
No, she wasn’t, and I certainly wasn’t going to use whoever my father did for anything after all the piles of issues I’d found.
Plus, most of them had made it clear they wouldn’t ruin their reputations working for me after they served someone as amazing as him. Lovely, right?
Darren must have been informed and watched it on his flight over because he only had eyes for me the moment he arrived at the castle. I didn’t even bother trying to play it off and went right to Father’s study with him.
“It wasn’t the way I would have played this, but you did wonderfully,” he praised as he hugged me. “You’re doing great, Sagan.”
“Thank you,” I accepted as I sank into his hug.
“But let us advise you. Please? Stop trying to handle it all on your own. Enough, Sagan!”
I sighed and nodded, deciding to tell him what I’d learned about Kole and the fact he was still in the castle. I was beyond glad when Darren looked ready to explode.
“Let me talk to Vex. Do you have any idea why Rhys wanted to end it suddenly?” he asked.
I blinked at him and felt stupid. “No, I have no idea.”
He blew out a harsh breath. “Okay, I know you—okay, let me talk to Vex and we’ll go from there.”
Fair enough. Time to let the adults be the adults… Of my love life.
Awesome.