CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

“Why didn’t anyone call me?” Mari asked.

“You aren’t allowed phone calls there.”

“Really? I’m a Princess; they would have made an exception. Besides, everyone knows it’s a formality that we do this stuff. Christian loves the military, but the three of us could have done without serving,” Mari replied. “I mean, I’m all for sister solidarity and the country, but after training, they put me behind a desk because of how useless I am with any kind of weapon.”

“Well, we’re glad to have you back,” Elin told her sister.

“You’re going to be Queen,” Mari stated.

“Yes, I am,” Elin replied.

“Dad’s retiring, Christian doesn’t want it, and you’re going to be Queen,” Mari repeated.

“Mari, we went over this,” Lillian said.

“Lil, you’ve had a little more time to get used to this than I have. Give me a minute,” Mari replied. “Do you even want this, Elin? I mean, our brother is wrong for doing this to you, but–”

“It’s fine,” Elin said, shrugging a shoulder. “I don’t have much of a choice, anyway, but I’m slowly coming to terms with it.”

“That means you’re first in line now,” Mari said to Lillian.

“And you’re second; new jobs all around,” Lillian muttered.

“I just want to go to school now that my service is done.” Mari crossed her arms over her chest. “Elin, Dad promised when I got done with my two years that I could go to school. I want my advanced degree. You got to go to law school. This doesn’t change that, does it?”

“I don’t think so, but I don’t know. There’s a lot that still has to be worked out.”

“I can’t work a real job because of who I am, but I want to run one of the family charities one day. I want to go to business school, Elin. If you’re Queen, you can make it happen.”

“Mari, can we please table that until after the announcement? You just got home. We’re having a party tonight to celebrate. Let’s just do that,” Elin told her.

“Ma’am, may I come in?” Ingrid asked.

“Hello, Ingrid. Nice to see you,” Mari said.

Elin looked from Mari to Ingrid and then away from both of them.

“You as well, Your Royal Highness,” Ingrid replied.

“Come in, Ingrid,” Elin said in a more serious tone than she’s planned. “What do you need?”

“Actually, it’s Princess Mari that I need. I was hoping we could set up a time to meet tomorrow.”

“What for?” Mari asked.

“Ma’am?” Ingrid asked back. Then, she looked at Elin. “Your Royal Highness?”

“There are too many of those in this room right now. This is confusing,” Lillian stated.

“I haven’t had a chance to tell her yet, Ingrid. Mari only just arrived,” Elin replied to Ingrid.

“Tell me what?”

“Ingrid is your new private secretary,” Elin said.

“What? Why?” Mari asked. “No offense, Ingrid.”

“None taken, Ma’am,” Ingrid replied.

“With the retirement and all the changes, I’ll have Markus; he’s senior. Lillian requested that she keep working with Katrin. So, Ingrid will be working with you.”

“I don’t need a private secretary,” Mari stated. “Again, no offense, Ingrid.”

“Ma’am, it’s okay,” Ingrid said.

“You’re a senior member of the royal family and will perform royal duties now that you’re back, so you need a secretary. Now that you’re second in line after Lillian, there are more expectations on you, Mari.”

“Elin, Dad promised me I wouldn’t have to–”

“I know that; it’s a formality. Ingrid will be your secretary even if you go to business school.”

“If?!” Mari asked.

“He’s waiting for us, Mari. You can ask him at the party,” Elin replied.

“Ingrid, are you coming?” Mari asked.

“Sorry, Ma’am?” Ingrid looked confused.

“If you come to the party, we can get this all sorted out,” Mari said.

“Oh, I don’t think–”

“It’s a family party, Mari,” Elin interrupted Ingrid. “I mean… I’m sorry, Ingrid. I didn’t mean to–”

“This is rubbish,” Lillian stated, standing up. “We are going to the party. Ingrid, you and my sister can work this all out.”

“Which sister?” Mari asked.

“The future Queen,” Lillian replied. “We’ll see you in the ballroom,” Lillian said to Elin.

Then, she pulled Mari out of the room, leaving the two of them alone.

“I should let you get to the party, Ma’am,” Ingrid said.

“Yes, thank you,” Elin replied, nodding at her.

“Permission to speak, Ma’am,” Ingrid said, clasping her hands in front of her.

“Ingrid, you don’t…” Elin swallowed and closed her eyes for a second. “Of course.”

“I just wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed working with you these past few years, and that I know Markus is well-qualified, but I’m here for anything you need as well,” she said. “Ma’am,” she added a second later.

Elin wanted to say something, but she risked giving herself away, so she just nodded and motioned for Ingrid to head out first, following her out of the room and heading toward the ballroom alone.

The party wasn’t a formal affair. It was just the six of them with several members of their extended family. They had three aunts and two uncles between their parents. Her two aunts and one uncle on her mother’s side couldn’t inherit, since she was Queen by marriage, but her father had a sister and a brother that technically could, should Elin, Lillian, and Mari fail to have children.

As members of her family approached, congratulating her on her future crown, she actually counted her cousins. Just in this room, there were fourteen people who could one day wear the crown. It made her feel safe and comforted, knowing that if she didn’t want this, she could give it to someone else that did; maybe not Lillian, who seemed unsure, or Mari, who didn’t want it at all, but there were options. Who was Elin kidding? She wasn’t going to pass this on to someone else. Just the fact that her father was retiring and her brother wasn’t taking the crown was enough to concern the country. If she handed the crown to one of her cousins, the monarchy would likely end there. The people would rightfully say, ‘If none of you want it, why should we?’

“Once the announcement happens, we’ll need to do everything we can to ensure the nation that we have this all under control,” her father said to the crowd who’d quieted the moment the King had started speaking.

She wondered if she’d ever have that kind of power over a room and doubted it very much.

“Christian is leaving us soon and returning to active duty. While I am sad, as a father and a King, that my only son has decided against becoming a King in his own right, I must admit now, after thinking it through, that I am proud of him for standing up for what he believes to be right and for serving his country in the way he thinks he best can. A father wants his son to be an honorable, loyal man, and I can see why Christian believes this is his path. I’ve agreed to accept his removal from the line, and Christian and I have spoken at length about what this means for any of his future family members.”

“You did?” she whispered to her brother as her father continued.

“Yes, we talked today. I think I’m going to make a go at being normal, Elin.”

“Normal?”

“I don’t know. I’m a Prince and always will be, but Dad made it clear to me today that there’s no negotiating on this. He’s not making me a Duke when I get married if I leave, and my kids won’t have titles. My wife won’t, either, and I’ve accepted that. I don’t know if I’ll ever get married. You know, you could always change that, but I’m fine if you don’t. I love the Air Force. I don’t want to leave, and I might not be able to find a woman who wants to put up with me, but if I do, she’ll have to be okay with not being a Duchess despite being married to a Prince and that our kids will just be kids.”

“And that’s what you want?” she asked.

“I don’t want to be King; I know that much.”

“Christian, I won’t change whatever Dad says; you know that, right? I don’t want you to think that you can ask me when I’m Queen, because I understand why he’s doing this, and I agree with it.”

“So do I,” Christian said, shrugging a shoulder. “I hadn’t thought it all through when he brought it up the first time, but he’s right: I can’t have my cake and eat it, too. If I don’t want the responsibility, I don’t get the perks.”

“And welcome home to my baby girl,” their father said loudly.

Elin returned her attention to the man who was raising his glass for Mari’s return.

“She’s served her country well, and I cannot wait to see what she does next,” he said. “Cheers.”

Just as they all finished the toast, Lillian walked over to them.

“Did you square things with Ingrid?” she asked.

“What’s wrong with Ingrid?” Christian asked Elin.

“Nothing is wrong with Ingrid,” Elin said. “And, Lil, we’re at a party.”

“Elin, you were supposed to talk to her; that’s why Mari and I left.”

“Why do you care so much about Ingrid, all of a sudden?” Elin asked her.

“First of all, I’ve always liked Ingrid; she’s great. Secondly, it’s sort of my fault she’s stuck with Mari now.”

“Hey,” Mari said as she approached, overhearing Lillian’s words.

“Well, it’s true. You’re boring; there’s nothing for her to secretary.”

“That word is not a verb,” Mari argued.

“See? Boring,” Lillian repeated.

“You love Ingrid. Why don’t you keep her?” Mari asked.

“I don’t love Ingrid,” Elin replied quickly, her eyes darting around the room as if people could hear them.

“I thought you loved working with her,” Christian said. “Best private secretary ever or something like that. I remember you saying that before.” He took a drink of his champagne.

“I didn’t say that,” Elin lied.

“You like her, though,” Lillian said. “So, why give her to Mari?”

“She’s a person,” Elin argued. “I’m not giving her to anyone.”

“You sort of are, though, Elin,” Mari remarked.

“Wait. Why does Ingrid have to change Princesses?” Christian asked.

“Already out of the loop, big brother?” Lillian teased. “Guess it’s good you want to leave.”

“Christian, I told you about this,” Elin said.

“Oh, shit. That’s right; you did. Seniority stuff, right?”

“Yes,” Elin replied.

“So, once you’re Queen, change it,” he suggested.

“Yeah, he’s right,” Mari echoed. “Once Dad retires, just give Markus another job. Lil gets Katrin still, and I don’t need a secretary since I’ll be in business school. You’d get Ingrid.”

“This is supposed to be a party,” Elin sighed.

“Fine. We’ll talk later,” Mari said, pointing at her and then walking off.

“I’m getting food. I’m starving,” Christian announced and followed her.

“Ingrid will quit if she’s stuck with Mari,” Lillian stated simply after they left.

“What?”

“Mari won’t have any work for her to do. Whether she goes back to school or not, Mari won’t have anything to really do for a while. She’s only just now entering the real royal life. Ingrid’s too good, Elin. She likes working with you because you’re a real working royal. I’m just trying to tell you that you risk her quitting. Like you said, she’s a person; she can leave whenever she wants. And if she’s bored because Mari is boring, she’ll leave fast. And I don’t think you could blame her for that since you’re the one that did nothing to try to keep her.”