Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“Prime Minister,” my mother said as she extended her hand.
When he kissed it, I knew why she had requested gloves so quickly. It was a tradition to kiss the hand of the queen. However, in these modern times, people avoided doing so by bowing their heads instead. But not Hermenegild—he was a hardcore traditionalist.
“Your Majesty,” he said as if he was trying to seduce my mother. “Your radiance never dulls but grows ever more blinding with each passing day.”
I, the man who loved prose and poets, cringed at his flagrant display of forced and fake chivalry—another trait of noble bastards.
“Adelaar.” He placed his hand over his heart, bowing to me.
I nodded in return, keeping my mouth shut.
“You flatter me, but thank you.” She took back her hand.
He looked back at my mother. “Forgive me for intruding again, ma’am. However, I was just made aware of the Adelaar’s current engagement.”
Current? Did I have a previous one?
“I am honored that you came in person to congratulate me, Mr. Prime Minister,” I said, though I had a feeling that was not his reason, seeing as he did not acknowledge my comment.
“Please, sit.” My mother broke the silence, her voice changing to that softness she always used in public. She stretched her arm for him to take his seat, and he waited for her to do so before he did while I sat in the corner chair away from them both.
“Tea?” she asked him, pointing to the maid at the cart, who walked over and gave a cup to my mother.
“Yes, thank you.” He nodded, accepting it.
“Well, Mr. Prime Minister, what is it that has brought you back to the palace so urgently?” she asked him when the maid left quietly.
“Concern, ma’am.” He looked pained to say it, sitting upward on his seat. “When I was here two days prior for our Wednesday meeting, you made no mention of an upcoming introduction or the Adelaar’s fiancée.”
“I was not aware I was to inform you,” she said in reply.
“Of course, it is not a must. Nevertheless, it has always been done so that a statement could be prepared by Trinity Row. This is to show the unity between the government and the crown. I fear by not allowing us that courtesy, ma’am, it looks as if we, your government, are not in line.”
In the time it took him to come here, he could have put out a statement. However, he chose not to and came to lecture us on the customs our family created.
“I see, and such an oversight shall not happen again, I assure you,” she said in return. “Have you already released a statement?”
His pink lips, glossier than they should have been, formed a thin line before he spoke again. “Ma’am, there are times when the monarchy may not know the impact of their choices on the nation at large. So, the prime minister’s duty is to inform you of them.”
“Mr. Prime Minister, excuse me,” I interrupted. “I thank you for your consistent attention to the monarchy and what we may or may not be aware of. However, that was not Her Majesty’s question. She asked if you had released a statement? Have you, or have you not?”
He glanced at my mother, but she merely lifted her teacup to her lips, so he returned his gaze to me. “One shall be released because all royal marriages are also matters of the state. Which is why each marriage should be considered and discussed to avoid any ramifications this may have on the people.”
“Ramifications? And what ramifications might a wedding cost? Last I checked, they bring in hundreds of millions into the economy,” I asked politely.
He lifted his chin as if he were speaking down to a child. “I am not merely speaking on the economic one, Adelaar. As you may know, over the last few years, this country has been overrun by a multitude of dissimilar people with dissimilar cultures, attitudes, and beliefs to those that are quintessential to Ersovia. True Ersovians are waking in neighborhoods they have lived in all their lives, some for generations, only to see that it no longer looks as they remember. They see less of themselves in this nation, and they look to the monarchy to see that again.”
“Is that so?” I gasped, pretending to be shocked. “As you are so popular with the people and so educated on their thoughts and wants, please do inform them that we are the same monarchy we were yesterday only with one new addition.”
“And when she provides another new addition?” His voice was stern, lifeless, and dismayed.
My teeth began to grind together as I understood what he was implying, and he opened his mouth to spew more nonsense. “Most importantly, her addition would not be just any new addition but one who shall be a monarch after you. Will the majority of people still see themselves then?”