Page 30 of Desperately Yours

“Are you hurt?” The king leaned forward, deeply concerned.

“No.” She waved him off. “Sorry, it was nothing. Please continue.” Esmerey fiddled with the food on her plate as attention shifted again.

“Lady Sadira,” the king turned back to her, “what do you miss about Eshein?”

“Well, it is as Lady Michaela suggested, the culture is what draws me back home, Sire. We have many rich traditions known only to our area that bind us as a people, even when we travel to other provinces. We are truly like a family in that sense.”

I braced myself, because I knew he was coming for me next, and no way was I going to get one of their softball questions. Sure enough, I felt the cameras shift and the king watched me, as if sizing up his enemy.

“Miss Caldwell,” he straightened a bit, perhaps to look more like a worthy opponent, “what do you think of our government versus your American government? Democracy and the voice of the people or a crown to rule in fairness and equality?”

He wanted me to either speak badly about my own country and look like a traitor, or he wanted me to insult the idea of a monarchy and alienate the Nolcovian people. Once more, Bishop had seen it coming. I had an answer prepped and ready.

“Does it really have to be either or?” I cocked an eyebrow with a bit of my American defiance. “I think the end result is what is most important. Any government can become corrupt when they don’t listen to the voices and needs of their people, but, on the other side of the token, any government can rise above any challenge if they will always put the needs of those they serve over their own interests.”

I thought a heard a modest amount of applause in the corner. Attention once again went back to Esmerey, asking a question or two about American celebrities she admired. Hoping the cameras were ignoring me, I twisted to try to spot Fitz in the shadows. I found him quickly, but his gaze wasn’t on me. It was locked on his father, deep concern etched into his features. Turning back, I saw it too. The king had begun to slump in his seat. The strength he’d used to rally for the interview was fading quickly. Though he spoke to Sadie next, his voice weakened with every word. Esmerey began to watch him as well. Between bitesof crackers and cheese, she shot me a few worried glances. He appeared ready to fall out of his chair.

“It’s been interesting watching your pursuits of my son.” He chuckled to himself, but the lighting caught the glimmer of beading sweat on his forehead. “You all have feelings for him, and he is days away from choosing his bride. Only one ceremony remains until he names the lucky victor. Tomorrow night, we shall know the final two.”

The tension in the room climbed higher with every passing second. This had to be the end. He had to be wrapping up at this point, right? The last thing anyone needed was the king collapsing on live television. I held my breath, waiting for someone to call it before disaster struck.

“Miss Caldwell.” He wasn’t giving up despite his failing health. Spaces cropped up between his words so he could draw in raspy breaths. “What do… you think of our custom… to have the ruling monarchy comprised… of a married couple? Archaic… or intelligent?”

“Father…” Fitz rose up behind me as if to stop him, but the king’s hand came up to silence his son.

Sick or not, he was still the king. The command stood.

“To be honest…” I hadn’t practiced this one with Bishop. All I had left was my own opinion. “When I arrived, I found it entirely archaic to see that a woman couldn’t rule on her own. My mother has been single most of my life. Not once has she failed me or our little family. She raised me to be strong, independent, and decisive. All traits I have seen in your own wife, Your Majesty. To say she is unable to rule feels like an injustice to the crown and her own character she’s developed at your side.” I cleared my throat as the cameras seemed to edge closer, like predators in the jungle. “Even to claim that your son has to be married in order to rule feels like an insult against the man I know he is. Leonidas is one of the most capable and honorable people I havemet in my life and if he had to take the throne tomorrow, with or without a wife, I know he would exceed all expectations.”

Murmurs rose up around me. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Sadie’s hand tighten around the arm of her chair. Esme’s hand flew to her throat as if grasping for pearls that weren’t there. Whispers grew louder as the king grew heavier. I pushed forward, needing to get the rest of my thoughts out before someone cut me off.

“That being said, while I have been in Nolcovia, I have learned the strength of a couple united in a mission for the greater good. I understand more than ever why the law is in place and what the desired outcome would be. Each offers a unique perspective, and a properly balanced couple will find true happiness for their kingdom because of it.”

The tumult continued. I’d caused way too much of a stir with my answer. Near the door to the bedroom, a figure stepped forward and the room instantly fell silent.

The queen had been watching all along. Her eagle eyes trained on me, narrowed and cold. “In your opinion then,MissCaldwell,” her chin jutted out so that she looked down at me with more intensity, “if the king should die then the queen should rule in his stead?”

My mouth went dry. She’d backed me into a corner. Instead of being grateful that I had praised her, she was capitalizing on her husband’s weakness and the live feed. If I really was the country’s favorite, maybe she hoped it would mean I could turn everyone on my side to get behind her instead.

Bishop definitely hadn’t prepared me for this.

If I said yes, then the queen had what she wanted and Fitz could lose his right to rule. If I said no, then wasn’t I insulting the kingdom in some way? Or Fitz’s character?

“Well, I—” I glanced at the king, but he looked ready to go into cardiac arrest. Why wasn’t anyone stopping this? My panic rose.“It’s not that simple…” I couldn’t stare at one place for very long. My gaze darted around the room. No one had a safe haven for me. No one was going to save me. “I think it’s important to…” The king slumped in his seat so far it looked as though he might spill out on the floor. “Should we help him? It looks like—”

Sadie’s scream shattered the air. I whipped around, searching out the threat that had startled her. Was it the king? Had someone attacked? What was—

At the end of our row, Esmerey doubled over and tumbled to the floor. Her skin, once golden and rosy, faded to a deathly pale, almost blue. Air wheezed in and out in short gasps. Her hands turned to claws as she dragged herself forward, crawling to some unknown destination. As her face tipped up to beg for help, her bloodshot eyes locked on mine. I stared in horror. Skin gaunt and sucked to her bones, like a mummy unwrapped. She’d become a faint whisper of the beauty she’d once been. A gaunt phantom approaching death, she wheezed out the words, “Help… me.”

Fitz’s voice thundered above everyone else. “Medic! Now!”

Fitz

“Well, she’s not dead…” Bishop said it like it meant something.

I turned away from the window in my chambers to stare at him. “That’s your consolation?” Trying to wipe away the stain of the last twelve hours, I rubbed my palm over my face. “Welcome to the royal palace, ladies. At least you won’tdiehere.”

My cousin frowned as though I was a belligerent child. “I don’t appreciate that tone. I think it’s rather lovely that she hasn’t died yet.” He slumped into the wingback chair and kicked his boots up on the table. “Imagine the paperwork we might have to file.”

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