Page 16 of Learning to Rule

Eight

Dalton

It takes Elodie a full day of sleep to recover from her introduction to my family. I let her sleep while I go for a cold water swim in the lake, and on my return, I sit in a chair in the bedroom where she’s sleeping and read.

“Dalton.” Elodie’s soft tones come from the bed as she stirs.

I place the book down I’ve been reading, an interesting volume about yoga as a means of relaxation for the busy professional, and make my way over to her. She looks beautiful with her blonde hair fanned out on the pillow.

“Are you all right? Do you want anything?” I ask.

There’s staff with us, but I’ve made sure it’s skeletal. As much as possible, I don’t want us to be disturbed while we’re here. Elodie needs the peace to recover before she’s thrown back into the deep end of court life.

“I’m good. I feel much better,” she informs me as she sits up in the bed. I watch as she stretches and yawns. “I think I’ve finally adjusted to the time difference and recovered from my introduction to royalty. Please tell me it gets better?” Elodie questions, and I’ve never been so relieved when I see her smirk.

“It does when my parents aren’t around. I promise you the job isn’t that bad. My father is trying to make it as difficult as possible for you.”

“I know. I just found it so sad, seeing what your mother has been reduced to because she’s married to your father.”

I slide onto the bed next to Elodie.

“Are you regretting getting involved with me?” I ask, fearful of the answer.

“No, never.” Elodie reaches out and takes my hand. “I won’t lie and say I found the last few days easy, but your father warned me. To be honest, I find it more upsetting that he seems to have such a disregard for the people of Junastria. I’ve always believed royal families would do everything they could for their citizens. I’m just struggling at the moment with the reality that your father seems to only enjoy being king because it gives him a life of luxury.”

I sigh heavily. “You don’t know the half of it. The other day, Hinchbootie gave me letters from some of our people who are suffering great deprivation. My father wasn’t interested in them at all. He didn’t read them. He just burned them.”

“That’s awful. How could he do that? Did you manage to read any of them?”

I nod. “I did, a few. One was from a man whose children were starving. Elodie, I can’t believe I live in this luxury, but there are people out there who have nothing at all. Not even enough food. I want to go and find them, give them something.”

“Why don’t you?” Elodie asks me, and I feel a wash of shame come over me.

“Because I know I can’t change anything until I become king. I’m in an impossible position. I just hope Clement Woodrow can help them now he’s prime minister.”

“I do as well.”

Elodie and I both lean into each other.

“Can we just be us for a couple of days?” she finally asks.

“Yes, of course. Why don’t you get dressed and let’s go for a walk? I want to show you more of the surrounding area. It’s so beautiful.”

“Best idea ever.”

* * *

The lake laps gently at the shore as Elodie and I walk hand in hand together, dressed in thick, winter clothes and warm gloves

“I thought the palace was a spectacular sight, but this place is stunning. It’s like a picture postcard.” Elodie cranes her neck to look around. She drops my hand and pulls her phone from her pocket to take a few pictures. “I’m going to send them to the yoga class. I want them to see this. It’s so different from the Florida waters.”

I look around the area. It really is different from the bright blue waters and golden sands of Florida. This is a Janastrian winter. Crisp white snow covers the ground, and the edge of the fresh water lake is frozen. I remember a time in my youth when I could skate on the lake, but the ice is too thin at the moment. All around us are mountains covered in yet more snow. The ice covered branches of thousands of pine trees glisten in the sunlight over-head. The sky is bright blue like that of Florida, but the warmth of the American state is definitely missing.

“It is very different. It’s great here in the summer to sit by the lake, relaxing with a glass of wine and watching the sun set.”

“That’s one thing I’m really struggling with. It gets dark so early here in winter compared to Florida. I’m not used to it.” Elodie bends down and picks up a handful of snow. She starts to form it into a ball.

“Just you wait until the summer. The sun doesn’t start setting until at least eleven in the evening.”

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