Page 22 of Royally Scr*wed

Ottiline greets us from the sitting area inside her room with a cheerful wave.

“Today’s your big day, Your Majesty,” the sweet young girl smiles.

“Not you too, Ottiline,” I tease. “It’s just Jude, remember?”

Ottiline rolls her eyes at me. “Whatever, Jude.”

“How are you feeling today?” Charlie asks, taking a seat across from her.

“A little tired. That’s usual on treatment days though.”

I sit down next to Charlie and fiddle with the tv remote that’s setting on the coffee table. “You’re one tough cookie, kiddo.”

“Not like I have much of a choice, right?” Ottiline shrugs.

“I guess that depends on how you look at it,” I reply.

“I guess. I’d rather take a tour of the castle and sit in on your proclamation.”

“I wish you could, but right now our main priority is keeping you safe and healthy. Once things are a little more settled around here – we’ll give you the grand tour. I promise,” Charlie reassures her.

Flicking on the tv, I turn on Herefirth Broadcasting Network. “And if you’d like, you can watch everything on HBC though you may find it pretty boring.”

Kathie joins us for a quick spell, filling us in on Ottiline’s health and the most recent update from her caseworker.

“And the house medical staff, are they meeting all of Ottiline’s needs? Is there anything either of you need?” I ask.

“The staff has been beyond accommodating, though I’m still getting used to the fact that this is our lives right now,” she laughs.

“I’m sorry about that. But we promise you that you’ve got job security here and we’ve doubled your salary. Jude is used to getting his way,” Charlie sends me a pointed glare but smiles. “I’m working on teaching him that not everyone will simply do as he says, King or not.”

Kathie smiles nervously. “I…uhm…I appreciate that.”

“She’s not wrong. I’m very used to getting whatever I want. Still, there was probably a better way to handle this. I guess I’m lucky that Ottiline’s social worker hasn’t pulled the plug on all of this,” I confess. “I’m glad you didn’t run the other way on us, too.”

“I’d never dream of it, King Jude. Ottiline and I have been through a lot together, I wouldn’t turn my back on her now.”

“She’s lucky to have you, Kathie,” I tell her.

“I think it’s the other way around,” she winks.

We visit with Ottiline for as long as time allows us and leave just as she drifts off to sleep.

CHAPTER 9

CHARLIE

In all my years living within the palace walls and then working for the royal family, I’ve never witnessed security this tight nor household staff this bare. Though I suppose that’s what happens when there’s a suspected coup d'état.

Until now, my role has been to stand back and observe. I’ve given opinions on dinner selections for the small handful of guests who will be allowed in the palace in the next few hours. I’ve signed off on place settings and double checked that everything is in pristine condition according to what may or may not be unwritten rules about how certain things are handled around here.

I’ve got a lot left to learn. But that will have to wait because in a matter of minutes, Jude will be proclaimed King.

“Nervous?” Jude asks from inside our ‘new’ bedchamber that is currently decorated much like his masculine bedroom back at his flat.

One can only hope that we’ll eventually actually get to sleep for more than a few minutes at a time in this room. Our first night ‘home’ sure left a lot to be desired.

“Yes. Aren’t you?”

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