Page 6 of The Heart of the King

It was too much to absorb with the headache. “Are these men just going to hand control back over to you?”

“Probably not,” he admitted. “Being married will help. Otherwise, they could use forcing a marriage with one of their daughters as a way to control me.”

“Is that why you had your team put the announcement out?” She took another sip of her coffee. Was he trying to coerce her to stay? She didn’t know how she felt about that.

“Maybe? I don’t remember the thought process. But being already married means they have less power over me.” He took a drink of his own coffee. “Maybe that was part of my rationale last night in marrying you in the first place, but I really don’t know.”

“They sound fantastic.” Her snark started to come back full force.

“It is the way it is. My country is very male dominated. We still have male primogeniture. The Council seats can only be inherited by sons. There are only a few female members of Parliament. There’s a movement among the people to change the Council and restrain their power. Unfortunately, that means a king willing to cooperate. My father wouldn’t cooperate if his life depended on it.”

He slouched back into his chair and looked nothing like the prince-about-to-be-king he claimed to be. “In a few days, my father will be convicted and removed. I’ll be king.”

“Can they forceyouto abdicate?” She popped another bite of bagel in her mouth.

With a sigh, he shrugged. “They could try, but I don’t know if they’d be able to or not. It would likely take a vote of no confidence by both Parliament and the people. All that would do is give my uncle the throne or possibly my brother’s second child.”

Jazz closed her eyes. “That’s way too much to absorb right now.”

“I’m hoping to make changes,” he told her. “I think women should be in positions of power and authority every bit as much as men. The most qualified person should get the job or elected position, or even hereditary one, regardless of gender.”

“Agreed.” He was saying the right things. But lots of people said the right things.

He looked up at her, an earnest look in his eyes. “Would you help me do that?”

Couldhe come up with a better name than NotCharles even in his own head?

NotCharles didn’t think so. Not yet. He’d probably decide on David or Chauncey soon enough.

Not probably. He had to in the next twenty-four hours so everything could be ready for this weekend. The courts had put Friday as the absolute latest the verdict and sentence would be delivered. The coronation was set for Saturday, though technically, he’d be king by Friday afternoon at the latest. He wouldn’t be able to do anything until after the coronation.

Not that he knew what he wanted to do, except make his country a better place for young women, like his half-sister.

That hadn’t even occurred to him until this conversation. He’d been struggling for years with what it would mean in reality for him to be king and whether he’d be up for the task given his role models.

Jasmine still hadn’t answered his question about working with him to make his country a better place for women specifically, and the people as a whole.

“I don’t even know what that would entail,” she finally said.

“I don’t either. I can’t say that my father or grandfather were very good examples of what a king should be.” Something he hadn’t realized until the last couple of years. NotCharles had the impression his father would try to influence him from jail if he could.

“Do you have anyone you can look up to? Who can help you be better than they were? Do you have Queen Elizabeth on speed dial?”

The snort of laughter sent a spike of pain through NotCharles’s head. “I’ve never met her. I’m not sure my father has, because he was only king for a few months before the legal troubles started. I would imagine my grandfather did at some point.”

“Is there anyone else you can go to?”

“King Edward, Harrison’s father, would probably give me some good advice. Maybe King Antonio in Montevaro. A lot of the other monarchs around are already my generation. Christiana in Ravenzario has been queen since she was five, but only really in control for a few years. Adeline in Mevendia has been queen for a few years. Benjamin has been king of Auverignon for almost fifteen years, I think, but he just kicked his uncle out a couple of years ago. Edward has been king for a couple of decades now, I guess, and was an adult when he took over. I think he’s helped Benjamin and my sister-in-law, Esme in Islas del Sargasso, since she became queen about two years ago.”

“I’ve met him a couple of times. Lani speaks highly of him. Maybe he’ll take you under his wing, too.”

NotCharles almost ached at the thought of having a father-figure who was actually a father-figure and not someone counseling him to take advantage of his position in life. “I will certainly consider talking to him about it,” he told her.

She blew out a breath. “Let’s get down to more immediate issues. I need to go home.”

NotCharles tried not to wince. “I don’t know if that’s possible.”

“Why not? I have a wedding to go to next weekend. I’m not in it, but I’m here for a girls’ weekend with Wendy who is getting married next Friday night.”

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