Page 105 of 2 Books in One Bundle
‘What’s going on here?’
It wasn’t a tentative question; it was a demand to know.
Vasili could see how she was blossoming into her role even if she still doubted herself at times.
‘It’s nothing for you to be concerned about, Your Majesty,’ Andreas said.
Vasili knew that tone. But disregarding Helia would never be something he accepted. His father had ruled absolutely. His mother, though she’d been Queen, had only ever been allowed power over things he’d deemed acceptable for her. Vasili had hated it then and he hated it now. Perhaps it was the rebellion in him which he probably would never be rid of. The need to do things his way.
Helia was his partner. They had agreed to show a united front to the world. That included his advisors, so as far as Vasili was concerned, and she would always have a voice.
Holding Andreas’s stare, he slid the folder over to Helia, who had come to stand beside him. ‘This is a proposed tax bill that I will not be passing.’
Helia read through the pages in the folder, grateful for her background as a librarian. All the knowledge she had absorbed over the years helped her understand the document in her hand now. One that made her heart sink. This was proof of the barriers she needed to overcome to ensure the people who needed help the most received it.
The one shining light was Vasili. He was already opposed. A fact that made her breathe a sigh of relief. The problem was Andreas was obviously pushing for it.
‘I’m no expert, but to me this would only benefit those already wealthy. There is no benefit for the poor. They’re likely to be forgotten. Seems like you’re pushing for something only the upper echelons want,’ she said evenly as she set the folder down.
‘That is exactly it,’ Vasili agreed.
Vasili had told her to wield her power. Had said to her numerous times that she was Queen. Reminded her when he kissed and touched her. And after their talk the day before it was finally starting to settle—because the only person whose opinion she should value was her husband’s.
When they had returned from the orphanage Andreas’s words had had her doubting herself. She could see that he didn’t care for everyone. But she did. And Vasili did. So she would no longer allow him to make her feel as if her title was an ill fit.
‘Vasili is right. We can’t pass this. As Queen, I am opposed.’
Just as she had expected, Andreas did not take well to her statement.
‘This is irregular. It is the King who has a say in the policy of our country. That was how King Athanasios did things, and that was how King Leander did as well.’
‘It would appear that once again you need reminding, Andreas, that I am not my father, nor my brother. I will accept the counsel of my queen because she is the only one amongst us who is intimately aware of how our policies affect and fail the ordinary citizens of Thalonia. Helia has as much of a say in the wellbeing of our people as I do, and we are both opposed. If you want this bill passed in Parliament, I suggest it be reworked.’
While Vasili did not raise his voice, Helia was taken by the power in it. He might be a reluctant king, but to her he was already a good one.
She turned to Vasili as soon as Andreas had left and said, ‘Thank you.’
‘We agreed to fix things together, did we not?’
They had, and he was already following through on that promise. He treated her with consideration, valued her opinions, and it was making it so much harder for her to keep her feelings under lock and key. She was forbidden from falling in love. He didn’t want them to fall in love. But he made it so hard. She already trusted him. He had asked for her trust in small ways, but had earned it in the biggest, which was why she had felt comfortable telling him of her past. Helia hadn’t told anyone the whole truth, but she’d told Vasili, and it hadn’t scared her to say it.
It was clear that she was well on her way to breaking her promise and losing her heart to him, but he would never do the same. How could he treat her so well, help her and listen to her, and then refuse to love her?
‘We did.’
‘But that isn’t why I asked you here.’ He stood and offered her his chair, pushing it in when she sat, then lifting the lid of his laptop. ‘This is what I want to discuss with you.’
Helia skimmed through the document, her breath catching. ‘When did you do this?’
‘I couldn’t sleep,’ Vasili admitted, perching on the corner of the table, looking down at her. ‘What do you think?’
‘You want to make orphanages a palace concern.’
‘Yes. That way we can secure funding that I get to dictate without having to go through the politicians. That’s not all. I plan on creating an educational fund that the orphans will have access to for further study.’
‘How would we make that work?’
‘Possibly some sort of bursary fund.’
