Page 80 of Royal Fling
“I’m sorry, Mama, but screw the government and screw expectations. We may have a ‘responsibility’ to our people and our country, but we also have a responsibility to ourselves. And that’s more important. Unless you’re saying you’re happy for your son to be miserable for the rest of his life just so he can be the king others think he has to be. The country is ready for change.”
I could have kissed Ginny at that moment. I would have if we were not seated and there wasn’t a desk separating us.
She was saying everything I was too shocked, too scared, too cowardly to say.
“They’re notready for a gay king, Your Highness,” Teagan said.
“How would you know? Have you asked them? Have you spoken to any of them? I have. There's a reason why I chose to go to a public school, Mother, and that's because I wanted to see what the real people were like, and believe me, they're far more accepting than you're making them out to be.”
Mother looked from my sister, to Teagan, and finally to me with an expressionless face. I wish I could be inside her head, figure out what she was thinking. This was one hell of a way to come out to your mother, even if she was a queen.
“So what would you suggest we do, Dora?” Mother turned to my sister.
“I can't answer that. Only August can,” Ginny said.
All eyes turned on me now.
“I… I’d like to be with him,” I said.
My mother pierced me with the gray eyes I’d inherited from her for a moment before turning to Teagan.
“Was there a plan of action for August coming out?” she asked her.
My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe Mama had asked that. That she was even humoring me, if she was.
Teagan flipped page after page, everyone’s gaze on her. She noticed and apologized to the room.
“Sorry. It was only a last resort so it’s right at the end. We didn’t think that would be an option, Your Majesty.”
Mother nodded and pursed her lips, waiting for Teagan’s response.
“Right. So we could hold a fundraiser for an LGBTQ charity to direct attention to the cause,” she said, reading off her notes. “And during the keynote speech, August can make a statement about his sexuality.”
Mother turned to me. “What do you think?”
“I think I want to do it,” I said.
I never realized that was an option for my life. I’d always imagined being a king would mean marrying a woman—Phaedra, probably—and having to put on fake smiles for my people.
I couldn’t believe coming out was an option, and what was more, I couldn’t believe Mother was on board with it.
“Yay! Party time.” Ginny clapped her hands excitedly, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Twenty-One
Luke
Well, to say it had been an interesting few days was an understatement. And yet, despite the chaos in the tabloids and how little I’d managed to see August—Nikolas would pick me up and take me to the penthouse—the royals had managed to organize an event sparing no cost.
And when I said the royals, I meant the ones working for them, of course. Although, admittedly, August had been very involved.
In the end, I thought the charity he’d chosen was a great cause, and I was glad he’d managed to turn the attention to them.
“It’s a great evening, isn’t it?” Dad asked, sweeping a look around the room.
I took in the space, too, and I had to admit it was.
