Page 110 of The Royal Throne
“I told the League. I asked them what my options are.” She’d known she’d be stripped of the crown and wouldn’t be able to rule. Before she wrote to them, she’d prepared herself for that outcome.
He released a large breath. “This complicates things.”
“It does. The League has decided to pass the Lynk crown to you.”
“But I’m not in line for the throne.”
“Your mother was the queen. You are the legitimate heir.” This was the part she was afraid to bring up. “I hear you have a woman friend. And a five year old son.” The woman he’d been seeing was a commoner in town. Anton hadn’t told anyone her child was his. Sabine had only discovered it when she’d read through Felix’s notes. He’d been helping Anton funnel money to the woman and child for years.
Anton ran his hands over his face.
“Since you have an heir, your son can take over for you as the League member once he’s of age.”
“I don’t know about this. I never planned on ruling.”
Neither had she. But things happened in life and they had to adapt. “The League has granted you the royal throne and the right to marry the commoner. You may declare the child your heir. It’s a better option than me ruling. I’m not from here. And, honestly, I can’t marry someone from Lynk. You have to understand that. I don’t belong here.”
Anton took her hand, squeezing it. “I don’t think you understand what all you’ve done for Lynk. You are a true queen.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Once everything had calmed down, Sabine traveled south with a handful of guards who’d volunteered to escort her. Anton had been sworn in as the new king of Lynk. The people had been sad to see her go. However, once she gave her full support to Anton, people began to come around. After he married the commoner, everyone fully embraced him.
It felt like she hadn’t been home in years, even though it had only been a few months. So much had changed that she no longer felt like the same person who’d left here, determined to seek revenge for her sister’s death.
When the carriage rounded the bend revealing her family’s castle in the distance, tears filled her eyes. She’d missed this more than she’d realized. Things had been so busy lately that she hadn’t had time to think about her life here in Bakley. Seeing her family’s land, she knew that she’d made the right decision by leaving Lynk. Now that she understood what it meant to be a queen, she wanted to thank her mother for all she’d done for her family and her kingdom.
The carriage pulled through the gates and onto the road leading to the castle. Her family stood on the front steps, waiting for her. An overwhelming sense of gratitude, love, and something else that she couldn’t pinpoint overwhelmed her. When the carriage came to a stop, she almost shoved the door open, wanting to throw her arms around her parents. However, she refrained from doing so. Not only was she no longer a child, but she was the princess of Bakley and needed to act accordingly.
Drew opened the door and held out his hand for her. Before she could take it, Harta jumped out of the carriage, thrilled to finally be able to run around. Smiling, Sabine took Drew’s hand, gingerly stepping down onto Bakley soil. “Thank you for escorting me,” she whispered to her loyal guard.
“It has been a pleasure serving you, Your Highness.” He bowed.
“I wish you nothing but the best,” she said. “Both you and Harper.” She knew her guard and lady’s maid had formed an attachment to one another. She hoped it worked out for them—they deserved happiness.
His face flushed. “Thank you, Your Highness.” He closed the carriage door and gave the order to head out. Now that he’d brought her home, he would return to Lynk with the soldiers who had accompanied them.
Not bothering to watch the carriage leave, she turned and faced her family, Harta obediently at her side.
She shifted her cape behind her shoulders as a genuine smile stretched across her face. Front and center, her parents, Franz and Elsa, stood arm in arm. To their right were Karl and his wife, Jesamine, along with their boys, Haron and Beck. Jesamine’s stomach looked like a small melon had been placed under her dress indicating she was pregnant. On her parents’ other side, Rolf had his arm draped over his wife who held their sleeping baby. Otto and Viktor stood next to them.
Suddenly, everything felt right in Sabine’s life.
Elsa opened her arms, and Sabine ran into them, squeezing her mother. The next thing she knew, the entire family had piled in for the hug. Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. She was home with her family—the people who loved her most in the world. Harta ran circles around them.
The wedding was held the following day in the chapel on the castle’s property. Everyone from town had been invited. So many came that people were forced to stand around the edges and at the back. Flowers decorated the aisle. The marriage binder stood on the dais with Viktor off to the side, awaiting his bride.
Sabine and her family sat in the first row.
A group of musicians began playing, and everyone stood to watch Carin enter the chapel at the back, wearing a beautiful soft white dress in the traditional Avoni style, with pale pink roses embroidered along the hemline. A cape with long sleeves matching the dress lay atop her shoulders. She walked down the aisle, joining Viktor.
Sabine watched the two of them, remembering her own wedding day to Rainer. This ceremony felt vastly different from that one. Here, friends and family gathered to watch and support this union. This wasn’t done in secret or in haste.
Once the ceremony was complete, everyone headed over to the castle’s great hall to celebrate.
Sabine used the opportunity to slip away for a moment. First, she went to the garden where she plucked a single white rose. Then she headed to the royal family’s cemetery. She went to Alina’s grave, pleased to see a bouquet of lavender had been left on it.
Kneeling, she ran her hand over the headstone. “My dear, sweet sister.” She laid the single rose on the grave. “I made a promise to you. I promised to find who murdered you and to avenge your death. It wasn’t as easy as I thought.” Taking a deep breath, she tried not to cry. “I found out Rainer’s own sister, Lottie, wanted the throne. She hired an assassin, and the assassin poisoned you. I’m so sorry. So, so sorry. The assassin is dead. Lottie is dead.” Sabine kissed her fingers, then brushed the kiss onto the headstone. “Axel is dead. Rainer is dead.” So much death and for what? Power? It seemed so silly and petty.
