Page 111 of Appointing

“You call himLord Charles? You’re dating.”

“Youknow him as Lord Charles.Icall him David; not to be confused with Victoria’s husband. So many rich men named David, huh? Anyway, he’s nice. We were able to see each other once in London. Then, there’s Edwin, who I spoke with on the phone last night; and Sven, who I’m going out with tonight. I like all of them enough to see where things can go.”

“I just don’t get that. I guess I’m more like Mari: I find one person, and that’s it for me.”

“You mean you’re more like Dad,” Lillian countered.

“What? I am not like–”

“And in most ways – you’d be right, but in this case – you’re wrong; you’re just like Dad. Mom was seeing someone else when she met Dad. You know the story.”

“Yes, I do,” Elin replied.

Her mother had been young and had just started seeing someone when she’d met Elin’s father. Her father had fallen in love pretty quickly, though, and while her mother had resisted at first, she, too, fell in love with him. Her father hadn’t dated or attempted to court anyone other than her mother. Elin supposed that in that respect, Lillian was right. Her previous attempts at relationships hadn’t been real attempts because she’d been in hiding but also because she’d known those women weren’t right for her. With Ingrid, though – Elin knew. She knew, and she only wanted her.

“Anyway,” Lillian said. “Enough about all that. What do you think Markus wanted to meet with both of us about?”

“It’s that time,” Elin replied.

“Consecration talk?”

“Plans are already well underway for that; it’s more about you.”

“Me?”

“Well, what happens when I die, that is,” Elin clarified.

“Why do we have to talk about this stuff? You’re thirty years old, Elin.”

“Because I have to sign the legal succession document, and I want you to make sure you’re okay with it.”

“I don’t really have much of a choice, do I?” Lillian asked before she took a sip of her iced tea.

“Yes, you do. Whether I die in fifty years or tomorrow, you have a choice, Lil. Christian gothischoice. Mari will have hers, and so will you. I won’t let Dad bully you into doing something you don’t want to do.”

“You’re an amazing sister,” Lillian said, smiling at her.

“Your Majesty, Markus is here to see you,” her attendant announced from the open door.

“Send him in, please,” Elin replied.

Markus walked in, stopped to bow his head, and said, “Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness.”

“Have a seat, Markus,” Elin told him.

He sat in the chair across from them, holding on to a portfolio that, Elin guessed, held the paperwork.

“May I begin, Ma’am?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Ma’am, the paperwork naming Princess Lillian as your successor has been drawn up. It names her first, followed by Her Royal Highness, Princess Mari, in the event she does not have children. In the event that shedoeshave children, they will follow her in the line of succession. If Princess Lillian dies before one of her children reaches the age of twenty-one, Princess Mari will act as regent until they reach that age, per your request. If Princess Lillian does not have children, the line of succession falls to Princess Mari, and then to Princess Mari’s children. If Princess Mari passes prior to one of her children reaching the age of twenty-one, Princess Lillian will act as regent.”

“I thought talking about the death of a sovereign was still punishable by death,” Lillian joked.

“My apologies, Ma’am,” Markus offered.

“It’s fine,” Elin said. “We have to talk about this.”

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