Page 140 of Appointing

“What?” she asked.

“Can I drop the formality with you?”

“Sure.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Ingrid, she asked me to give your seat at the consecration away.”

“She had a seat for me?” Ingrid asked.

“I have watched Elin the past three years since you became her secretary. I’ve known for quite some time how she felt about you. I could see it in how she looked at you, Ingrid. Anyone could, really, if they were paying attention.”

“Andyouwere?”

“Well, her father asked me to keep an eye on his children as they grew, and I did my job well. I have no family of my own, unlike Steven, and I was never the senior secretary, so I had the time. Elin will make a fantastic Queen. She’s intelligent in a way I…”

“Her father isn’t,” Ingrid finished for him.

Markus chuckled and said, “Yes, quite frankly. She understands the constitution, the law, and diplomatic relations. She’s of the people. She went to a public university and attended law school at one as well. She’s loved by the people, and she’s kind and charitable; she’s not like most royals who have… well, sticks up their you-know-where.”

Ingrid laughed this time.

“I know she preferred you, and I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve watched Elin grow, Ingrid. I’ve watched all of them grow, and–” Markus stopped and took a deep breath. “I’m a lot older than you. It wasn’t okay back when I was your age.”

“What wasn’t–” She looked at him with curious eyes. “Oh, you mean…”

“I didn’t marry. I didn’t have a family. Now, I’m too old to do either of those things. I missed out on that part of my life because it wasn’t okay for me – with my family, or with my position – but it is okaynow, Ingrid.”

“Markus, I didn’t know,” she replied, uncrossing her arms.

“No one does.” He nodded. “I’d appreciate it if–”

“I won’t say anything to anyone.”

“Thank you. And I’m here because while I don’t know what exactly is going on, I know that today Elin asked me to put someone else in the seat she’d reserved for you.”

“We hadn’t talked about me attending.”

“My job is to protect the sovereign and the monarchy, but I can’t help from wanting to protect Elin as well. And sometimes they–”

“Have competing interests?” Ingrid finished for him.

“Yes,” he replied. “I should go, and it isnotmy place to be here right now, but I wanted you to know that I’m holding your spot – at least, until I absolutely have to give it to someone else.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Markus nodded again. “I hope it all works out,” he told her and walked past her toward the door, opening it.

“So do I,” she replied as he smiled and left.

Ingrid sat down on her sofa. She hadn’t seen Markus in a while. She’d been to visit Elin at the palace, of course, but she hadn’t had any reason to stop by Markus’s office to say hello. They hadn’t been all that close, and now she was only at the palace because she was with Elin. She had to get a visitor’s badge every time she showed up. Ingrid thought about the courage it must have taken him to show up at her apartment and tell her that; go against Elin’s wishes about her having a seat at the consecration. Then, there was a knock at the door. When she opened it to find Elin there, she couldn’t help but smile at her.

“What?” Elin asked, smiling back and laughing a little.

“I just missed you,” Ingrid replied.

“Well, I missed you, too,” Elin said.

“Come in.”

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