Page 6 of Appointing

“He’s amenable to the idea.”

“He doesn’t have much of a choice, does he?” Elin added.

Her father chuckled and said, “I suppose not.”

CHAPTER 3

“You wanted to see me?” Ingrid asked, walking into Steven’s office.

Steven was the senior most private secretary. He’d been serving the King since he succeeded his father, and, therefore, was nearing retirement. This whole organization ran on seniority. Steven and Markus were the King’s private secretaries, with Markus being the junior of the two. Christian used Markus as well when needed, but since he was still in the Royal Air Force, he didn’t require much support. Then, there was Ingrid, who had been with the palace or government for the past fourteen years in a variety of roles, working as Elin’s private secretary at the moment. After her, Katrin handled Princess Lillian’s affairs. Mari had no secretary of her own while away at university and now while she was performing her two-year military service, but she would share Katrin upon her return to the palace.

“I need to swear you to the utmost secrecy with what I am about to tell you. I assume you understand?”

“Of course,” she said, leaning forward in her chair.

“His Majesty King Hans is retiring – he will be abdicating due to health reasons. We’re still working on the timing.”

Ingrid didn’t know what to say, so she just sat there. King Hans had been slowly declining for the past few years. She’d noticed it getting worse and worse in recent months, so the news wasn’t entirely surprising to her, but it did put them in a unique situation that she hadn’t been prepared for.

“Prince Christian has decided to retain his Captaincy in the Royal Air Force. He has asked to no longer be a senior member of the royal family and has requested to be removed from the line of succession, which has been granted by His Majesty.”

“What?”Thatwas surprising.

Steven ran his hand over his white beard and mustache and said, “This cannot get out until we’re ready. We must control the message, Ingrid.”

“I understand.” Then, it hit her. “This means that Elin–”

“The Princess Royal,” he corrected.

“Yes, I’m sorry. She’s going to be–”

“Queen of Norway, yes.”

“Does she know?” Ingrid asked.

“What? Of course, she knows. Do you thinkyouwould know before Her Royal Highness?”

“Sorry, no,” she replied, realizing that had been a dumb question. “Wow.”

“I don’t know that ‘wow’ is the appropriate response, but this changes things for us as much as it does for them.”

She very much doubted that.

“I will remain on as the King’s secretary until my retirement. Markus will begin working with Elin once the announcements are made. You are to become Her Royal Highness, Princess Lillian’s secretary. Katrin will work with Mari upon the Princess’s return from service.”

Ingrid shook her head rapidly and asked, “I’m not working with The Princess Royal anymore?”

“If you ask me, we never should have adopted that title from the British. King Hans wanted to bestow something special upon his first daughter on her twenty-first birthday, though, so here we are. I just hope that once she becomes Queen, she doesn’t give it to Princess Lillian. We’d have to change all the stationery and everything on the website again… It’s a nightmare.”

Ingrid didn’t hear him as he rambled on. She’d only heard the part about no longer being Elin’s private secretary and working with Lillian now. Her Royal Highness was fine. She was high-maintenance – or, at least, that was how Katrin had described her. In fact, Ingrid had always felt she’d won the royal family lottery when she’d gotten assigned to Elin. Elin was as low-maintenance as they come. She was kind, not demanding, and often considered Ingrid more consultant and, sometimes, even a partner than a palace employee.

“Any questions?” Steven asked her.

“I’m sorry. What?”

“Are you paying attention, Miss Olson?” he asked her, clearly irritated.

“Yes, I am. And no, I don’t have any questions.”

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