The Crown. Кира Касс

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      MOM’S HANDS FELT SO SOFT, almost papery in a way. The feeling made me think of how water smoothed out the edges of a stone. I smiled, thinking she must have been a very rough stone once upon a time.

      “Did you ever used to get it wrong?” I asked. “Say the wrong words, do the wrong things?”

      I waited for an answer, receiving nothing but the hum of equipment and the beat of the monitor.

      “Well, you and Dad used to fight, so you must have been wrong sometimes.”

      I held her hand tighter, trying to warm it in mine.

      “I made all the announcements. Now everyone knows about Ahren getting married and that you’re a little … indisposed at the moment. I cut the boys down to six. I know that’s a big cut, but Dad said it was okay and that he did that when it was his turn, so no one can get upset.” I sighed. “Regardless, I have a feeling people will still find a way to get upset with me.”

      I blinked back tears, worried she’d sense how scared I was. The doctors believed that the shock of Ahren’s departure was the catalyst for her current condition, though I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d contributed to her stress daily, like drops of poison so small someone didn’t realize they’d ingested something dangerous until it had overtaken them.

      “Anyway, I’m off to run my first advisory board meeting as soon as Dad gets back. He says it shouldn’t be too difficult. Honestly, I feel like General Leger had the toughest job of anyone today, trying to get Dad to go eat, because he fought so hard to stay here with you. The general was insistent, though, and Dad finally caved. I’m glad he’s here. General Leger, I mean. It’s kind of like having a backup parent.”

      I held her hand a little tighter and leaned in, whispering. “Please don’t make me need a backup parent, though, okay? I still need you. The boys still need you. And Dad … he looks like he might fall apart if you leave. So when it’s time to wake up, you’ve gotta come back, all right?”

      I waited for her mouth to twitch or her fingers to move, anything to show that she could hear me. Nothing.

      Just then Dad tore through the door with General Leger on his heels. I wiped at my cheeks, hoping no one would notice.

      “See,” General Leger said. “She’s stable. The doctors would come running if anything changed.”

      “All the same, I prefer to be here,” Dad said firmly.

      “Dad, you were hardly gone ten minutes. Did you even eat?”

      “I ate. Tell her, Aspen.”

      General Leger sighed. “We’ll call it eating.”

      Dad shot him a look that would have been threatening to some but only made the general smile. “I’ll see if I can sneak some food in so you won’t have to leave.”

      Dad nodded. “Look out for my girl.”

      “Of course.” General Leger winked at me, and I stood up and followed him from the room, looking back at Mom just to check.

      Still asleep.

      In the hallway, he held out an arm for me. “You ready, my not-quite queen?”

      I took it and smiled. “No. Let’s go.”

      As we made our way to the boardroom, I nearly asked General Leger if he would take me for another lap around the floor. The day felt so overwhelming already that I wasn’t sure I could do this.

      Nonsense, I told myself. You’ve sat in on these meetings dozens of times. You’ve almost always thought the same things Dad has said. Yes, this is your first time leading it, but this was always waiting for you. And no one is going to be hard on you today, for goodness’ sake; your mother just had a heart attack.

      I pulled the door open with purpose, General Leger trailing behind me. I made sure to nod at the gentlemen as I passed. Sir Andrews, Sir Coddly, Mr. Rasmus, and a handful of other men I’d known for years sat arranging their pens and paper. Lady Brice looked proud as she watched me sweep around to my father’s spot, as did the general when he settled into the place beside her.

      “Good morning.” I took my seat at the head of the table, gazing down at the thin folder in front of me. Thank goodness the agenda looked light today.

      “How is your mother?” Lady Brice asked solemnly.

      I should have written this answer on a sign so I could stop repeating it. “She’s asleep still. I’m not sure how serious her condition is at the moment, but Dad is staying by her side, and we’ll be sure to update everyone if there’s any change.”

      Lady Brice smiled sadly. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. She always was a tough one.”

      I tried to hide my surprise, but I didn’t realize Lady Brice knew my mother that well. In truth, I didn’t know that much about Lady Brice myself, but her tone was so sincere, I was happy to have her beside me at the moment.

      I nodded. “Let’s get through this so I can tell her my first day on the job was at least slightly productive.”

      There were gentle chuckles around the room at that, but my smile quickly faded as I read the first page presented to me.

      “I hope this is a joke,” I said dryly.

      “No, Your Highness.”

      I turned my eyes to Sir Coddly.

      “We feel this was a deliberate move to debilitate Illéa, and seeing as neither the king nor queen gave their consent, France has essentially stolen your brother. This marriage is treasonous, so we have no choice but to go to war.”

      “Sir, I assure you, this was not treasonous. Camille is a sensible girl.” I rolled my eyes, hating to admit it. “It’s Ahren who’s the romantic one, and I feel certain he urged her into this, not the other way around.”

      I balled up the declaration of war, unwilling to consider it for another moment.

      “My lady, you cannot do that,” Sir Andrew insisted. “The relations between Illéa and France have been tense for years.”

      “That is more on a personal level than a political one,” Lady Brice offered.

      Sir Coddly waved his hand in the air. “Which makes this all much worse. Queen Daphne is brandishing more emotional suffering on the royal family under the assumption that we will not respond. This time we must. Tell her, general!”

      Lady Brice shook her head in frustration as General Leger spoke. “All I will say, Your Highness, is that we can have troops in the sky and on the ground within twenty-four hours if you command it. Though I certainly wouldn’t advise you to make that command.”

      Andrews huffed. “Leger, tell her the dangers she’s facing.”

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