Love you big brother.
I pocket my phone and skim over the newspaper headline for the tenth time, and my anger grows with each fucked up word. “How did this happen?”
“You know exactly how it happened, brother. All it took was one person to leak it to the tossers heading up one of the anti-monarchy groups. This is exactly the kind of salacious headline they’ve been looking for. Especially now, when they think the crown is in upheaval.” Atticus rips the paper out of my hands and throws it in the trash bin. “They gave you last week, whether it was the press’s way of showing respect or no one was able to dig any dirt up when the world was watching you mourn your king. But they’re coming after you with guns blazing now.”
“The only people who knew we were married before his death were in the high council room yesterday, so you want to tell me why I have this sinking feeling father’s fingerprints are all over this?” My relationship with him has been strained for years, but this would be a new low, even for him.
“He’s pissed, Rhys, but is he this stupid?”
I’m shocked my brother would even question that, but then I remember that he and Lennon haven’t had to deal with him in all the same ways that I have.
“Would you honestly put this past him? I could easily see him wanting some kind of retaliation for being relegated to a lower standing at Grandfather’s funeral. He’s furious I elevated you and Lennon with me but left him beneath us. And make no mistake brother, that is exactly how the world viewed it.” I wish I could bring myself to regret the move, but I can’t. Even now, I don’t want him in my inner circle.
Trust few and love even less.
My mother’s final words of wisdom are as loud today as they were back then.
“Fuck . . . What the hell am I supposed to do now?”
Atticus looks around the otherwise empty room, like he’s looking for someone else to answer. “I hope you know we’re all fucked if I’m the voice of reason, Rhys.”
He sits down across from me and rests his elbows on his knees. Mother once told me to give Atticus room to surprise me, and I think he’s about to do it.
“Now we spin it. We show the world that you and our little bee?—”
“My fucking bee, not yours.”
Atticus’s hands go up in defense. “Sorry.” He clears his throat with a Mad Hatter-esq smile on his face. “We introduce the world to Bellamy. We show them a king and queen madly in love. We show them she’s good for you and for this country.”
“And how do you suggest we do that? You were there last night when I promised her no on camera sit-down.” I won’t destroy what little trust I’ve built with my wife.
“You’re the fucking king, Rhys. You married her. The king doesn’t owe any explanations to anyone but his queen. And she doesn’t need one because she was right there with you. Ignore any suspected involvement by our father and focus on you and your wife.”
“While that all sounds very pompous, brother, being the king means I have to keep the trust of the country.” I wake up my laptop and run my fingers over the keys. “Now let’s get them a written statement.”
From the desk of the King of Mornea:
I married my wife privately, for us. We planned to share our marriage with the country the following day, however, the world we woke up to had changed overnight.
Out of respect for the late King Frederic, I opted not to publicize my marriage until after the national week of mourning, choosing to keep the focus on my grandfather and his historic reign and not take away from the life he led.
Unfortunately, our happy news was revealed this morning, circumventing our announcement that was scheduled to be made this afternoon.
We look forward to introducing the new queen to the citizens of Mornea in the coming days and weeks as both Bellamy and I embrace our new roles.
We will not be doing any interviews at this time.
BELLAMY
Some girls watchedBeauty and the Beastfor the beast.
I watched it for the library.
—Bellamy’s Secret Thoughts
Caitlin
Is tonight the night?
