“The king asked me to find you in person, Sir, rather than call.He knew you likely wouldn't have your phone on in the Council chambers.”
Alex rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. “All right. Head back to the office and rearrange what you can. I’ll let you know once I’m available again. Do the rest of the royal family know?”
“Mara informed Princess Rebecca, and Corrado informed Her Majesty, Sir. Should I inform everyone else?”
“No, we’ll do it. Thank you, Tavin.” Alex nodded to his brothers, who took out their phones and started messaging others.
“Sirs.” Tavin bowed and left in the direction of their offices.
Shit, what was the saying? That bad things happened in threes? Alex wondered what might happen next, and if his father were truly okay or if he was actually worse than it seemed.
It was a tense several minutes as they made their way from one part of the palace to the other. As soon as they made it inside the Royal Wing, Alex let out a breath and they ran the rest of the way to their parents’ apartments. They were let in without having to knock, the agents clearly expecting them.
“The queen?” Alex asked one of the agents.
“She’s with the doctor in the sitting room, Sir.”
Alex nodded and headed in that direction, and found his mother a moment later. He couldn’t help but make comparisons to the time he’d seen her in the hospital after his father’s last heart ‘episode’. She didn’t seem as worried, though she could be hiding it.
“Mama.”
“Boys. He’s all right. It seems to be a minor event, but it’s still worrying.”
Dr. Maggie Wilson, a cardiologist who’d helped treat his father the last time and since, curtsied to them. “Your Highnesses.”
He held out a hand and she shook it. “No need for formalities here, Doctor. How is my father?”
“He’s doing well. It’s only a mild arrythmia, though I’m ordering tests to confirm it’s not related to a more serious blockage or condition. For now, though, he’s on bed rest for today at least.”
“Only today?”
Dr. Wilson glanced at his mother then back at him. “I understand it’s a difficult time, and he’ll need to take it easy until the funeral. I’ll pop in daily and check on His Majesty, and let you know closer to the funeral if it’s feasible for him to attend.”
“He’ll be attending. Not because I’m demanding it,” Alex clarified, “but because he will. If it’s truly not serious…”
“No, Your Highness, I don’t believe it is.”
“…then we’ll need to make adjustments to the funeral so it won’t tax his energy as much. May I see him?”
His mother nodded. “He’s in our bedroom. You should see him first, Alexander.”
Alex squeezed his mother’s hand, then made his way to his parents’ bedroom. He knocked gently and heard his father’s solid “Enter”.
For the second time in his life, Alex saw his father connected to machines and heard the steady beeps monitoring his heart rhythm. This time, however, his father wasn’t in a hospital, but was in his own bed.
Alex moved towards him and sat down carefully near his hips. “How are you, Papa?”
“I’m fine. It’s nothing like last time.”
“It still sounds serious. You should go to the hospital.”
“I will for some tests, but otherwise don’t need to, and I’d rather not worry the public.” His father gestured to the machines. “They’re only a precaution. I’ll be up and about tomorrow.”
Alex nodded. “And the funeral?”
“I’ll walk in the procession.”
“Now, Papa?—”
