“No, sire.”
“A week ago, I lived in a two-bedroom apartment, the same two-bedroom apartment I had lived in since my family moved to America when I was an infant. I worked as a grocery clerk during the day and went to college at night. This”—Ivo waved his hand around—“this is insane.”
Stas chuckled as if he understood Ivo’s dilemma. “While I cannot tell you what being a king is like, I can tell you what it is like to belong to the Vítkovský Clan, from a commoner’s perspective, of course.”
“Of course.”
“When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to get away. I wanted to spread my wings and fly. I wanted to get out and explore the world, to see things, experience things.”
Ivo could understand that.
“I did not want to stay home and marry the mate my parents had picked out for me.” Stas leaned closer as if imparting some deep, dark secret. “It was a woman.”
Ivo grinned. He knew where Stas was coming from.
“So, when I turned twenty-one, which is the age you must be in order to leave the clan, I left. I went to the city. I was gone one year almost to the day. The first few weeks were glorious. I danced and I sang. I explored new places. I tried new things. I met new people. It was all one big party.”
“What happened?” Ivo asked. “Why did you come back?”
“I met a man. I didn’t feel thelongingfor him, but I still thought he was the one. I was ready to build a life with him until I realized he was merely biding his time in my bed until someone else came along, someone with more money and prestige.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Ivo hadn’t exactly had that experience, but his love life hadn’t always been rosy. He’d dated his share of worms.
“The greatest thing about coming home was that I learned what it meant to me. Here, I am safe and I am loved. I am wanted. Even as a commoner, I am still needed. I have a function, a part to play in this clan, and all the parts must work together in order for the clan to work properly.” Stas glanced at Ivo. “Does that make sense?”
“I think so.” Maybe. “You’re saying each of us has a part to play, and if we don’t, the whole thing doesn’t work.”
“Essentially. I am not in favor of the class system, but I understand it.”
“I’m not in favor of it either. I think anyone has the right to be anything they want as long as they are willing to work for it. I was working a crappy job, putting myself through school so that I could have a better life. I don’t think it’s fair to penalize someone just because of which family they were born into. The laziest man can be from the greatest bloodlines, while the hardest-working man can be from common beginnings.”
“A measure of a man should be in his character, not his birth.”
Ivo grinned. “And that is why I made you my personal adviser.”
He enjoyed talking with Stas as they walked. The man was a fount of information about just about everything. Considering his family had been serving the royal household for twelve generations, he probably knew all the secrets of the entire clan.
“Stas, who would be most likely to try and take me out?”
“Sire?”
“Someone is trying to kill me, Stas. There have been four attempts on my life since I landed in Prague yesterday. Someone wants me out of the way.”
“Sire, I don’t—”
“If you’re going to be my adviser, Stas, you need to learn that I only accept the truth.”
“Yes, sire.” Stas sighed. “There are several elders who wouldn’t mind if you never took the throne, but I doubt they would attempt to kill you. They would more likely try to influence you in some manner.”
“Blackmail?”
“Possible, but doubtful. Just be careful of anyone who comes bearing gifts, sire.”
“Trojan horse?”
Stas chuckled. “Something like that. Gifts tend to come with strings.”
“I’ll remember that,” Ivo replied. “Anyone else come to mind?”
