She paused and waited for questions. Several eager hands rose, and Adelaide chose a young reporter to her left.
“Prince Farcus has been missing for weeks. Is he the best royal to rule Montovia?” he asked, pointing his recording device in her direction.
“I do believe he is the best royal to rule. Prince Farcus was not responsible for his absence, and we do not hold that against him. I believe my uncle will serve our country to the best of his ability.”
“Will you remain in Montovia?” another reporter shouted.
She smiled but decided to answer vaguely. “I do plan to remain through the holidays. In fact, a friend of mine from America is about to join me here.” She wondered if Maya’s plane had touched down in Vienna yet. She was due to the palace by six.
“Is your American friend aman?” a young woman called out in a teasing tone. “Do we hear wedding bells perhaps?”
“No,” Adelaide answered firmly. “It is my best friend from childhood. She wants to spend Christmas with me.”
“But will you remain hereafterChristmas, Queen Adelaide? Or will you return to your homeland?” The reporter’s tone was insistent. He wanted an answer.
She wondered about the wording. “I feel that Montoviaismy homeland. I love this country.”
“Yes, but will you go back to America?” a woman called out.
Adelaide thought hard. “I cannot say for sure what I will do. If there is reason for me to remain in Montovia, if I can be of help to my uncle, I would like to stay. But I cannot give a firm answer right now. All I can say is what my father used to tell me.God’s plan in God’s time.I must leave it at that. Thank you.” She smiled and turned to Lina, who was waiting behind her. “Let’s go,” she whispered.
“Wait!” someone yelled out. “One more question!”
She turned at the familiar voice. It was actually Anton, standing amid the throng of reporters. She stepped back up to the microphone. “Yes? Your question, sir?”
“Thank you.” He nodded, his brown eyes twinkling. “If you had a very good reason to remain in Montovia, would you stay, Queen Adelaide?”
“If it were averygood reason, I would be pleased to remain.” She waited a moment, trying not to appear as flustered as she felt. “Is that all?”
“Not quite.” He grinned. “Will there be any dancing at the Christmas Eve festivities following the coronation?”
“Absolutely,” she assured him. “Any more questions?” She glanced across the amused crowd, prepared to make a quick getaway.
“One more, Queen Adelaide.” Anton waved his hand like an eager first grader. “Will the queen save a dance for me?”
The reporters chortled, some even made sly remarks, and a few elbowed Anton, but Adelaide’s fixed smile remained steady. “I would be honored to dance with you, sir. Thank you very much, everyone. Have a good evening.” She waved to the crowd, hoping the roses in her cheeks weren’t too noticeable as she hurried to rejoin Lina.
“What was Anton doing?” Lina whispered as they headed up the palace stairs as well-wishes were called out behind them.
“I don’t know.” Adelaide couldn’t help but giggle. “I think he wanted to put me on the spot.”
Lina laughed. “I think he wanted more than that.”
Because Prince Farcus was having a dinner meeting with the prime ministers, Adelaide arranged to have dinner privately with Maya. She’d already given her friend the full tour and, naturally, Maya was blown away by all of it.
“I can’t believe you’re giving this all up,” Maya said as they were served. “How can you stand to leave it all behind?”
“Like I already told you, being queen was turning out to bea lonely job. More attention was paid to my wardrobe than my mind.”
“And what a wardrobe.” Maya forked into her pheasant. “Do you get to keep any of it?”
“I suppose I will keep the clothes, but the jewels and the furs ... I’m not so sure. In fact, I’d rather not keep them. They’re more fit for a queen.”
“But your uncle has no wife.” Maya’s eyes lit up. “Hey, do I get to meet him?”
Adelaide laughed. “Of course, you’ll meet him. But I don’t think you’re his type. Plus, he’s a little old for you.”
“Yeah, and besides, I met this new guy. Eric.” Maya sighed as she helped herself to another roll. “He was subbing at my school after Thanksgiving. He was acting interested and even asked me about my Christmas plans.”
