“I’m all for it.” Helena’s head cocked to the side. “Did you really hear Royce out and immediately think of how to make a profit from the cure?”
I spread my hands almost apologetically. “I am a businessman first and foremost.”
“Well, I suppose that’s to be expected, then.”
“As for your own personal matter, do you have evidence against your fiancé?”
“Oh, a great deal. The man’s not even capable of forming complete sentences.”
“Bring all of it with you. It might take a while for us to find the crucial thing to overturn your engagement, but I want us to be actively working on it.”
“That I can definitely do.”
We chatted a bit more before I went back to work, and I knew Helena would start gathering up evidence the second she returned to her rooms. I wasted no time either, starting as soonas I returned to my office. I stood at my desk at the front of the room, facing the line of desks arranged perpendicular to it, and clapped once to get everyone’s attention.
I waited until all heads came up and faced me. “Two things. First, Royce is searching for a cure for salence. I think this is a very worthy cause and want to support him. If there’s a budget we can allot to his research, I want to hear about it.”
Hartman immediately lifted his hand. “Health Fund. It’s designated for medical research and prevention and is barely touched.”
“Perfect. Pull the record for the account. I want to look it over before Royce comes in tomorrow. Also, someone cobble together a quick and dirty campaign to tell people how to prevent this disease once we know the steps. I want the information out as quickly as we can manage it.”
Roland lifted a hand this time. “We’ve got a campaign outline we use for situations like this.”
“Good, show me in a minute. Next thing I need done. I have promised Helena I will help her break her engagement.” When everyone looked relieved, I shrugged. “I can’t let either my sister or my country suffer because of that fool. I need more information we can use to break the engagement. Who—”
Stedman was out of his chair in a second flat. “Your Highness, please let me gather it.”
Stedman had missed his calling as a spy, so I was okay with this. “All right, do it. Pull funds from my personal budget for expenses. I know for a fact Gillespie has three bastard children and is in bed—not literally, figuratively—with Victor, so start there. I’ll give you what information I have. I want results, and I want them by the end of next month. Can you do that?”
“I will do my absolute best.” More honestly, Stedman tacked on, “It really shouldn’t be hard. He’s very obviously stupid.”
“Ha, can’t agree more. Okay, that’s my two tasks for you right now. Everyone support Stedman if you find something out. For now, back to work. Hartman, show me that record.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I was making progress. I had time to make progress, too. I wouldn’t be scrambling after the fact to change things like I had in my first life.
Pleased with the events of today, I took my seat behind my desk. I, too, had work to do.
Thirteen
Edwin
One could say I was well accustomed to assisting during meetings with royals, having done it now for nearly a decade, in one capacity or another. However, I was not accustomed to seeing three members of royalty sitting down, having a civil discussion, and actively working together for the betterment of society.
Truly, Prince James was a miracle worker.
Prince James was, in fact, hosting this meeting in his own sitting room—for privacy, I supposed—and he’d insisted I sit at his side and not stand as royalty normally had me do. Three weeks ago, even two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have been comfortable enough to manage it. But now? After seeing this man fight his way through nightmares, watching him treat even a small commoner child as his equal, I knew he wasn’t putting on an act. He truly saw me as his equal and wanted me to sit comfortably. So I did. And I was comfortable doing it.
Princess Helena and Prince Royce initially did double takes seeing me sit at the same table, but neither raised an objection, just sat and launched into their own matters.
“First, as I’m the easiest.” Princess Helena handed a massive folder over to Prince James. “Everything I have on Gillespie.”
Prince James madeoohing noises as he took it from her. The folder was nearly four inches thick and looked years old, showing wear around the edges. She truly had gathered everything she could.
Opening it, he started riffling through the pages. “You’ve made notes about each meeting, dated—excellent.”
I glanced at the dates and then flipped my own notebook to the right page, making a quick comparison. “They correspond nicely with what I’ve been able to gather.”
