“Sir?”
Victoria turned to see someone she thought was Enzo’s aide standing nearby with a grave look on his face.
“Yes?” If Enzo was worried, it didn’t show on his face.
“It’s time, sir.” The man bowed his head toward them. “The queen is asking for you.”
She followed in their wake as they hurried back to his mum’s side.
Knowing it was time wouldn’t make it any easier.
Especially for Enzo.
Of all thethings he thought he might feel upon becoming king,overwhelmedwas the word that most often came to mind for Enzo.
What he hadn’t expected was the sense of calm that settled deep inside.
Victoria had offered to join him at his mother’s bedside, but he’d preferred to be alone, though medical personnel were required to be in attendance.
His mum had been asleep by the time he returned to her side. She didn’t wake up as he took her hand and told her he’d be okay.
By the time he emerged, he felt like he’d been through the wringer, but also a sense of calm had come over him. He’d become king at the moment of his mum’s last breath, but the responsibility seemed manageable - at least for the time being.
Victoria had come to his side and wrapped her arms around him. He reciprocated, and they stood there fora few minutes until his aide quietly let him know there were papers that need to signed and announcements to be made.
She framed his face between her hands and looked straight in his eyes. “I’ll be here when you’re done. You’ve got this.” After releasing his face, she leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek.
He nodded and turned to walk off, but stopped and looked back at his aide. “Will you show Victoria to my quarters?”
The aide started to protest, but Enzo shook his head. “Not here. My quarters. I’ll meet you inmyoffice.”
He waited for Victoria to go in front of him.
“Right this way, Your Majesty.”
It took him a second to remember Victoria was the queen now and that was her title, too.
She and the aide went one direction outside of the main door, and he went the other.
With his hands shoved deep in his pockets, Enzo made his way slowly toward the executive wing of the palace. After walking into his office, he considered going to the monarch’s office. He would likely be told the meetings were to take place there anyway.
Fortunately, he had a door directly into that office so there wouldn’t be a long walk.
Going into his mum’s office would have to happen soon enough. So would moving into her quarters.
But for now, staying was something he could control - at least a for a short while.
He picked up the photo of his family from the day of his mother’s coronation. He’d been eleven. The memories were a little fuzzy most of the time. It had been so overwhelming for a pre-teen. He knew his siblings remembered even less.
Plans had been quietly underway for several weeks, with just the date to be determined. Everything that would happen now with his mum had been determined long ago. In fact, Enzo would likely have a meeting in the next couple of months to begin planning his own service.
Hopefully, it would be decades before it was needed.
Both of his parents were gone. With that knowledge came the weight that he was not only responsible for the country but his siblings as well.
His office had windows that looked over the courtyard, but only a couple of small ones. The monarch’s office had a many on two different walls so someone could pick their view.
Until he had that option, this one would do.
