"I suppose I do," Frederick responded slowly. "But unless I'm mistaken, I had a lot more notice than you did that the promotion was on its way."
"Likely. I don't know for certain how long she was sick, but I've known for a couple of months."
"Which is why you married my sister, so your mum would get to meet your wife." There was a certainty in Frederick's voice that told Enzo it had been discussed.
"Correct." Mostly. There was more to it than just so his mum would get to meet Victoria, but that didn't need to be part of the discussion.
He hadn't even told Victoria about how the Council would have a say in who he married if he wasn’t married before ascending to the throne.
"If there is anything I or my staff can do to assist you in any way, please be sure to reach out. My family and I would be honored to attend the service for the queen, but we also understand if you'd prefer to limit foreign dignitaries to those from the Commonwealth."
Those thoughts hadn't occurred to Enzo yet. Most of the service would have been planned far in advance, including much of the guest list. The Southern Santierians would likely have been included anyway, but given their new familial nature, it seemed a given. But until he was certain...
"I don't know much of anything about the plans just yet. I appreciate the support, in whatever form that takes. As soon aswe know more, someone will be in touch. Likely Victoria, but possibly staff. It just depends on..."
On so many things.
"I understand."
Enzo didn't detect a note of annoyance or any other negative emotion - only understanding and compassion came through in Frederick's voice.
"I know you have many things on your plate that don't include a long, drawn out conversation with your brother-in-law. Please give my sister our love, and reach out when you know more about your needs and the timelines."
Grateful he didn't have to find a way to end the conversation, Enzo agreed and disconnected the call.
After taking a moment to collect himself, Enzo let his assistant know he was ready for the next person on the list.
None of the calls took very long. The other leaders understood the pressures he was under, though more than one of them had been a minor when they became monarch. At least that wasn't an issue for him.
Finally, he reached the end of his list and leaned back in the chair at the conference table in the monarch's office. The calls needed to be made from this office, though Enzo couldn't quite define why. Those on the other end of the line would never have any idea.
Knowing why he didn't want to sit at the desk was much less complicated.
After stretching his back one more time, Enzo sent a message to his aides that he was going back to his quarters for the evening. The response told him the announcement had been made, but he didn’t need to do anything else at the moment. He left out the side door and worked his way back to the apartment where he knew Victoria would be waiting.
When he entered, it seemed empty. Where could she be?
His siblings likely needed his time and attention as well.
Some were adults, though two were not quite there yet. He would have preferred to be the one to tell them, but he'd been whisked away before he had the chance. In his stupor, it hadn't occurred to him that he could fight back as it were.
Perhaps Victoria was with them.
After a quick check of the rest of the apartment to confirm no one was there, Enzo left again while texting Cap to find out the location of the rest of the family. The quick reply told him they were in the Rainbow Reception Room, one of his mum's favorite places in the palace.
The walk didn't take long. Steeling himself for the emotion sure to be on the other side of the door, he put on an appropriately happy face. Not too happy, of course, because he couldn't be too happy. He wasn't happy. But he needed to be the strong one for the rest of the family.
Ignoring that he had broken down completely in front of Victoria, as both the eldest child and now the king, he would set the tone for the rest.
In private, he could release his true emotions. He'd never done so with anyone else, not even when his father passed, though he'd been much younger.
Face fixed into an expression he hoped exuded confidence, gravitas, and calm, he opened the door and entered the room.
Around the central seating area, his siblings were gathered with Victoria, though she wasn't saying much. Instead she listened to them as they reminisced.
It only took a few seconds for them to realize he'd entered. They all stood and everyone but Victoria gave their first bow or curtsey his direction since he became king. A part of him wanted to dispense with the custom in private, but his mother never had - not even with his father as far as Enzo knew.
He acknowledged them all with a nod.
