"You would hold up the business of the Council for someone who isn't even a citizen of Dellisole?"
As much as Victoria hated to admit it, the Chairman had a point, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of acknowledging it.
"The queen became a citizen upon our marriage and you know that. Just as the rest of you swore your loyalty to the crown, so did the queen."
It seemed a bit awkward to Victoria of him to refer to her as "the queen" so often in such a short period of time, but she suspected that it was, in part, to remind the Chairman of her role - as well as reminding him not to overstep his own.
The Chairman just glared at both of them rather than responding.
The Vice Chairman joined the conversation, giving a glare of his own to the Chairman. “Don’t make me call for a vote of no confidence, because I will.”
Victoria appreciated the unexpected support, but wasn’t certain it would be enough.
The two men stared at each other until the Chairman finally backed down.
“Very well. Call everyone back and we’ll take a vote.” The Chairman turned and went back to his seat, leaving the Vice Chairman to recall the rest of the Council to the chamber.
To everyone in the room, it was clear the Chairman wasn’t happy with what was about to happen. He made the motion to add her to the Council. It was seconded then unanimously approved by a voice vote with one abstention.
One of the council members motioned to end the closed session and recall the observers back into the chamber. Once that was done, the announcement about Victoria was made, she took the oath administered by the Chairman who looked like he’d rather be anywhere else and doing anything else.
As soon as that was completed, she took her spot in front of the vacant seat. When Enzo sat down, the rest of them did as well.
The meeting was called to order. Victoria listened intently to the discussion around her, but offered very little in the way of opinions and declined to vote on the items where a vote was taken.
After the third vote, the Chairman called her out. “Why aren’t you voting, Vicky? What is the point of allowing you on the Council if you’re just going to abstain.”
She had never publicly gone by Vicky as a nickname. Kiki to some of her family, but to everyone else she’d always been Victoria - or called by an honorific. As much as she wanted to respond in kind, she chose to remain silent.
“You don’t even have an answer?”
Again, she chose not to respond. It clearly annoyed the Chairman, but at this point Victoria didn't care.
Before the Chairman tried again, Enzo leaned forward. “I believe the queen has the same question I do.”
With obvious reluctance, the Chairman turned. “What is that, sir?”
”Who you’re speaking to. The queen has not given you leave to call her by her given name, much less a nickname she’s never used, so surely you’re not addressing her. As Chairman,you know how to address the queen or any other dignitary, visitor, VIP, or fellow council member. With that in mind, who is Vicky?” Enzo’s voice remained calm, but Victoria could hear the veiled threat underneath and felt certain the Chairman could as well.
Enzo went on. “If you’re seeing people who aren’t here, perhaps that vote of no confidence would be wise after all.”
19
Enzo wanted nothing more than to give in to his desire to go after the Chairman, but he knew the momentary satisfaction wouldn’t be worth the potential long-term political consequences.
Instead, he waited to see what kind of response would be forthcoming.
The Prime Minister and Minority Leader were both present, though they didn’t participate in Council meetings unless required for the business at hand.
The Majority Leader cleared his throat, but didn’t say anything or move except to give the Chairman a pointed look. Even though Victoria had been given her rightful seat on the Council, Parliament wasn’t completely powerless.
The Chairman was able to keep from visibly squirming, but Enzo doubted he was so serene internally.
“Ma’am,” the Chairman started as several others present continued to stare him down. It wasn’t the actual correct form of address, but it was better. “Would you care to inform us why you are abdicating your duty to participate in this meeting?”
Victoria didn’t wither under his stare. “I have been a member of this Council for less than an hour. I have not been briefedon any of these issues, much less have the opportunity to study them myself. Those things are necessary for me to make an informed decision. I will not rubber stamp the king’s vote if I disagree with him on a matter, and will not vote on matters I don’t fully understand. I certainly don’t want to presume on what your voting habits are, but I would hope that everyone deciding matters of such importance would do their due diligence before casting their vote.”
It took almost as much willpower to keep his smirk to himself as it had not to go after the Chairman. The queen wasn't someone to be trifled with. They hadn't discussed it, but it didn't surprise Enzo that she would be willing to vote against him in the right circumstances. He hoped those times would be few and far between, but there likely wouldn't be anything for quite some time. Most of the matters before the Council were things he believed they would agree on.
