“And what’s wrong with that?” I demanded. “You can return to a comfortable life. Allow me to take the pain away. You want your people to see you as a great Emperor. Let me mold your image into one, without any effort on your behalf.”
He became a stuttering mess. “But… but I?—”
“Face it, Cameron. You’ve hated this role from the beginning. It’s why you ran away. But you’re not some illustrious figure, and you’re even worse at being a tyrant.” I frowned. “Everyone expects you to be your father, and you’re not.”
Cameron’s shoulders dropped. “You’re right. I could never take my father’s place. Cassiel expected me to become him my whole life, and I am sick of standing in his shadow. I am not my father’s son, nor am I his puppet. All of this… it’s too hard.”
I despised the self-pity in his tone. This fool didn’t realize he could’ve been just as strong a leader as Cassiel, perhaps even greater, if he had taken his position seriously and listened to Cassiel’s teachings. The Elves worshipped their monarchs. He wouldn’t have had to do much to be seen as a god to them for the rest of history.
But no. He wanted to whine that it wasn’t fair he’d been thrust into such a complicated and overwhelming role.
It’s too hard. What a wretched maggot he was. I’d done a lot of hard things in my life, and things kept getting harder.
I think I liked it that way. Nothing was worthy of my time if it wasn’t a fight to get it. The struggle entertained me.
Cameron saw his crown as a burden. I saw it as a gift. So I would take it. And this bastard was going to give it to me and think it was his idea.
“If it’s too hard, allow me to give you a way out,” I offered gently. “I know you’re breaking under all this pressure. The weight of an empire is too much for anyone to carry.”
Stunned, he rasped, “I’m surprised you know how I feel.”
“Of course I know how you feel. I’m your Holy Mother.” The lie rolled off my tongue, and I was shocked it sounded genuine, because in no world could I ever imagine understanding how this weakling felt, but I was smart, and I’d studied people for years, so I could make an educated guess. It wasn’t a shock my guess had been right. “Step aside, and let me help you.”
“If anyone finds out, I’ll be ruined,” Cameron blubbered. “It would embarrass me to no end if word got out that I gave all my authority to the princess.”
“No one has to know it’s me. We can say that it’s you coming up with all the plans and giving the orders. You can order your council and your Associates to keep it a secret. That way, the public doesn’t know you’ve handed the decision-making over to me.”
Cameron’s eyes widened. “And you’re okay with doing that? It feels… wrong, to give this kind of duty to someone I view as a child.”
“I’m a bad kid. I grew up in the prison system. I’ve killed people and done all kinds of terrible things, and I know how the Warden works. I’m used to this life,” I said soothingly. “But you aren’t. It would be beneath you to engage in this kind of behavior. Someone with your kind of established upbringing shouldn’t be forced to participate in a war you have no knowledge of how to win.”
Cameron nodded. “No. I shouldn’t be, should I? It’s wrong that everyone is forcing me into this. After all, I didn’t choose this war.”
Because everyone who participated in war had chosen it. But I pretended to agree.
“Correct.” I nodded alongside him. “But I did. I’ve always wanted to fight the Warden, and I’m good at doing it. So use me, and use my talents. That’s what an Emperor does— wields the people at his disposal. Let me take care of The Mission, and when the war’s done, everyone will see you as a hero. You’ll have saved your people. You just need me to do all the hard things for you. Let me take this burden off your shoulders, and once it’s over with, the Elves will declare you the greatest Emperor who ever lived, and worship at your feet for protecting them against such a powerful threat. I’ll go back to being the Holy Mother, just the Holy Mother, and no one will be the wiser.”
He walked right into my trap. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. We’re on the same page.”
Cameron figured he’d be there to take all the credit once I got done doing the work. What he didn’t realize is all his subjects had already realized who was really in control here. Everyone in this city knew.
It didn’t matter, so long as he didn’t see it that way. Cameron wore the brightest smile that I’d seen him don in ages. “You are wise beyond your years, princess. Very well. I will give you control of my council and army, and once the war is over, you can give my duties back to me.”
“That’s precisely what will happen.” I was proud I kept any sarcasm out of my voice. “If this is our plan, we might as well get started. I’ll handle the Malovian business first.”
Cameron jumped up from his seat, already rushing off to do as I said. I waited for a short while before he came back, gesturing for me to follow.
I trailed him until he led me into a council room off his chambers. His Elvish Associates and council members were already there, gathered around a wide table. Upon it was a map of Malovia, markers placed to indicate where The Mission was holding fae captives.
Cameron cleared his throat before he spoke. “The princess will be taking over our council meetings from now on. All orders she gives are to be followed, no questions asked. I will be relaxing in my quarters, and do not wish to be disturbed. If you have need of something, ask the Holy Mother.”
He fled the room, giddy to hand off his responsibilities. None of the council members tried to stop Cameron from leaving. All eyes were on me.
He’d already made them swear to keep this a secret, though the truth wouldn’t stay hidden for long. They were merely waiting for me to tell them what to do.
I rolled up to the war table, laid my hands across the maps that were spread there, and stated, “Let’s get to work.”
My friends were all waiting in the lounge room near Charlie’s quarters once the meeting was finished. Expectant gazes landed on me as I entered, mostly Kazim and Sigrid’s, who had both noticed the rolled-up map I carried.
