Page 31 of Royal Resistance

“He wants my help. He says he needs it, so yes, I suppose I am.”

“That makes me sad for you.”

“Why? I’m a good psychologist. I know that I can help people. But I would make a great queen. This has been my focus since I was a little girl – you made sure of that. And if I can use that knowledge and my passion… I had so many ideas for Avelaine, and now they’re worthless. If I can use them for Laandia, be a help for the people and Magnus, why wouldn’t I?”

Why wouldn’t I want to marry a king, especially one young, handsome, and so funny. Magnus seems to make a point of making me laugh every time we talk.

Laughter has been in short supply in my life lately.

The three weeks flew by in a blur. And then it was my wedding day.

I don’t remember much of it. I do remember standing in my silk sheath dress, promising to love, honour, and cherish Magnus Christian William Mackenzie, Lord of the Sea and Sky, Warden of the Northern Coast, Heir to Leif the Founder, Protector of the Realm, and King of Laandia.

I don’t think Magnus appreciates the titles, but that’s who he is.

And now, that’s who I am. His queen.

After the I dos, and the kiss–brief and chaste–I am crowned queen.

It’s… emotional. I have to blink back tears when Magnus offers me the crown on a satin pillow.

It’s a delicate circle of gold, twisted like branches, interlaced with sparkling emeralds and diamonds. This was Magnus’s mother’s crown. His grandmother’s.

And now mine.

“We crown ourselves in Laandia,” he tells me with a proud smile.

I hold his gaze as I reach for the crown with shaking hands. Are you sure?

I don’t say it aloud, but I hope he can read my expression. Is this really what he wants? A woman he barely knows, helping him run his country? Raising a family together?

If we have a family.

But I can’t think that far ahead. It’s enough to feel the weight of the crown on my head and the overwhelming feeling that I don’t deserve this.

Being crowned queen of a country that doesn’t feel like mine. Yet.

“By authority of the Constitution of Laandia, we now crown Her Majesty Queen Selene Elspeth Carolina, First Lady of the Sea and Sky, Consort to the Heir of Leif the Founder, Protector of the Realm, and Queen of Laandia.”

There’s an entire backstory to the titles, but it flies out of my head as Magnus offers me the Crown of Northern Lights.

As the archbishop says the words, I vow to treat Laandia like it’s my home country. To serve and protect, to be responsible for the country and the people.

“You’re going to be great,” Magnus whispers, with a squeeze of my hand.

11

Magnus

I’ve never been so frightened in my life.

Not the first time I took the stage, not even that night when I played for Duncan and Benny to let them hear what I could bring to the table. Not the opening ceremony of the Olympics when I realized that only I and swimmer, Lennie Tak, were representing Laandia. Not even that night when I sat with my father and watched him take his last breath and knew that I was now king.

I was terrified in those moments, but not as scared as I am lying awake, in my bed, with my wife.

I don’t know what to do.

I mean, I know what to do. I just don’t think I should do it.