Your Majesty, Call Me Aunt

Chapter 2 The Marriage Contract

"It means you'll have the backing of Harrington Bank." I pushed the one-year agreement toward him. "I can fund the North's food supplies, medicine, and military expenses."

Adrian's gaze settled on the clause promising an annulment after one year. His hand tightened around the paper until his knuckles turned white.

I thought he was going to refuse.

Instead, he picked up a quill and signed his name.

"9 a.m. tomorrow. Council Hall."

I blinked. "That soon?"

"The king's auditors aren't going to take the day off so you can catch up on sleep." He folded the agreement and slipped it inside his coat. "Go home. I'll take care of the rest."

The next morning, Adrian's northern guard lined the broad steps of Council Hall, the silver falcons on their breastplates gleaming in the morning light.

Inside, the Lord Chancellor, the cardinal, and 12 noble councilors were already seated. Julian and Cecilia were there as well.

Julian objected the moment the proceedings began.

"Evelyn is under financial investigation. She has no authority to transfer Harrington assets."

"She isn't transferring anything."

Adrian placed another document before the Council, one I had never seen.

It was a marital property agreement granting me an estate, a lifetime annuity, and a residence in the capital as my separate property.

Everything listed would remain mine alone, regardless of how long our marriage lasted.

A murmur swept through the chamber.

Even if our marriage ended, the agreement guaranteed that I would never be financially dependent on my husband.

Cecilia gave a mocking laugh. "How generous of you, Your Grace. I suppose Harrington gold makes generosity easy."

"He hasn't taken a single coin from my family," I said. "Which is more than I can say for you."

The room went quiet.

Beneath the table, Mother squeezed my hand.

"He's so good to you."

Heat crept into my ears.

"It's just a deal," I whispered.

Adrian's voice carried across the chamber.

"What we are registering today is a marriage. Any investigation targeting Evelyn's property will now involve the Duchy of the North as well."

He looked directly at Julian.

"Do you still wish to proceed with the audit, Your Majesty?"

Behind him, the northern guards placed their hands on their sword hilts in perfect unison.

Julian's face darkened.

He had been king for only two days. Picking a fight with the North, the Council, and the Church all at once was a risk even he couldn't afford.

"Withdraw the audit," he said through clenched teeth.

The cardinal then asked whether we had both entered the marriage of our own free will.

I glanced at Adrian.

His jaw was tight enough that, for the first time, I wondered if the famously unshakable Duke of the North was nervous.

"I do."

"I do."

His answer came almost on top of mine, immediate and unwavering.

We signed the marriage register.

The Lord Chancellor brought down his gavel.

From that moment on, I was the Duchess of the North.

By the time we stepped out of Council Hall, noblewomen were already greeting me as "Your Grace."

Cecilia followed us onto the steps.

"The North is buried under snow eight months of the year," she said. "You'll regret this soon enough."

"Maybe." I turned to her. "But however cold the North gets, I'll still be a duke's lawfully wedded wife."

Her expression tightened.

I smiled.

"Speaking of titles, you seem to have forgotten one, Your Majesty."

"What are you talking about?"

"Adrian is the king's uncle." I held her gaze. "Which makes me an elder as well. You should be calling me Aunt."

Cecilia's face went white.

"Surely you know that much about royal etiquette, Your Majesty."

She turned on her heel and stormed away.

Adrian came up beside me and draped a cloak over my shoulders.

"I'll visit the Harringtons tonight and formally introduce myself to your family."

I looked at him in surprise.

"We're already legally married. You still need to do that?"

Adrian fastened the cloak at my throat.

"Evelyn, I married you. Not a document."