Elder Born

2. Regent-1

2

Regent

Elizabeth knew at some point she would stop, and allow herself to grieve over the death of her father. Directly after his death she couldn’t afford the luxury of locking herself away to mourn privately away from public eyes. Healers had surrounded William in those terrible days after the attack, always with him. They’d forced him into a healer-induced slumber, to allow his mind to heal. That had been the first decision of many to require her approval as Regent. It had only taken a few moments at her twin’s bedside, seeing him writhing in pain, to be convinced the healers were correct.

With the king dead and William hurt and unconscious, the burden of running Vallantia fell to her. Elizabeth hoped that William continued to improve; despite being next in line for the throne, she had no desire to sit on it permanently.

Elizabeth smiled. Of course she wasn’t alone in carrying this burden. William had assured her in the weeks leading up to this tragedy that their little brother had grown up a great deal. Then again, William always did have a soft spot for Alex. As it turned out, she should not have doubted his assessment. Alex had surprised her the most, stepping up in his role of Fourth and lifting a great deal of the burden from her shoulders.

Kyle, despite the tragedy surrounding the corruption and betrayal of his own sister by the Order, shared the responsibility. She shouldn’t have been surprised. Lord Kyle Strafford had been in William’s confidence for years and despite the party boy image he’d maintained, he was well aware of the affairs of state. He was his father’s son, after all. A great deal of his time was spent standing not only at Alex’s shoulder in his position as a Companion of the Fourth—the Fourth’s Blade, to be precise—but he stood at her shoulder as well to offer advice. His take on the internal family politics and scrambling for position among the peerage of the realm had proven invaluable on more than one occasion.

Of course it didn’t help that rumours were running wild throughout the realm faster than the heralds and scholars could spread word. It always amazed her how fast rumour could fly. It seemed the more tragic the news, the faster it ran. The king’s death and the circumstances surrounding it had plunged the whole country into mourning.

On the back of the terrible tragedy, the news of William being hurt as well nearly brought on a panic. Reports indicated most believed he was either mortally injured or already dead and the news was being kept from the people. No number of proclamations seemed to assure the bulk of the population that while he was badly hurt, William would be fine. She doubted they would believe it until her brother was well enough to make an appearance and shoulder the burden of the crown publicly.

Elizabeth shifted in her seat, impatiently pushing a lock of her long brown hair behind her ear after it escaped the pins meant to hold her hair up in its intricate design on top of her head. The conversation around the table was going around in circles, and she resisted the urge to look up at Kyle and roll her eyes.

“I understand that protocol dictates that the new monarch be crowned directly after the interment of the previous one, Lord Kastlemain.” Elizabeth kept the impatience out of her tone only with great effort.

The lord was new to his seat on the council, elevated on the death of his father, although he wouldn't officially be acknowledged as the lord of his family line until William ascended the throne and conceded him the rank. Elizabeth and her brothers hadn’t been the only ones to lose people in that fateful court session.

He looked at her, startled by the interruption. “Yes, Your Highness, but perhaps we could crown him in absentia. It would reassure the people.”

“I doubt it. If we did that, it would add more fuel to the flames and convince them that we are hiding his death.” Kyle’s tone was acerbic. Elizabeth felt her lips twitch in response. Kyle could and did break the polite boundaries to slap down the councillors when he deemed it necessary.

Lady Cain frowned. “He will, of course, have to get married promptly as well. We should give thought to a suitable queen.”

Elizabeth tried not to groan watching the lady preen. She was also young and newly risen to take her house’s name on the death of her parents. It was too obvious she fancied herself as the perfect match for William. If Elizabeth knew one thing about her twin’s taste in women, she was certain that Lady Cain was not in the running, even if he'd had the option.

Elizabeth had been appalled when Kyle informed her that his father, the Lord Strafford, had negotiated a contract on behalf of her father, before his death, to accept the Imperial Princess of Sylanna as William’s consort. That had prompted her to send a hasty message to the Empire requesting they hold off on their intended journey to court.

Elizabeth was saved from replying to Lady Cain’s comment due to a commotion. Horns sounded outside the walls, and booted feet thundered down the corridors. She could hear doors slamming and yelling echoed in the hallways outside. Her eyes widened as the doors to the council chamber burst open.

Kyle was in front of her, his sword already drawn, only to relax his stance marginally at seeing the Elite. Elizabeth realised she hadn’t even seen him move, nor been aware that she’d also stood.

“Your Highness, it’s Crown Prince William. He’s missing from his bed.”

Kyle swore and the room stilled as he put up his hand, a dire look of concentration on his face indicating he was using his powers. Elizabeth bit her lip as the colour started to drain from Kyle’s face before he suddenly chuckled.

“It’s all right. Stand down the guards, Alex has found him. William will be fine.” Kyle refrained from saying any more.

There was only one way that Elizabeth could see how William could have gone missing from his rooms without anyone knowing where he was, particularly given how many guards surrounded his suite. The lords and ladies at this particular council didn’t need to know the finer details—that their future king now numbered amongst the Kin. Not at this point in time, anyway.

Elizabeth let out the breath she hadn’t been aware she’d been holding. She nodded, resuming her seat. Running to her brother’s empty room would not achieve anything at all. She waved the council members back to their own seats, determined to ignore Lady Cain’s rather poor attempt to raise her own status further. After all, the woman was destined to be disappointed since William was promised to another. Elizabeth smiled to herself and relaxed, Lady Cain and her advances were her brother’s problem to sort out. Not hers.