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I had barely thought it when Count Arron, the head of the royal security service, ran towards me and almost knocked me off my feet.
The tall, broad-shouldered man with piercing brown eyes and wavy wheat-colored hair, shoulder-length (it's the fashion now), was considered the kingdom's most eligible bachelor, not counting the crown prince and my young brother. Girls flocked to him in droves, and in his free time, he indulged in the company of sweet beauties. And as it may sound, I fully understood those ladies who sighed for Daniel. He was truly a striking young man and one of Uncle's best servants, loyal to him to the last drop of blood. And black suited him very well. I had just noticed.
'Your Grace,' Daniel bowed to me and hastened to kiss my hand, clearly demonstrating that it was nothing more than proper etiquette, otherwise he wouldn't have wasted his time on me, as he was clearly in a hurry. 'Please accept my condolences,' this sounded much more sincere.”
"I nodded in response, finding my family among those present, and slowly passed the count, heading towards my relatives. The queen dowager and Robert were also here. For some reason, I now had little faith in their grief. They seemed too self-assured, too dominant.
Finally, Cardinal Mastermal, the chief spiritual figure of our kingdom, a recognized authority and the late king's only confidant and trustee, his best friend, spiritual mentor, and first advisor, emerged from the palace in proud solitude. Until now, all power had been concentrated in the hands of these two old comrades, so, unlike other states, we lived in harmony, without internal conflicts or wars. But now everything could change. The cardinal had long had strained relations with the crown prince, so the latter's coronation could mark the beginning of infighting.
The white sheet of paper clutched in the cleric's right hand created a stark contrast with his mourning attire. He (the man, not the clothes) was one of those whose heart now didn't beat, but only trembled like jelly. I barely restrained myself from running to him with open arms; Mastermal had always been kind to me.
'Our kingdom of Lantonia mourns the sudden death of our beloved King His Majesty Leonard Martial, may he rest in peace!' he announced loudly, unfolding the royal decree before him. Robert, exchanging glances with his mother, barely smiled. A lump rose in my throat. I now wanted to hit the crown prince over his empty head with something very heavy. 'Such is his fate, a terrible loss for us. We must submit to the will of the Almighty and fulfill His Majesty's last order. Listen all and say you did not hear. I read!'
I lowered my gaze to the ground, barely holding back tears. It was strange that they still existed. It seemed I had cried them all out yesterday.
'I, son of Their Majesties King Gilbert and Queen Michelina of the Martial lineage, Leonard III, King of all Lantonia, by this royal decree, establish the right of succession to my throne, crown, and kingdom. According to the law of birthright, my son, Crown Prince Robert Martial, is considered the main heir. I respect the laws, but my primary duty is to preserve and protect our kingdom. I am not sure that my son can bear the weight of the title, therefore, by this decree, which is mandatory, I deprive Crown Prince Robert of the right to ascend the throne, and after my death, he has three days to leave the royal residence and the capital and settle in the Duchy of Logan without the right to leave it. I have always cared for our state and will do so one last time. On the day I appear before the Almighty, I bequeath everything that belonged to me in life to my eldest niece, the daughter of my sister Princess Ileria and her husband Duke Philip Wilson of Alvina, Marchioness Annie Wilson, because she alone of all the descendants of royal blood possesses the qualities that a ruler of the state should have. By this decree, I name the third in line to the throne, Her Grace Marchioness Annie Wilson of Alvina, my sole and principal heir, Her Highness Crown Princess Annie, and I command my subjects to accept her as their queen. I believe that she alone can preserve Lantonia and continue the path I have set upon. Such is my will, and no one is allowed to dispute it.' The signature and seal of His Majesty, and I witnessed that this decree was written by King Leonard on the day he learned he had little time left. Therefore, subjects of Lantonia, welcome our young future queen, Her Highness Crown Princess Annie!'
Silence fell over the garden, and even the birds stopped singing…
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