It was early in the morning, far too early to be awake but my nanny Maggie had come bursting into the room. Leo, my dog snored still deeply asleep and unbothered by Maggie, I wish I could be as lucky as him. I try to pull my comforter over my head but Maggie leans down next my ear.
"They're here." She whispers and I throw the comforter off me "Your uncle is already down there waiting with them."
I check my hair in my mirror flatting a few stray hairs from my braids and slipped on my bunny slippers. My movement awakens Leo and he comes to my side, I pet him and remind him he is a good boy before leaving my room with Maggie.
Today was the day, my whole eighteen years of life had been leading up too. A couple of weeks ago for my eighteenth birthday, two men showed up at our door and delivered a present from my uncle, King Greger. But from one of uncle Julien's spies, the two men had remained in the town a few miles away from our home after delivering the present. Uncle Julien suspected that King Greger must not have much longer left to live per the reports that he was very sick. And since he had no children of his own, the two men were here to wait and get me when he passed. And if they were truly here because of that, then I was now Queen of Illéa.
I take Maggie's hand as we go downstairs, as I wasn't allowed to go up or down them without holding someone's hand. Leo trails behind us as we make our way to the living room where my uncle already fully dressed in a nice suit was talking to the two men.
"Your majesty." They both say in unison as they bow, my uncle and Maggie join them. It felt very strange. "Your uncle, King Greger passed away forty minutes ago."
"My poor dear uncle, may he be at peace," I say as Uncle Julien had instructed me to do weeks ago
"We must get you to Angeles immediately." One of the men tell me
"We have our private jet ready, the pilot will only need a few moments to get ready." uncle Julien says giving away that he knew this was coming. "Maggie take Evanna and Leo to the plane, start getting her ready while I talk to these men."
"Right way Mr. Frasier." She says gently herding Leo and me away
My uncle had bought a house with its own plane hanger and runway, he always told me that he did it so he could quickly come and go for work matter but it always felt like it was solely for this moment.
When we arrive on the plane multiple suitcases had already been packed for weeks and Maggie pulled out the one that just had the outfits I would wear for today. When I questioned my uncle why I needed so many outfits for one day, he told me that many pictures and videos would be taken and sold on this day and they were worth more if I had a different look for each event I needed to attend.
I got myself out of my pajamas and into a pair of black tights and then Maggie helped me into the first of the multiple black dresses I would wear today.
"I'm nervous," I tell Maggie as she zips up the dress
"There is no need to be nervous, Evy. You were born to be Queen." She tells me and I realize she doesn't know what I'm nervous about.
"Not that Maggie, I have spent fifteen years training for that. I'm nervous about flying, I haven't been on a plane since I was three, I don't remember what its like." I tell her
"Your uncle owns the safest plane inexistent and has the best pilots money can buy, there is no need to be nervous." She says comforting me "Let's take our seats and I will finish getting you ready once we take off."
She then takes my hand and sits me down in a seat next to Leo. And she sits in a seat across from us. It then my uncle and the two men join us on the plane. The two men take seats in the far back of the plan and my uncle takes the seat in front of me that face my seat.
As the plane takes off, I hold onto Leo's for comfort and as it is occurring my uncle leans over to talk to me.
"Remember when we get there, I am the only one you can trust." He says, his words private between him and I, as the noises from takeoff stopped anyone else from hearing them.
I lean back in my chair and remember his word.
Once we reach cruising altitude, Maggie takes me back to the back of the plane to finish getting me ready, the flight from Belcourt to Angeles was only two hours long, which according to Maggie was just enough time. My uncle joined us in the back dictating how Maggie should do my hair and makeup.
"Put her hair in a bun to give her a more mature regal look but keep her makeup simple to keep her appearance youthful." He tells Maggie as one of the two men makes his way over to us.
"Your majesty I would like to go over your schedule for the day," He says and I look towards my uncle
"She's ready, I'll be with Leo if you need anything, Anna." Uncle Julien says gently kissing the top of my head.
"Before we start can you tell me your name, I don't think you ever told me?" I ask him
"My apologies your majesty, I'm Thatcher and my friend is Oryn we were two of your uncle's closets advisors," Thatcher tells me
"Now your day is extremely full. When you arrive at the palace you will meet all of your uncles and cousins at the door of the palace for them to welcome you home. A few select photographers who have already been informed about the King's passing will be there. Once you're done, you will have a private five-minute meeting with Dowager Queen Marjorie, during this time the news will break to the public. After the five minutes, an even smaller group of photographers will take pictures of you and Dowager Queen Marjorie together. After you will have thirty minutes to change and then you will go to parliament, where many people are sure to crowd the outside of to get their first glimpse of their new Queen. You will then in front parliament get on your knees and pledge loyalty to the Prime Minister and he will then pledge loyalty to you. Every news station and photographer will likely be there capturing every angle of it. After that you will return to the palace and have time to change again before heading to palace's private church, you will be photographed going in, then you will have your only private time to say goodbye to your uncle as it will be too much of a risk to have you attended his funeral. After this, you will have a short time to have dinner and get ready for the Special Report that will happen tonight where you will give a speech about your uncle. And after that, I suggest going to bed but it up to you what you want to do." He says finally finishing the long list of things to do.
"Is that all," I say jokingly
"Wait until tomorrow when the real work begins." He says definitely not joking and then returns to his seat
Once he's seated, Maggie helps me into a long pair of lace black gloves, a pair of flats with a slight heel, and a black lace veil that covers my face and hair which seems like a shame to cover up all the work Maggie had just done.
I return to Leo's side with just enough time as the pilot is almost ready to land.
"Are you ready, everything changes once we get off this plane." My uncle says
"With you by my side, I'm more than ready," I say gaining a smile from him.
When we land palace guards and multiple black SUVs are waiting for us. Maggie, Thatcher, Oryn, and Leo are put into one of them and my uncle and I are placed in another one.
"Do we need to go over the names of your father's side of the family again?" my uncle asks me as we are driven to the palace.
"No, I have all of there names and face memorized from the picture you showed me," I tell him
"Good girl," he says and leaves me alone for the rest of the ride
I take in as much of Angeles as I can, as I had never seen it before, or at least I don't remember the last time I had seen it. We eventually arrive at the first of the multiple gates that lead to the palace. The palace in far back in the mountains of Angeles and one the greenest place around.
When we arrive at the last gate the palace comes into view and I'm absolutely floored. The original palace burned down generations ago and what was rebuilt was the fairytale place of every little girl's dream. I was speechless, I couldn't believe that this was my new home, how was I supposed to remember where to go.
When we pull up to the entrance there are the photographers as Thatcher said there would be and then there was four separate group of people, which made sense as my father was the second oldest of six sons and these were my father's younger brothers and their children.
My uncle checks to make sure my veil is in place before I gracefully exit the car. The photographers are silent but the clicking noise of there cameras is quite noticeable. I walk over to the first set of my family.
"Your majesty," they all say bowing and curtsying
"Duke Ferryn, Duchess Vietta," I say to my uncle and aunt and then to their son and his wife "Prince Corvan, Princess Emeria," Princess Emeria was holding their nine-month-old son "Prince Corvan jr,"
I wasn't the only one whose titles changed when our uncle passed away, I became Queen and it also changed the succession line which meant my cousin moved up in the line to second and received the title Prince and would one day now take the title Duke when his father passed, something that my other cousins would not be able to receive when their father's died. His wife got the title Princess as well since she was married to him and since I was unmarried and currently childless upon my succession his son Corvan jr also received the title Prince today.
"Welcome home, Queen Evanna." Uncle Ferryn says kissing my hand and then I move on to the next group of family.
"Your majesty," they all say again as the camera's click away
"Duke Drayden, Duchess Elendra." I say to my aunt and uncle "Everett, Fenix, Grayson" I say to my cousins "Kesleigh," I say to Everett's wife
"Welcome home, Queen Evanna." Uncle Drayden says also kissing my hand
I move down and remember that my cousins Nash and Knox are identical twins and I pray they are standing in order of birth because I don't know if I can currently tell the difference.
They too repeat the bowing and curtsying
"Duke Senan, Duchess Maylin," I say and then look closely at Nash and Knox and I'm 99% I know which is which, and know they aren't standing in birth order. "Knox, Nash," I say and they seem to be impressed I know which is which.
"Welcome home, Evanna." Uncle Senan says but instead of kissing my hand, he pulls me in for a hug. At first, I'm a little shocked but then I hug him back.
Finally, I make it to the last leg of my father's side of the family.
"Your majesty," they all say bowing and curtsying and that has officially gotten old and I've only been Queen for three-ish hours
"Duke Trystan, Duchess Teylie," I say then lower myself a little because unlike my other cousins who all ranged in age from twenty-five to twenty-two, Treydon and Tavin were only ten and seven and they were the only ones that didn't tower over me in height. "Treydon, Tavin," I say to them and then stand straight back up
"Welcome home," Uncle Trystan says also pulling me in for a hug.
The photographers take a few more pictures as Uncle Julien joins me at my side and we walk inside the palace followed in behind of the rest of my family. Thatcher and Maggie are waiting with Leo in the hall as we entered and Leo sprints to my side.
"Who brought the polar bear?" Nash asks as the large group erupts in conversations between each other
"This is my dog Leo, he's my best friend." I tell him pulling the veil away from my face "and he is a very good boy." I say petting him
"She's very short," I heard one my relatives whisper probably to another but I wasn't sure who
"Well she certainly looks like Evander," I hear Uncle Drayden whisper to Corvan
I'm about to question what he was trying to imply by that Thatcher interrupts to keep me moving along with the tight schedule.
"Your majesty need to get moving to have her private meeting with Dowager Queen Marjorie." He says
"Right, Maggie can you take Leo to the gardens so he can get used to his new yard?" I ask
"I'll take him, cousin." Nash says "I think Treydon and Tavin want to play with him."
"Okay just bring him to my room when you're done," I say joining Thatcher at his side
"Her Majesty will see you all at dinner," Thatcher says walking away and I follow after him.
We go down a couple hallways and up a few different stairs until we reach a very plain door which very much contrasted the ornateness of the rest of the palace. Thatcher knocked on the door and opened it and motioning for me to go. Inside was a big office, multiple walls were lined with bookshelves, a fireplace was ablaze with a large portrait of Queen Kerttu hanging above it, and the windows had a perfect view of the garden were Leo was already playing fetch with my cousins. I noticed my aunt sitting at the desk filling out paperwork.
"Auntie?" I ask interrupting her work and she looks up from her paper, her eyes are red and puffy from crying and she looked as though she hadn't slept in weeks.
"You're so small and young," she says her voice so distant and I walk over to her, I get on my knees and take her hands.
"I'm so sorry for your loss, I know what it's like to lose everything," I tell her
"I'm sure you do dear," She says on the verge of tears
"Would you like some tea?" I ask her noticing the teapot and teacups, she doesn't say anything but I go over and pour a cup. I gently set it in front of her.
"Thank you," she whispers taking a sip from the cup "I'll be out in a week and this can be your office," she says as I take the seat in front of her desk
"You don't have to leave; this is your home too." I tell her "I'm not putting up an eviction notice."
"That's sweet of you dear but there are too many memories for me to stay here, besides it time for you to fill this place with your legacies. Something I wasn't able to do." She says
"I know this wouldn't mean much from the person who benefited the most and that I didn't' really know my uncle that much. But no one, especially him, would ever blame you for not being able to have children." I tell her as I take her hand
"Thank you, dear," she says "But my problems are not why you are here, I have something to pass along to you, from the last ruler to the new ruler." She pulls a well-worn journal and ring box out of the top drawer of her desk
"Your uncle sent you a journal and tiara for your eighteenth birthday but this was his first journal. He told me that everything you would ever need to know about ruling will be in there. He would journal every night, the rest of them are going to be achieved but the first one is for you." She tells me
"I'll take good care of it," I tell her then open the ring box, it's a pair of rings. One it a gold ring with a big sapphire in the center, a ruby cross on top of it and diamonds circling it, the other was a gold ring with a ruby in the center, diamonds circling it, with rubies on the band.
"While we wear our wedding rings on our left hand, Greger wanted to start a tradition that we would wear these rings on our right hands to signify our commitment to our country. The one with the cross was Greger's." She tells me "He had them resize his ring, we took our best guess on your size."
"I'll proudly carry on this tradition," I say sliding the ring on my ring finger on my right hand, it was a size or two too big but my gloves were helping to keep it on.
It's then that there is a knock on the door and Thatcher opens it.
"One minute until photographers come in." He says
"Thank you, Thatcher." My aunt tells him as she gets up from her desk, she picks up the tea tray and walks over to two chairs positioned in front of the fire. She sits down in one of the chairs and picks up her teacup and its saucer again.
I join her and sit in the other chair, I hate tea put pick up one of cups and saucers and fill it. We sit in quiet, sipping our tea as photographers take pictures of us together for the next few minutes. Thatcher eventually clears them out reminds me that I have thirty minutes to change. I grab my uncle's journal and ring box and hold them tightly.
"I'd love it if you stayed," I tell my aunt before leaving
Thatcher than takes me through another labyrinth of stair and hallways before arriving at the royal apartments. He takes me to one door and stops.
"Your Uncle Greger had this apartment specially redecorated for you. He didn't know much about you but he did know your favorite color was pink so we went from there." He tells me as he opens the door
the whole room was extremely grand and more than I had ever had in my room.
"If you don't like it, we can easily have it changed," Thatcher says as three women enter the room
"Why would we, I love it," I tell him
"I'm glad you like it." He tells me then turns to the three women. "These are your three head maids Gracelyn, Lyla, and Josephine. You have lots of maids but these three are the only three you need to remember by name."
"Your majesty." They all say in unison with curtsies
"Please don't do that again, we're going to be working together every day and I will lose my mind." I tell them "Evanna, Evy, Eva, any of them are fine." I tell them "and that goes for all the maids and you too Thatcher."
"I can only do that in private your majesty," Thatcher says
"That's fine," I say
"Now you should get to work, the car will be leaving in twenty minutes," Thatcher says exiting
The maids had already pulled out the clothes my uncle had brought and they helped me change into my next black dress. I switch to black kitten heels and a pair of solid long black gloves, I put my uncle's ring back on my right hand after. Gracelyn fixes my bun and Josephine fixes my makeup as Lyla brings out the other accessories I need to wear as Queen. She helps place the light blue sash across from me, the necklace, and the brooch as Gracelyn carefully place the crown my uncle had gotten me for my birthday on my head. I look in the mirror for the first time I looked very different, I had never put a crown on my head before and it felt very foreign.
"You look great, very queenly, cousin." A voice at the door says and I turn around to see Nash with Leo
"Hey boy," I say welcoming Leo into our new room, he instantly jumps up on to our new massive bed and I think Lyla gasps a little.
"So I was thinking you need an escort to parliament and I'm free." He says
"Uncle Julien is going to escort me," I tell him
"Are you sure because he is fairly busy right now with Treydon and Tavin distracting him." He tells me
"I'm not sure," I say hesitantly
"Come on, will be gone before he even knows." He says
"I'm not so sure about that either but we can try," I tell him
"Excellent,"
Nash and I make our way to the palace entrance where cars are waiting, we are instructed to get in the second one, I watch as Thatcher gets in the fourth one. Before I know it we're off palace grounds.
"So cousin, tell me something about yourself," Nash says breaking the silence
"What's something about you?" I ask
"Hey my life is an open book, you're the mysterious Queen none of us know anything about." He says but I don't respond "fine since you're the Queen I'll go first. My boyfriend broke up with me last night because we don't do anything publically and no one knew about our relationship."
"Do you keep it a secret because of your parents or because your royal?" I ask and he wags his finger in my face
"That's not how it works cousin." He says
"Okay, but there isn't a lot to tell. For the last fifteen years, I have done the same thing at the same times every single day. This the first day since I was three that my schedule hasn't been regulated to the same things." I tell him "Now answer my question."
"Well its not really either, my parents know and fully accept it, and I'm ninth in line for the throne and I'm only going to get further away from it as you and our cousin have kids so I doubt the public would really care plus the people basically know even though I haven't publicly said so. It's mostly I'm not ready to force this highly intrusive and public lifestyle on another person. hell, your uncle had to take you to a remote mountain area to keep people from knowing anything about you." He tells me
"What would they do if I liked women?" I asked him
"Honestly it would take the public some time, but the succession line is extremely strong and I know for a fact that some of our uncles would like you a thousand times more if you were." He says and raises his eyebrows "Do you?"
"No, but it's good to know some of my uncles hate me because I'll one day get married and have kids pushing them further down the line," I tell him
"Hey we're almost there, just know the crowd is going to be super loud so prepare yourself, don't look at anyone specifically for too long and if you interact with anyone keep it extremely brief and neutral," Nash says as the car stops in front of parliament.
The car door is opened for us and a deafening scream fills the car. Nash gets out of the car first and then I do. I take his arm and Thatcher follows behind us as we walk down the walkway to the building. A sea of people has crowded behind guards and barriers. I shake a few hands as we walk and smile in few directions but listen to what Nash told me to do. Most people are expressing their sorrows about King Greger passing but I do notice a few signs that basically say my Uncle Ferryn should be King and Nash pulls me further along so I don't stare at them long. When we get in the building and the doors are shut and the sounds goes completely away. When we reach the door to parliament Nash lets go out of my arm.
"I have to wait out here but I'm not going anywhere." He tells me and leans in to whisper to me "after today never get on your knee for anyone else ever again."
I nod in understanding
"You'll do fantastic," Thatcher says right before I go ing
As I enter parliament, the room is filled with people and there are cameras and photographers capturing every moment and angle like Thatcher said they would be. Prime Minister Khan is waiting for me at the end of the rows. When I reach the end I get down on my knee and take Prime Minister Khan's hand.
"I, Evanna Marie Hollingsworth, daughter of Duke Evander and Duchess Arianna, Queen of Illéa. Swear my loyalty to you, Prime Minister Rakesh Suraj Kahn and every Prime Minister after you for as long as I rule. I swear to lead this county under the laws this parliament has, have, or will ever decide." I say and kiss the Prime Minister hand.
He then takes my hands pulls me off the floor, and then he himself gets on his knee.
"And I, Rakesh Suraj Kahn, Prime Minister of Illéa. Swear my loyalty to you, Queen Evanna Marie Hollingsworth. I swear we will only every act in accordance with what we believe is fair and just." He says and kisses my hand, I then help him up and he walks over and gets in his seat. And once he is seated I walk out of the room. Nash and Thatcher are both waiting for me.
"Knocked it out the park cousin," Nash says hugging me
"Excellent job your majesty, but we are running behind we need to hurry back to the palace," Thatcher says
Nash takes my arm again and we walk out of the building. It seems like the crowd has only gotten bigger since I went in. I stop to receive a stuffed animal that a little girl wants to give me and I promise to her that I'll take great care of it. As I start to stand back up, shots ring out and Nash body slams me back to the ground.
Guard make quick movements to get Nash and me in a car and out of there. As the car drive at full speed, I look at the stuffed bunny.
"Evanna are you okay?" Nash asked panicked
"Do you think Thatcher's okay? I ask him
"Yeah I'm sure he's fine, but what about you." He asks
"You know what thought was running through my head just then?" I asked him
"I can't believe I almost died less than six hours into my rule." He says "because that's what I would be thinking."
"No, my uncle spent my whole childhood telling me I could die at any moment as heir to the throne. My first thought was, I almost died without having a single birthday cake ever." I tell him "that's weird right."
"Literally all of that is super fucked up Evanna." He says "But why have you never had a birthday cake."
"With our families' heart problems my uncle only ever wanted me eating the healthiest things possible. So no sweets." I tell him
"You never got to be a kid did you?" He asks me
"There was no room to be a kid when you're the future Queen. At least there wasn't any in my uncle's eyes. The only reason I have Leo is that I convinced him that all the greatest Queens in history had dogs."
"Is that your first stuffed animal then?" He asks
"Yeah, I guess it is," I tell him
"Things are going to be different now cousin, your Queen all the power is in your hands now."
"Is it?" I ask him
"Dad was right, for years he wanted to fight for custody for you but Uncle Greger and Ferryn didn't think we should bring a legal battle into the royal family especially when your parent's specifically named your uncle as your guardian."
"I could have grown up with you? I wish that had happened" I tell
"Me to cousin, me too."
When we arrive at the palace Uncle Julien all but rips me out of the car, and checks every inch to make sure I was completely okay.
"What on earth were you thinking of ever leaving my side Anna." He says
Thatcher's car arrives seconds later and he hops out of his car completely fine with a guard at his side.
"Your majesty are you okay?" The guard asks
"I'm fine will everyone stop asking that explain what that was," I say
"A man shot blanks into the crowd when guards chased him he killed himself, so we probably never know why." The guard says
"Advisor cancel the rest of Anna's event; she needs to rest for the rest of the day." My uncle says barking orders
"No, I can't," I tell him
"No?" He says not liking me question his authority
"I'm Queen now, and if I run and hide on my first day, that man wins. I can't let him win." I say
"Fine but I want her guards tripled from here on out." My uncle yells at the guard.
My bedroom is filled with female guards all facing the walls as Gracelyn, Lyla, and Josephine help me get ready. I'm placed in another black dress and I change into new tights and put on new pair gloves. A different black veil is placed over my face.
Guards follow me as I look for Nash, one of the guards think he's probably in the Men's room, which is apparently the room the royal men hang out in. When I get to the door it slightly cracked open and I hear two people talking inside.
"If only that man had used real bullets, you would be King right now father," Corvan says
"But he didn't so here we are a child as our ruler, and not just that but the only female in the whole damn line gets it too, six sons and eight nephews and that girl ends up Queen. To think she'll marry another child, erase the Hollingsworth name from the royal line and we will have two rulers that can't even drink yet." Uncle Ferryn says
It's then that burst into the room no longer able to hear any more of it, both of them are the only ones in the room, I made sure of it.
"How dare either of you say such treasonous things. I'm going to chalk these words up to it being a stressful day since you lost another brother and you lost another uncle and I will forgive you but I want you out my home for the rest of the day. Do not show up for dinner. Do not show up for the report." I say and then stomp out of them room guards trailing behind me
I then have the guards take me to see Uncle Greger. A few photographers take my picture as I go in alone and thank god for my veil because my expression was anything than what it should be. I walk down the rows of pews and start yelling at the stranger in the coffin.
"How dare you never come and save me, you were the King, you coward. And how dare you die so early" I yell at him "you left me defenseless, I'm an eighteen your old girl with no husband or heirs. I'm a target because you couldn't hold out for a few years."
I then sink to the floor and cry for what must have been hours, my mind starts to whirl with very stupid impulsive ideas but I already knew I was going to go through with them. When I come out Thatcher tells me I've missed dinner, which sucks because its then I realize I haven't had anything to eat today and I was starving. Thatcher promises to bring me some food as he takes me back to my room for my maids to get me ready. When we get there a sack of a fast food from a place called inside-out burgers is waiting for me on my desk with a note from Nash.
"I'm going to help you taste freedom," was all the note says
Inside are two burgers and a thing of fries I devour my first fast food ever and it was amazing. I then allow Gracelyn, Lyla, and Josephine to redress me again. This time I'm placed in a long black gown with long black sleeves, my veil is switched out for my tiara again which I now hate. The other royal accessories are put back on me and my hair and makeup are fixed.
Guards take me to the soundstage for the Report the rest of my family is already in their seats minus Corvan and Ferryn but their wives and Corvan baby are here. Uncle Julien isn't allowed on stage because he isn't royalty, which I'm sure was driving him mad. I sit in the throne that used to be my uncle's, but it's too high, my shorter legs dangle from it. Uncle Julien instructs them to not film any short below the waists and promises me that their will be a new more appropriate throne by next Report. Thatcher than hands me the speech he wants me to read which had been adjusted for this afternoon's event.
Caroline Saturday the Report host comes out and opens the show and then turn it over to Aunt Marjorie who delivers a forty-five-minute speech about her husband. When she's done it's my turn I read word for word what Thatcher wanted me to read, it's honestly a really great speech but then I do the stupid impulsive thing I really wanted to do.
"And finally my people, I have talked with my family about what I should do with my rule. And we all agree that what my uncle, King Greger would have wanted me to have my Selection immediately so that I'm not doing this alone. To not wait a year, but have it now and bring something good out of this dark time." I say "All men between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-six will be eligible for my Selection. The forms will be coming out by the end of this week."
No one tries to stop or contradict me, and sure the age range is higher than I would have personally chosen but I wanted to give my Uncle Ferryn a symbolic middle finger as all of my Selected will all be able to drink and if I pick someone who is twenty-six, he will be older than his own son. And yes I knew this was all dumb but I needed protection, and I really need an heir before next Christmas or I don't think I will be alive that long.
When I'm done I walk off stage and head straight for my room. I immediately rip off the tiara and ring and tell Gracelyn she can pawn them for all I care. I crash on my bed and cuddle with Leo. I'm almost asleep when there is knock on the door, it Nash.
"Hey cousin," he says sitting down on the bed with me.
"Day one and someone has already tried to kill me and top of that I have already done something very stupid," I say sitting up from my bed and hoping he'll comfort me
"Yeah, I'm honestly really glad the family can no longer call me the crazy ginger of the family." He says smoothing back what must have been my wild hair from where I ripped out the tiara.
"Thanks," I say and he laughs
"And now you see why I'm not ready to commit and bring a guy into this extremely messy family." He says
"Yeah, I get it now," I say falling back into my pillow
"But there are good things too, you just had a really rough first day. But I do a have surprise for you." He says
"You do," I say peeking up from my pillow
"Yeah but you have to leave your room."
"Fine let's go but Leo is coming with us," I say patting my side so Leo knows to follow
Leo and I follow Nash through the palace until we arrive at a room and when we enter nine people are waiting for us in the room. Uncle Senan, Aunt Maylin, Knox, Uncle Trystan, Aunt Teylie, Treydon, Tavin, Aunt Marjorie, and Maggie. The room is decorated for a birthday party and three cakes sit on a table.
"So I figured that since today was the day you became Queen, it's basically like your birthday so we needed to celebrate." Nash says "Sorry it's so sloppy we didn't have much time."
"It's the best birthday party, I've ever been too," I tell him
"Yeah, next year we're going all out because of that just sad." He says "So my mom and Aunt Teylie made the cakes so if they are terrible don't let them be your standards for cake."
"Nash!" Aunt Maylin says giving him a loving tap on the back of his head "Alright dear we went for the basic, one vanilla, one strawberry, one chocolate. We expect that you try at least a slice of each one."
"I think I have room, for at least two slices from all three," I say
We talk and eat cake and Maggie eventually comes over to be.
"So I suppose this is my retirement then, an eighteen-year-old Queen doesn't exactly need a nanny." She says
"Sorry Maggie, you're not even close to being done with me." I say "I'm going to need a royal planner for my Selection. Who better to help me find my husband than the woman who raised me. Besides, I fully intend to have my first child by next Christmas and they are going to need a really good nanny."
"But why me, after all these years?"
"Because you had to live under my uncle's rules too but you were always the kindest person I had growing up and you made my days as special as you possibly could. And my kids are going to need that one day too.
"I won't let you down." She says
"I know you won't," I tell her as she basically runs off to get started.
Nash and Knox then slide into the empty seats in front of me.
"So cousin which cake is the best?" Knox asks
"Strawberry for sure," I say
"Great we lost another one to poor taste," Knox says
"Strawberry is for sure the best flavor cousin, don't let Knox's inferior taste buds change your mind." Nash says "But while we're on the topic of poor taste, do you know what you're looking for in a husband?"
"Not a single clue," I admit
"Well that's okay, I have a good idea and everyone in this room is going to do their best to help you too," Nash says
"But why?" I ask
"Because we're family cousin, that's what we do," Nash says
This is a male SYOC, which I know haven't been traditionally popular, but hey if you do submit and not many people do there is an extremely high, almost guaranteed chance that your character will be a main focus of the story, the form is on my profile. I have been developing this story for the last eleven weeks and I'm extremely excited for it. This story does have some influences from real life royals, namely how extremely messed up Queen Victoria's childhood was.