Annalise's first date was with Joel Cedar. He was a muscular man with a scruffy beard, he had brown hair and hazel eyes. Annalise had invited him for tea and cakes in one of the many parlours of the palace. They sat across from each other, sipping at tea and enjoying cakes that the kitchen staff had prepared.
"These are delicious," Joel commented as he took another bite of his marble mini cake.
Annalise smiled, "They truly are, I'm honestly surprised I haven't gotten fat from them."
Joel chuckled, "You would still be as beautiful as you are now, even with a few extra pounds."
Annalise grinned, "Thank you. So, do you have any children?" The subject hadn't come up during their first meeting, they had been too busy discussing Joel's career as a wilderness survival instructor, Annalise had been fascinated by it and thought it would be something fun for her boys to get involved in.
"I have two daughters and an adoptive son," Joel answered. "My son's seventeen, and my girls are thirteen and twelve, so pretty close to Jeffrey's age."
Annalise nodded, though she wasn't sure that Jeffrey would be thrilled at the idea of having stepsiblings. This isn't about him, she reminded herself. "And who are they staying with now?"
"My father, he lives with us and agreed to watch them during the Selection," Joel replied.
Annalise smiled at that, "It's nice to have family around, isn't it?" Though she wished the family she had laying around wasn't a snake in the grass. She remembered how her sister came and stayed with her after Darren's passing and helped out with the kids. She had been a blessing and Annalise had been sad to see her go.
Joel nodded, "My father's been a great help."
"I can imagine, I don't have any daughters, but I bet they're hard to raise."
Joel grinned, "Don't get me wrong, I love my daughters, but they're so complicated. I'd take sons over them any day."
"That's because women are complicated." Annalise teased, a smile playing on her lips.
"You said it, not me." Joel said with a laugh.
Annalise chuckled then took a sip of her tea, "I always wished I could have had daughters, but Darren got his sons then didn't want anymore children," She said wistfully.
"That's too bad," Joel said. "I'm sure you'd love my daughters. You know, I'd love to take you on a hike sometime, if you're up to it. I'm sure there's some beautiful spots in Angeles that you've probably never seen."
"I'd like that," Annalise said. "Darren wasn't exactly the outdoorsy type."
"Next time then?" Joel asked.
Annalise nodded with a smile, "Of course, I'm looking forward to it."
After her date with Joel, Annalise went to the Women's Room and began working on her charity projects. She sat at her table, with papers scattered on it as she looked over budget reports and tried to come up with new fundraising ideas. Yes, she did a lot of direct work, but she was on the board of many charities which kept her busy. She wished she could have taken on more of a position of power, but Darren had named Rupert his regent, and her hands were tied. She sighed as she ran her hands through her hair. It had been a while since she spent time with her eldest, so she went upstairs to his room. She knocked on the door then stepped inside of the room, frowning when she saw Rupert lecturing Jeffrey who sat at his desk. There were bags under his eyes and he had a stressed look on his face.
"Jeffrey, go play with your brother or something," Annalise said.
"We're in the middle of a lesson, Annalise." Rupert said as he closed the book he was holding.
"And I'm putting an end to it, Rupert, you're running my son ragged." Annalise said as she brought her hand to her forehead. She frowned when Jeffrey didn't move, but instead looked between his uncle and his mother, conflicted on who to listen to.
"Jeffrey wants these lessons, Annalise, you're interfering with his education." Rupert scoffed as he placed a hand on Jeffrey's shoulder. "You want to be a good king like your father, don't you?"
"Stop manipulating him!" Annalise exclaimed, raising her voice. "Jeffrey, leave us."
Jeffrey quickly stood and left the room, closing the door behind himself.
"Annalise, don't be hysterical," Rupert said in a patronizing tone. "Jeffrey's old enough to make his own decisions, if he wants these lessons then who are you to stop him from attending them?"
"I'm his mother, if they're stressing him out then it's up to me to cancel them, what even happens at these 'lessons' anyway?" Annalise questioned.
"That is on a need to know basis, but your objections have been noted, Queen Mother." Rupert said dismissively.
"I am no longer simply objecting, I am prohibiting you from spending any time alone with my son, you're clearly a terrible influence on him." Annalise said sternly as she took a step forward. "You are no longer permitted in the royal apartments; Jeffrey will see you at meals and in the common parts of the palace only. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal clear, Annalise." Rupert said with an amused grin. He bowed his head as then made his way out of the room.
That went better than expected, Annalise thought as she went to find Jeffrey, who was just outside of his room.
"How much of that did you hear?" Annalise asked.
Jeffrey shrugged as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, "All of it."
Annalise sighed as she pulled her son in for a hug, she hadn't meant for Jeffrey to hear everything, but what could she do? She was surprised when Jeffrey wrapped his arms around her.
"Can I go take a nap?" Jeffrey asked.
"Of course, you can, sweetie," Annalise said, then placed a kiss on his head.
"Thanks, mom." Jeffrey said then retreated to his room. Annalise watched him go with a sad look on her face. She needed to figure out what exactly Rupert was teaching him, but she suspected that if she asked Jeffrey, he wouldn't tell her the whole truth. Rupert must be doing something to him, Annalise thought but she was in no position to remove Rupert from Jeffrey's life, as much as she wished she were.
Annalise went for a walk in the gardens to try and clear her head from her fight with Rupert. She knew she had acted in her son's best interests, but she also knew that Rupert would try to retaliate against her. She sighed, her plan would work, unless Jeffrey caved and continued to meet with the man, which she had no doubt that he would. She smiled at Jerry who she saw looking at the flowers. Of course the florist was interested in them. She approached him and he smiled when he saw her.
"Good afternoon, Jerry," Annalise greeted. "They're lovely, aren't they?"
"They are, I haven't seen such well-kept flowers in a long time, other than my own that is." Jerry commented as he ran a hand through the roses. "May I?" he asked.
Annalise nodded and smiled as he picked a rose and placed it in her hair.
"You seem a little stressed, is everything okay?" Jerry asked.
"Everything will be, yes," Annalise answered, not really wanting to go into details.
"You know, I don't know how you do it," Jerry admitted.
"How I do what?" Annalise asked.
"Raise your sons on your own while keeping up with your projects, you're really amazing." Jerry said with a sheepish smile.
"Thank you," Annalise said. "It's been hard, but I need to do what I can for my people." Lord knows Rupert won't, Annalise thought. She frowned as she saw Blair approaching them. What does she want?
"Your Majesty." Blair said as she curtsied to the Queen. "Lord Rupert would like to see you, it concerns Jeffrey."
"Is everything okay?" Jerry asked, concerned.
"The Prince is fine, but Lord Rupert has some news for Your Majesty," Blair replied.
Annalise sighed, "I'll be there in a moment."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Blair said with a curtsy. She left the gardens and Annalise rolled her eyes.
"Is everything okay?" Jerry asked.
Annalise shook her head, "Rupert's been trying to control Jeffrey, and I can tell it's taking a toll on him. I just, I don't know what to do, he's the regent, there's little I can do to get rid of him."
"Controlling him how?" Jerry asked.
"Forcing him to attend extra lessons, trying to manipulate him into becoming conservative and supporting beliefs that aren't his own, he's trying to make him into something that he's not." Annalise said as she ran a hand through her hair. "Darren was a good king, don't get me wrong, but I can't say that he had the best interests of his people at heart. And I don't want Jeffrey to think he has to be just like his father to be a good king, I want him to do what he thinks is best."
"He was a good king," Jerry agreed. "But I agree with you, Jeffrey should think for himself, not do whatever Rupert wants him to do."
Annalise sighed, "I'm just at my wit's end with him, no matter how many times I tell him to back down he won't listen."
Jerry was quiet for a moment, he wasn't sure what to say to the Queen, so he hesitated for a moment before he reached out and grabbed her hand. She gave his a little squeeze and surprised Jerry when she wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you, Jerry," Annalise said.
"For what?" Jerry asked, confused.
"For listening." Annalise said with a smile as she pulled away. "I should probably go see what Rupert wants.
Jerry nodded and watched as the Queen made her way back to the palace, he was glad to be able to offer her some small comfort, he just wished that there was more he could do to help her.
Annalise entered Rupert's office and frowned when she saw Jeffrey already seated. He was supposed to be taking a nap. She smiled at her son and squeezed his shoulder before she took a seat beside him. Whatever Rupert wanted; it clearly concerned her son as well.
"What's the meaning of this, Rupert?" Annalise demanded.
"I'm tired of quarrelling with you, Annalise," Rupert said simply. "Nor do I think our constant squabbling is doing any good for Jeffrey."
"Finally, something we agree on," Annalise said.
"Which is why I'm taking custody of Jeffrey." Rupert said as he slid a paper across the desk, Annalise glanced at it with wide eyes, it was a bill, one that Rupert had signed into law.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Annalise seethed.
"I have signed into law a bill that, in the event of the passing of a king, it grants the regent sole custody of the heir, which in this case is Jeffrey." Rupert said with a smirk.
"You can't do this!" Annalise exclaimed angrily as she stood. "He is my son, the only one who has custody of him is me."
"Not anymore, this bill grants me sole custody of Jeffrey, he is now my charge." Rupert said as he leaned back in his chair.
"No, I want to stay with my mom!" Jeffrey objected.
Rupert raised a hand to silence the boy, "You will still reside in the palace, so long as your mother complies with this bill." Rupert said as he glanced at Annalise. "I will have unlimited access to Jeffrey, will oversee his schooling and ensure that he is properly groomed to become the future King of Illéa."
"You can't seriously expect me to just go along with this!" Annalise snapped. "I will not let you take my son away from me."
"Oh, I can, and you will, or you'll never see your son again." Rupert threatened with a grin.
Annalise clenched her hands into fists, "I will fight this Rupert, I will take this to the courts, and I will get my sonback."
"You can try," Rupert said in an amused tone. "For now, leave me with my charge."
"Mom, don't let him do this!" Jeffrey pleaded.
Annalise knelt down in front of Jeffrey and cupped his face, "I promise you; I will do everything within my power to fight this," Annalise said. "Just…for now listen to your uncle."
"But mom…" Jeffrey trailed off.
"I know, I know," Annalise said as a tear ran down her cheek. "I'll get you out of this, I promise you."
Jeffrey nodded as Annalise released her hold on him. She turned to face Rupert and glared at him, "I can't believe you'd stoop this low."
Rupert shrugged, "I'm afraid you gave me no other choice, Annalise. Now, get out of my office." He dismissed her with a wave of his hand.
Annalise clenched her jaw as she stepped out of the room. She hated Rupert, she couldn't believe he would take a child from their mother just to manipulate him further. She sighed, she would have to get a lawyer to fight this in the court, she would have to plead her parental rights, but she wasn't sure it would be enough to get the bill overturned.