Chapter 26

One in a half months after the former King and Queen returned they left again. They were going on an around the world tour some of which was on a cruise line. Riley was starting to show a little more but it was still easy to hide with clothing. The attempts to prevent her from becoming pregnant hadn't stopped. His family and their close friends now know of the pregnancy. Mara and Bastien also knew but everyone deemed a possible threat to the heir was left out of the loop. Liam realized the soon he'd have to announce it. It was getting harder and harder to hide the pregnancy. He had hoped to find proof and have the attacker behind bars before the announcement but it seemed they had run out of time.

Liam hated having Kiara in the palace she was constantly flirting with every male member of the household. The staff had told him that she was trying to uncover gossip and secretes that the staff knew about the king and Queen. This wasn't an unusual method of obtaining information but that didn't mean he had to like it. He got ready for their morning ritual letting the server in with the morning tray he grabbed a coffee just as Riley entered his office. She turned on the small wall TV as she grabbed an orange juice. Riley sat at the small table and waited for Liam to join her when there was a knock at the door.

Liam ran his hand through his hair before opening the door. Of course, Kiara was at the door. All he had wanted was a quiet moment with his wife to discuss the needed press meeting. Liam instantly put on his kingly demeanor wishing he could just slam the door in her face. He steps aside saying, "Lady Kiara why don't you join us for the morning news. We're watching CNGN." Kiara grabbed a coffee from the cart near the door before taking a seat near Riley. Kiara asked, "Why that channel it's full of gossip." Liam replies, "We are aware of the gossip on that station but what better way to know our people. The Cordonian News and Gossip Network will let us see the full picture of our country. Not all gossip is untrue and we'd like to get a handle on the false ones as quickly as possible."

Liam turned on the TV before taking a seat next to his wife. The announcer on the TV said, "Welcome Cordonia to CNGN your source for all that is happening in Cordonia. We will start off our program with the gossip that is floating around in Cordonia. Here to bring you the latest and best gossip around is our own Helen." The camera pans to a table set where a woman sits with a teacup in front of her. Helen says, "Thank you Tristin. We still have baby watch going on and the consensus is that the queen now is wearing baggier clothing. The current rumor is that she could be pregnant however, there is still some who believe she's not due to the recent birth control scandal. Those who believe she's preventing pregnancy think she's just getting fat."

Helen takes a sip of her tea saying, "It seems as if Madeleine's duchy may want their Countess back once she's ready to return. Also, it seems that every woman in Cordonia is wanting a nobleman of Cordonia calendar with them all topless. Rumor has it that the next to get married is Penelope. It will be great to see the new King perform his first wedding. The last gossip I have is that Justin the fugitive is really Anton Severus leader of the Sons of Earth. Back to you Tristan."

Riley's head snaps to Bastien who nods and leaves Mara enters moments later. Tristan smiles saying, "Thank you, Helen, now on to the news. The farm to table program with the farmers market had been met with great success. It has lead to the queen's new literacy program. The goal is for all Cordonian's to be able to read and write. Now I could go on forever about our new queen and the work she's done. However, there is a special program that will air from when I sent a day with the queen. So after our weather, we will be showing footage 2 hours each day this week. Now to John and Erin our weather team."

The camera shifts from Tristan to the Weather team. John smiled saying, "Thanks Tristan Erin will be pointing out the weather while I read the report. Erin will add anything I forget." The screen splits as Erin points to a map of Cordonia. John says, "Today will be sunny with a chance of showers late afternoon. We expect to reach 85 degrees with a cool sea breeze today." Erin takes over adding, "We are watching a sea storm that has started to swirl. Hopefully, it won't turn into a hurricane we will continue to watch the storm as it progresses. Now would be a good time to collect emergency supplies if you don't have them already. It's always good to be prepared. Back to you John."

The camera moves back to John still in split-screen a list of items appears next to John. He smiles saying, " Next to me you will see a list of items you should have available. If you can't manage that a backpack filled with things you need to survive like your medication, a change of clothes, some food, and water. This would do in a pinch until help reached you. Back to you Tristan." The camera finally returns to Tristan. Tristan smiles at the camera as he says, "That's all today be sure to watch the special program a day in the life of the queen. We will see you again tonight for the evening news."

Kiara who had been silent now looks at Riley asking, "You don't believe for one moment that simple-minded Justin. The inadequate press secretary the Beaumonts hired is actually the leader of the Sons of Earth?" Riley shrugs before replying, "It doesn't hurt to check into it. The worse that will happen will be we will find out it's not true. However, if it is true we should know so that we can plan a strategy for dealing with him." Liam chimed in, "If Justin is truly Anton then he isn't here alone. He has supporters here I will need more men on finding him and those that support him."

Bastien soon returned to the office with a concerned look on his face. Riley stood up knowing Liam wanted to talk with Bastien privately. She smiled at Kiara saying, "We should visit Madeleine it would be good for her to see you. I'm sure she'd like to apologize." Kiara nodded wanting to stay close to the queen and see what information she could find out. Kiara would use it against Riley the woman clearly hadn't figured out her plot yet. Anton or Justin had promised to make her queen once he took over the throne. Kiara really wanted the power since her plans to join the foreign ministry just weren't working. Even with her current position at the palace.