"Dad, the car's about to go." Jonathan said. King John, Clark reminded himself. That was still something he was trying to process. His son was an actual King. It seemed surreal.
"I know, but there's something I wanted to say." Clark said, fighting to keep his voice normal and even.
His son sighed. "Okay."
Clark smiled. Caitlin was waiting in the car dressed quite warmly, whilst Jonathan was dressed in a casual shirt and jeans, like him, his son didn't feel the cold. The crown that adorned his head was the only sign that he wasn't like any other eighteen year olds. "I know that you're going on this trip to get to know your people, and I think that's a great idea. I think you're doing the right thing, and I think you've been incredibly smart inviting Ms Davey along with you. If you want her to be Prime Minister you need to know what she's like away from London. I do just want to say this. Be careful out there. Remember to be on the look out. You are the King and that means people will be looking at you. Make sure you run through everything we talked about before speaking to someone privately."
"Dad, I know." Jonathan said exasperatedly. "I'm not an idiot, I'm not going to let any old idiot talk to me. I'm going to be speaking with the people, but there's going to be barriers and more protection and security than you could shake Bruce with." Clark laughed at that. "Besides, I'm more concerned about keeping Caitlin safe."
Clark looked at his son and smiled. "When are you going to tell her how you feel?"
Jonathan blushed. "I don't know what you mean."
Clark laughed. "Keep telling yourself that, son. Caitlin's a smart girl." His son shrugged.
"Will you be okay here? You won't need to go anywhere on League business?" His son asked, Clark knew that Jonathan was trying to be casual about this, but he knew his son better than that. He put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Jonathan, I'll be right here when you get back. We're celebrating Christmas at Windsor, with Lucy, her husband and Sophie. You'll be gone for a week, I will be here in Hampton Court Palace. I said I'd help you and I mean it." Clark responded, and though he knew some might say he was being derelict in his duty as Superman, the League were on cover for the incidents around the world for now. His son was more important.
Jonathan relaxed slightly. "Okay. Let me know how it goes with the PM." They hugged then his son turned and got into the car. Clark stayed where he was, watching as the car drove off, once he could no longer see the car without straining his vision, he turned and walked inside. He made his way back to his rooms, opened the door to them, and stared. The walls were taller than the biggest beast he'd ever fought, and that was saying something. On the walls hung portraits of his son's ancestors, King James the Second, dressed in armour, Queen Elizabeth before her famous speech, King Edward before he struck down Napoleon. It was all there. He walked into the room properly and sat down.
It would take some time to get used to the fact that his son was King, and that his son had named him a Duke in the British peerage. For a farm boy from Smallville, Kansas he sure had gone up in the world. He wondered what Lois would've thought of that and smirked. She probably would've laughed, then it hit him, had Lois been alive she would have been Queen. He fought down the sadness, and looked up as one of the butlers, whose name was Gerold stood before him. Gerold bowed his head and said. "Papers from Cabinet, Your Grace." Clark took the documents, and opened them. he read through them and sighed. "Tell Mr Charteris that he won't be getting an audience with the King to talk about plumbing patents, that he can refer to the Minister for Housing." Clark said. Gerold mate a note of that. "And tell Ms Eliza that she is welcome to attend the dinner at Kensington in two weeks' time, providing she brings the funds her brother promised." Eliza Danvers was sister to the head of the Danvers family, a wealthy business family that produced all sorts of bits and odds. They'd promised to donate money to help get people off the streets and into shelters and then work. Gerold made note of that. "As for the other letters, you know what response to give now."
"Of course, Your Grace." Gerold said. Anyone who wanted the King to give them favour for something that was deemed frivolous was denied until they could prove that what they were asking would benefit the people.
"Tell me Gerold, what do you make of the Prime Minister?" Clark asked. Gerold had served as Chief Butler to the Palace for forty years, he was an old hand who'd seen some fifteen prime ministers come and go, including this current one, if anyone would know what she was like it would be Gerold.
"This Prime Minister is a good clerk. She knows how to write papers and talk in technical language. But she does not really know how to communicate with people. Her policies are strained, and have only gotten passed through Parliament because they were policies the Queen favoured. I believe she will not last long in her party." Gerold said.
"You think they will replace her?" Clark asked curious.
"I think the Conservative Party have seen that His Majesty and Your Grace are not good friends with the American government of President Matthews and they wish to follow the example you both set. The Prime Minister does not share this view. If His Majesty does not remove her, they will." Gerold replied matter of factly.
"Very well, is there anything else?" Clark asked.
"The Duchess of Norfolk has asked to see you, Your Grace." Gerold replied.
Clark nodded he'd expected this. "Very well, see her in." Gerold bowed, turned and opened another set of doors, he announced Lucy and then disappeared.
Lucy looked serious as she sat down opposite him, he wondered whether he was getting a lecture or some bad news. "Clark." She began. Clark looked at her. "How are you holding up?"
That hadn't been the question he'd been expecting, but then so much had changed in the last few months that he wasn't really surprised anymore, or rather he shouldn't have been. He thought over the question, wondering how he really felt. He took a breath then said. "I think I'm doing okay. Jonathan is handling things okay, and he's talking more than he was, which is good. So, long as he is okay, I am okay."
Lucy nodded. "And everything with the League? How do they feel about you being here?"
Clark sighed. "Diana and Cyborg don't approve, but they understand. As for the others, well Batman is still trying to stop what we're trying to do, so I think that's a clear sign of what he thinks."
Lucy nodded then asked the question Clark had been thinking over himself. "How long do you plan on staying in London? I know that Jonathan wants you here for now, but once he gets used to being King, do you think he will want you here? Will you continue doing what you've done with the League previously, or be content to serve as an advisor?"
Clark took a moment before answering that. He knew he couldn't remain here forever, eventually Jonathan would want to rule by himself, but for now he knew his son needed him here. "I think when Jonathan wishes for me to leave, that is when I shall leave. For now, if the League need me, they know how to get in contact with me." He paused and then asked. "And what of you Lucy? Your husband has been named Secretary for War, will you remain here alongside him?"
Lucy shook her head. "I will be returning to Arundel, there are things there that need looking after and besides Sophie is going to university so I must see her off as well."
Clark nodded. He took a moment to think through what he wanted to ask, then he asked. "What do you make of the Prime Minister? You've lived here for twenty years Luce, you know more about this than me."
Lucy didn't reply immediately, instead she bit her lip in thought, a trait he'd noticed was definitely a Lane thing. Then after some time she answered. "The Prime Minister is someone who is quite a timid and boring lady, there is no fire in her, no passion, she is someone who will get on with the job because it needs to be done, not because she wants to. However, she has great survival instincts. She survived The Queen's purge in 2011 because she played to the Queen's desire for reform. She became Prime Minister because she got the support of the previous leader, and she has close ties to President Matthews wife. I think if it came down to it she would choose her career over the country."
"How do you mean?" Clark asked, he was not surprised by this, but he wanted definitive proof so that when he met her he could lay out all the terms properly.
"Matthews will be looking for a way to get control over Jonathan and yourself. Jonathan is half American; the American public will be going mad over that. They will want to know what this means for everyone for them and for their relations with Britain. Some will try and get rid of Jonathan because of the threat he represents to the democracy and the republic." Lucy replied she handed him a paper as well.
Clark glanced down and read the headline, Cat Grant's name was at the bottom. Big shock as Superman's son becomes King of England, does this mean we are now in control? Or has England finally gotten revenge? Clark snorted and put the paper on the table. "England? There hasn't been an England since the countries of the isles joined together in 1700. You'd think someone like Cat Grant would know that."
"She's not the only one." Lucy said handing him another paper.
Our new King is Half American, is he a spy? Is his alien side more prominent? What ever happened to good old Englishmen? Alberto Falcone
Clark laughed. "The Daily Mail? A paper known for outrageous headlines to mask poor journalism. Really?"
Lucy sighed. "It's not just them, I don't have the other papers with me. But this is just the tip of the iceberg Clark. They're going to keep doing this. You need to arrange a press conference, or you need to buy the papers."
"I will not prevent people from speaking their mind." Clark said firmly.
Lucy sighed. "Alright, well I've told you now, there's nothing more I can do on that front." They both stood, hugged then Lucy walked out.
Clark sat back down and picked up a copy of the Independent, surely this paper wouldn't be filled with the same sort of nonsense? He read the headline and felt like banging his head on the table.
Our King, the American and the Alien, a tragic love story, a sign of patriarchy and corruption in modern times.
Clark sighed, he threw the paper away and ran a hand through his hair. Why were these people so dense? His son might be half American and Half Kryptonian, but he was also hard working, driven and determined to make things better for Britain. Clark was proud of his son and he knew he would do a good job. These fools would learn that as well. His headset rang, and he pressed it. "Hello?"
"Clark."
"Diana, what can I help you with?" Clark asked.
"We're going to need to talk. I think someone might have found the amulet." Diana replied.