Chapter Five

By next morning the papers were all over the news of the coronation, highlighting the fact that the new Queen stole the spotlight from her royal husband.

"Simon, I'm so sorry about yesterday." – started Helena her apology leaning over her husband's shoulder as they were looking at the newspaper covers. – "I don't know what I was thinking. It must have been the hormones. These babies are already making me crazy."

"You'd better get used to it because we are going to spend the rest of our lives with them." – smiled the King and gently caressed his wife's arm. – "I don't care about the press. You and I had fun yesterday, this is the only thing that matters."

"It's very cute from you to say that…" – she replied and kissed him on the cheek. – "…but I'm afraid that the others won't be so understanding. My behaviour reflects poorly on our family which means it reflects poorly on the monarchy."

"You don't have to worry. Your reputation is intact." – came a voice behind their back. They both turned around and they saw Cyrus leaning on the door. – "While you did everything possible to ruin our family image, the people apparently think the opposite. Do you remember that paparazzi picture of you and Robert in the woods, lying in my brother's lap…?"

The King and the Queen looked at each other in confusion.

"Yes, of course..." – she finally said – "… but it was months ago."

"The people seem to think that you were still holding the grudge and that your spontaneous photo shoot after the coronation was a counterattack against the tabloids after they abused your privacy."

"But how? Why?" – asked Helena, who was stunned by the words of Prince Cyrus.

"You should read the article as well before you judge by the cover."

Queen Helena quickly opened the paper and started to read.

"The Queen was understandably upset because of the incident, like any other mother would have been after a tabloid had released unauthorized pictures of her child. She thought that by making this gesture towards the British people she could show that the royal family is always open and ready to share their life with you if in exchange you would respect their privacy. – revealed an unknown source from the Palace."

"Cyrus, you are a genius." – Helena cried and she looked thankfully at her brother-in-law.

"What is good for you, good for the monarchy. But you are welcome." – the Prince mumbled.

"Thank you!" – she said and for a brief moment there was a risk that she would hug him, but Cyrus quickly took a step back and exited the room.


Helena was lying on the play carpet in Robert's room which was showing the map of London. Her son built the rails of his toy train on her belly and pretended that it was a mountain that the train ran through. They would celebrate his birthday with a lavishing party in an hour and the Queen wanted some time alone with him before the festivity.

"Are you sleeping?" –asked the Prince when he realized that his mother's eyes were closed.

"No, I'm just tired." – answered Helena trying to resist the urge to move a bit.

Robert sighed like a troubled doctor.

"You are always tired."

The Queen smiled at him and caressed his cheek.

"Tell me about it." – she said and she added. – "Blame it on your brothers or sisters."

They were quiet for a while, then the little boy broke the silence.

"Mommy? When are they coming?"

Because of his birthday party Helena wasn't sure if he was talking about the guests or something totally different.

"Who?" – she finally asked.

"Brothers or sisters." – said Robert who was still capable of keeping her mother's secret about the twins.

"Soon, I hope." – yawned the Queen. – "Are you excited?"

Robert hesitated, then he answered uncertainly:

"No."

Helena knew that her husband would have been upset and would have started to lecture Robert, but she felt unnecessary to engage in a long explanation about brotherly love with a three-year-old.

"Are you excited, Mommy?" – the Prince asked after a short pause.

"I am." – came the answer from her mother.

"Why?" – he asked again.

"Because I don't know who their father is." – thought Helena, but of course she didn't say it out loud. – "Because they will be my children like you and I will love them because I love you very much." – she said.

"Mommy, you pushed my train off." – whined Robert after his train fell off her belly.

"No, I didn't." – denied Helena, but in fact, she was happy that she could finally sit up.

"Yes, you did." – repeated his son, who was still angry with her.

"It wasn't me, I swear." – said the Queen patiently. – "They did it. They are constantly kicking inside me."

Robert put his little hands timidly on her mother's belly.

"Did you feel it?" – she asked after a moment.

"Yes." – replied her son. – "But tell them not to push my train off."

Helena laughed at him.

"You can tell them as well. You are their big brother."

He took her advice and he said as imperiously as he could:

"I'm your brother. Don't kick my train…"

Helena looked at him as if she was waiting for something.

"Please?" – she said in a questioning tone.

"…please!" – repeated little Robert.

Helena couldn't hold in her smile. He was such a good boy, she hoped that the twins would turn out the same.

"Okay. It's time for you to get ready for your party." – she finally said and got up from the floor. – "Your guests must have arrived. I'd better go and say 'hello' to them. I will meet you there."


Later that day, at the party, the Queen was stopped by her mother-in law.

"Bravo Queen! What a nice debut! The things are about to change in the monarchy, you made that very clear."

Helena was Simon's wife for almost five years, but she never heard a nice word from the Queen Mother.

"I'm sorry, Gloria. It won't happen again." – she said quickly and she hoped that the conversation was over.

However, a fake apology was certainly not enough for the other woman.

"It's a shame. I had such high hopes for you when I chose you."

"First of all, Simon chose me, not you so stop referring to me as some kind of mail-order bride. God!" – sighed Helena and she rolled her eyes.

"You are very proud of you, aren't you? You successfully got rid of your mother, but I tell you, it won't be that easy with me." – hissed her mother-in-law.

The Queen almost felt sorry for the Dowager Queen that she was so threatened by her, but she always knew how to upset her. Helena didn't think before she replied:

"Oh, I wasn't the one who "got rid of my mother", it was all Simon. I have never asked him to do that for me. Imagine what he would do if I actually did ask something."

"Listen to me. You may have Simon, but this won't be enough." – cried the Queen Mother who started to realize that she lost this battle. – "You can fancy yourself that you are the Queen of England, but in this palace, I'm the only queen. Everybody here works for me and not you. Well, except for that black servant girl of yours until she begins to steal the silver."

Helena would have generously let her mother-in-law win, but attacking Rachel was too much.

"Racism, really?" – she said angrily. – "That is a new low, even for you. Besides, you'd better not underestimate her. Or me. You don't know everything. You want to, but you don't. I'm full of surprises."

The Queen Mother laughed at her.

"Yes, we saw that yesterday. Everyone did. The people will remember that and they are never going to accept you as their queen. Nor my family."

Now, it was Helena's turn to smile.

"You didn't hear the good news. It has all been taken care of. And the British people… well, they love me more than ever. I just got a message from Elton John, he puts me on a pedestal for taking actions against paparazzi. Your son is a real asset for me."

"Of course, Simon would do anything for you." – the Queen Mother waved resignedly and looked her daughter-in-law in the eyes. – "However, like I said earlier, it won't be enough."

"Sure…" – nodded Helena and took a step toward the older woman. Their faces were an inch away from each other. – "…but I wasn't talking about Simon."

When she saw the disappointed look on her face, Helena already regretted what she said.

"Look, I don't want to argue." – the Queen started in a conciliatory voice. – "I really appreciate this party you made for Robert, I'm sure he loves it. We are a family after all."

"We are indeed. I don't want to argue either." – replied the Queen Mother, but her face didn't express any feelings.

"And just so you know, I have already told Simon that you willl accompany him to the Opera tomorrow instead of me. I know you love classical music." – said Helena proudly although it wasn't a big sacrifice from her since lately, after eight o'clock she was a zombie anyway."

Her mother-in-law nodded.

"Good!" – she said and left her without thanking her or saying anything else.


Helena stared after her, wondering about their unconventional relationship, when she saw her brother-in-law.

"Cyrus! What can I do for you?" – she asked and she smiled at him.

"I heard you speaking to my dear mother. I assume you mentioned her our little partnership." – he hissed angrily.

"Yes." – replied Helena and bowed her head.

Cyrus cracked his fingers.

"I want her out." – he said finally.

The Queen looked at him with surprise.

"Out? Out of where? Why?"

"Of this palace, obviously!" – he explained. – "Of this country if it's possible. You of all people should understand why a grown-up man doesn't want his mother around."

"I do, but… What can I do?" – asked Helena who felt uncomfortable after his request.

"You did a great job with your mother." – he pointed out.

"The Queen Mother told me the same…" – started the Queen – "…and I told her too, that it was Simon, not me."

"Even better. Listen! After your baby was born everybody will be watching you. You can say anything and the people will listen. Use it! Make the Queen Mother seem irrelevant so she could have no choice, but to become irrelevant."

Helena sighed. She had controversial feelings. She knew that she would be better off without the Queen Mother watching her every step. However, she could make a dangerous enemy and Helena had doubts about the outcome of their war. Besides, she was Simon's beloved mother and Robert also loved having her around.

"I don't know, Cyrus. I mean she did this great party for Robert… she is family, I don't want to screw her over."

"She doesn't consider you family. Do you know what she calls you? – Cyrus asked with an omniscient smile." – "Backup wife. If you know what I mean…"

Helena's face turned into a painful grimace.

"Dominique..." – she mumbled.

Her brother-in-law knew that he didn't need much to convince her.

"We can only have one queen. For both of our sakes, I hope it will be you. Besides, you owe me."

The Queen nodded resignedly.

"Fine. What do you want me to do?"

"Wait. Let her think she is safe." – he informed her of the plan. – "Let her think she defeated you. But later, when you give birth to your baby, make a big deal out of it… Be spectacular! Steal the spotlight! Apparently you have a talent for it..."

When Helena replied she sounded like a natural schemer.

"I can manage that. Trust me, it will be a huge deal." – she said and she placed her hands on her stomach.