This one shot collection is chronologically classified between the Royal Romance book 2 chapter 17 and my story 'Remember me'.
This one shot particularly gives a glimpse of the Sunday morning routine mentioned in 'Remember me'. I don't think it is necessary to have read my cited works beforehand to understand the plot. Of course I recommend it though.
English is not my mother tongue, please take that into account while reading and commenting.
Songtext: Shania Twain – Man! I feel like a women!
Summary: Sunday morning at the palace.
„At least they have put together something neatly in the hope of an alliance. I didn't expect such a detailed list." Constantine remarked positively surprised.
„This is true, and the abundance is quite remarkable." Regina agreed. „Liam, would you pass me Addendum 10, please?"
„Of course." Liam replied, rummaging through the large stack of papers next to him for Addendum 10 while trying to stifle a yawn.
It was five o'clock in the morning on a Sunday. All meetings with his father took place in the early morning, as his state of health significantly decreased throughout the day.
Usually having meetings this early wasn't a problem for Liam, but this Sunday was different. It was Joanna's and his first Sunday as a couple. The two had agreed to sweep their entire schedule to spend the day as an engaged couple. That was before Ithanstan pushed for an answer regarding a possible alliance and conjured up this meeting.
Liam couldn't find Addendum 10, upon closer inspection he also realized that this wasn't the only document that was missing, which is why he suggested to his father and Regina to move the meeting to his study.
Constantine agreed immediately, his relationship with his son was still very tense, he considered it a step forward to have been invited by his son to the apartment he shared with the woman he loved.
Regina reluctantly agreed, mainly because she knew Constantine wanted a better relationship with his son. She herself wasn't keen on the proposal, she didn't like the fact that her stepson consistently ignored all royal protocols, the fact that he was unmarried and shared a room with a woman was just the tip of the iceberg. She had been a constant critic of his plan at the time and opposed the pair's plans to move into the royal apartment upon arrival at the palace, so the two were now staying in a partially renovated suit unfit for a king, which normally accommodates married guests lived. She voiced her dissatisfaction in little critical remarks all the way to Liam's apartment.
Constantine tried to shut her up about it while Liam simply ignored her comments. He hadn't seen Joanna that morning, she was already walking Chance when he got ready to meet his father and Regina. Every day that started without a cuddle with his fiancée and a morning breakfast together started off wrong. That's probably why he was so sleepy, absent and demotivated.
Liam unlocked the door to the apartment. Music filled the room along with Joanna's crooked voice singing along to the lyrics.
I'm goin' out tonight, I'm feelin' alright
Gonna let it all hang out
Wanna make some noise, really raise my voice
Yeah, I wanna scream and shout
„Honey, I'm home!" Liam called into the open space while putting his key on the dresser in the hallway.
Immediately Chance came running to meet him at the door.
„Hello, my boy." Liam gave him a quick pat on the head as he rummaged through the stack of papers on the dresser.
The music was turned down in the background.
No inhibitions, make no conditions
Get a little outta line
I ain't gonna act politically correct
I only wanna have a good time
Until finally it was completely exhibited.
„You're early!" Joanna called in a good mood from the kitchen. „The pancakes need a few more minutes. Would you like some coffee?"
„Yes, please." Liam replied, eyeing the last piece of paper on the dresser. „My love, have you seen Addendum 10 from the latest application for recognition of Ithanstan?"
„Yes, it's on the desk in your study. I found it on the living room floor. Chance must have swept it off the coffee table." Joanna said, coming out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee in her right hand.
„Don't you think it's a little late in the day to still be walking around in your nightwear, Lady Joanna?" Regina said while looking at Joanna's outfit in disapproval.
Joanna was wearing a silk housecoat that just about covered her bottom in length, if one can speak of coverage at all, her underwear shimmered through the thin fabric and left little to the immagination. „Ah, we have company. Good morning you two, nice to see you." Joanna replied with a smile to Regina's spiteful comment. „I was expecting your stepson, Regina. Be glad I'm wearing clothes at all." Joanna said, winking at her playfully with a smut smirk.
„Joanna.", said Liam warningly, but with slightly flushed cheeks and a mischievous grin.
Joanna slowly walked towards Liam, hips swinging provocatively. „Good morning, my King." She said with a smile and then leaned in to kiss him soundly.
Regina cleared her throat. „Lady Joanna, don't you have some appointments this morning as well?"
Joanna broke the kiss and handed Liam his coffee mug, then turned around to smile at Regina. „All done yesterday to spend time with my husband-to-be. Would you also like some coffee, tea or maybe a hot chocolate? Pancakes will be ready in a few minutes."
„We actually wanted to get right back to work." It was Regina's last attempt to have the meeting take place anywhere other than in this hellhole of broken etiquette.
„Oh come on, stay a while. You can also discuss the motion over breakfast."
„Will there also be fruit salad?" Constantine asked, trying to ease the tension between the two women.
„Of course. I just made a fresh betch." Joanna replied with a smile.
„A few minutes won't do us any harm, Regina. Besides, you like pancakes with fresh fruit salad." Constantine said, nipping Regina's protest in the bud.
„Wonderful! So coffee, tea or hot chocolate?"
„Coffee." Regina and Constantine replied at the same time.
Joanna nodded smiling. „Liam, there are dishes in the cupboard next to our dining table." Joanna called over her shoulder.
„I'll take care of it." Liam replied with a smile and added two plates to the already laid dining table.
A few minutes later Joanna came out of the kitchen. „Here's beacon." She said as she set the full plates down.
„Chance, off! In your seat!" Joanna said, glancing sternly after Chance, then she turned her attention back to Liam. „Don't give him anything! He stole something again yesterday, who knows what, four times he came to me during the night." She said walking back into the kitchen.
Chance looked at Liam from his seat with big, begging puppy eyes.
„Sorry, buddy. You heard what Mommy said, you're not getting anything.", said Liam with an apologetic smile, whereupon Chance gave a disgruntled snort and demonstratively laid down in his basket with his butt in Liam's direction, eliciting an amusing chuggle from everyone at the table.
Joanna emerged from the kitchen, dressed in a knee-length summer dress, holding a plate of pancakes and a bowl of fruit salad.
„You have a change of clothes in your kitchen!?", remarked Regina in surprise.
„Oh yeah. Since the incident with the Italian businessman, there has hardly been a room where I don't have a few clothes ready." Joanna replied while grinning mischievously at Liam.
Liam blushed, since their engagement the young couple had been acting like newlyweds. Their behavior had already put them in several awkward situations.
„So how are the alliance negotiations with the Ithanstan going?" After everyone wished Bon appetit, Joanna brought the topic of conversation down to a subject that Constantine and Regina would be more comfortable with.
„Ithanstan sent a significant amount of documents. Even father was pleasantly surprised by the execution."
„Is that so Constantine?" Joanna asked, setting the ball rolling for an open debate regarding a possible alliance with Ithanstan.
„That's a good argument, but I think we shouldn't forget that an alliance with Ithanstan means that an alliance with Monterisso is out of the question. That would probably be the same for Queen Amalas as forging an alliance with Auvernal." Joanna said between bites.
„Monterisso is not interested in an alliance with Cordonia, dear." Regina corrected her.
„Really? Strange, Amalas told me otherwise on the phone."
„You had a conversation with Queen Amalas regarding a possible alliance?" Regina said shocked, incredulous that her future daughter-in-law could have pulled that off.
„Yes, funny story. My friend Victoria's friend had a little meet-up with her senior year the other day, and her old schoolmate-... I'm digressing, aren't I? I'm sorry.", Joanna said with a smile, „The short version is that I stumbled upon the contact details of Queen Amalas' executive assistant, which led me to an appointment with Queen Amalas. After our conversation, she was quite excited about an alliance with Cordonia. The papers should reach us tomorrow at the latest."
„When were you going to let me know about this?" Liam asked.
„Today, right after dinner. That's why I went out last night and bought some new lingerie and made a fresh batch of baklava."
„Queen Amalas has never been interested in an alliance with Cordonia over the years. How did you convince her?", asked Constantine, amazed.
„I'm not sure how to answer this question because didn't really take much convincing. Perhaps the loss of her husband and her pregnancy made her a little more open to it?" Or maybe she just wasn't particularly fond of Cordonia's previous monarchs. - Can't blame her.
„Well, that puts the alliance negotiations with Ithanstan in a different light.", Liam remarked thoughtfully.
A new political discussion ensued, during which both Constantine and Regina were surprised by Liam's input. The whole scene provided a stark contrast to the image Liam presented to them during his engagement to Madeleine. At that time he sat absently during meals together, almost apathetically at the table. Now and then he would intervene in a conversation, mostly when he wasn't at all happy with a suggestion from the others, it seemed as if he loathed his position as King. Now with Joanna it was the complete opposite, he seemed fun-loving, motivated and actively involved in the topics of conversation. Like being King is what he always wanted to be.
After a few hours, Constantine and Regina left the apartment to give the newly engaged couple some more togetherness. They had all agreed to hold off Ithanstan until a firm decision was reached on Monterisso.
Joanna was lying on the couch with Liam, both gasping for air.
An initially undefinable ringing sounded through the room. Joanna, who had calmed her breathing at first, narrowed the location of the ringing to Liam's pants hanging over the back of the couch behind her. With Liam still panting horizontally under her, resting his head on a pillow on the floor, Joanna stretched out to grab after the phone in his pants.
„King Liam's pants.", she answered the phone, „He's not in them right now."
„Joanna!", Liam admonished her and took his cell phone from her with an amused smile. His smile faded as he heard what the caller had to say to him.
„How is he? Ok... I'll send Joanna and take care of it." Liam said monotonously, his features stoic and he ended the call without another word. Liam carefully removed himself from his position under Joanna and began to search for his underpants.
„My father is in the hospital. He couldn't breathe anymore." Liam explained while getting dressed.
Joanna sat up in horror. „Oh my goodness! How is he now?"
„Regina said he's stable so far, but the doctors want to keep him there overnight. Could you bring her some things, please? I'll give you the key to her apartment, next to her wardrobe is a packed travel bag. Regina would like to stay with father for the night. Father had an appointment with the Duke of Karlington tonight, but since he obviously can't make it, I'll fill in for him."
„Are you sure you don't want to be the one to visit your father in the hospital?" Joanna asked concerned as she dressed herself. „I can take over the appointment."
„The duke wants to discuss compensation for the canceled wedding. He's quite a bossy man, was quite upset when the engagement broke off and will be in a mood to match. We would only resent him further if we sent the woman I left his daughter for to conduct the compensation talk."
„It was all arranged anyway, life doesn't always go according to plan and it's not like they didn't know you weren't happy with the arrangement."
„Nevertheless, he's an old friend of my father's."
„So he's just trying to get as much compensation as possible based on relationships anyway, all the more reason to let me do it, then it saves the crown money."
„Joanna-"
„Don't Madeleine's parents have a very pragmatic view of marriage? Then they will certainly be able to deal with something as trivial as changing the contact person at short notice. Anyway, how far is it disrespectful to grant the Duke an audience with the future Queen of Cordonia?"
Liam buttoned his shirt while considering his fiancé's offer.
Joanna slipped into her dress. „I think your father would be happier if someone from the family came to visit him, babe."
„You are part of this family, my love. That would be a great opportunity to make that clear to him."
„I think he's already learned the lesson."
„I'm not sure about that.", Liam replied bitterly.
Joanna walked up to her fiancé and straightened his shirt collar. „Darling, if you want me to, I'll take it to your father's in the hospital. You have every right to imitate your brother and to limit contact with your father to the bare minimum after everything he has done."
Liam gave Joanna a conflicted, pained look. „I'm still so angry at him for what he did. When I think of what it almost cost me. It was sheer luck that we were able to turn things around in time. I can't understand how you could forgive him so quickly."
„I haven't forgiven him."
Liam raised an eyebrow in confusion. „Then why did you invite them to join us for breakfast?"
„Because I think you deserve time with your family, whether you want it or not is up to you, but I want you to have the opportunity."
Liam took Joanna in his arms, rested his face in the crook of her neck and whispered 'thank you' in her ear. He stood there for a moment, inhaling her perfume, then pulled away from her and looked uncertainly into her eyes. „Are you really ok with taking over the meeting with the duke?"
Joanna nodded in confirmation. „There are a few boxes of food in the fridge, just need to be heated. The hospital food isn't very good, no matter what class you're in."
Liam didn't come back until the middle of the night. He entered the apartment quietly so as not to wake Joanna. Chance gave him a weary look from his pillow in the living room and merely wagged his tail in greeting.
Joanna was lying on the couch in her nightwear, the receiver had already switched itself off, the television was still on and illuminated Joanna's outline with the blue screen.
Liam turned off the television, then carried Joanna into their shared bedroom and laid her carefully on her side of the bed. Chance trotted sleepily after them and when they got there he dropped into his dog bed with a loud thud.
He then walked into the adjoining bathroom and went about his evening routine as quietly as possible, then slipped to Joanna under the covers, who slowly opened her eyes from the movement. She turned onto her side so they were face to face. „You are back."
„You're awake.", remarked Liam, „How did it go with the duke?"
„In the beginning we had our difficulties with each other, but in the end we came to an acceptable result." Joanna reported proudly, then looked at him worriedly. „How did you do?"
„He collapsed again during my visit."
„I am so sorry." Joanna whispered with a lump in her throat. Her heart ached for Liam. She gently stroked his cheek with one hand.
„He has enrolled in a medical study. He hopes that with it he will live to see our wedding and your coronation."
„How are you holding up?"
„I'm fine." Liam replied automatically, his bottom lip trembling. He wasn't fine. He was taught to hide his emotions skillfully, to stand his ground in political debates, to present himself well in the press, to be able to defend himself and his country, but not to make medical decisions for his father, reviewing his father's living will with his father.
When his father collapsed, the doctor asked him a lot of questions. -Liam couldn't answer a single one. It only showed him how little he knew his father, how little time he had spent with him over the years. The fact that his brother hadn't even answered one of countless calls didn't make it any better. On the contrary, it only brought him the realization that his brother's abdication left him not only with the responsibility of an entire kingdom but with this responsibility as well.
Joanna rearranged herself in bed so that she was lying on her back. „Come here.", she said stretching out her arms to him.
Liam snuggled up to her, his head resting on her chest, her arms wrapped around him, one hand running through his hair. Liam closed his eyes, relaxing in her magical touch.