By the time we got home, I was three and a half months pregnant. Before long I would be beginning to show and there's nothing worse than the tabloids and the rumour mills spreading things that may not even be true, so Maxon and I decided to make an announcement on a very special edition of the report that we wanted to use to focus on the great recent news in New Asia and the new Prince or Princess due in about six months, we also wanted to unveil our plans for the removal of the caste system. There had been a lot of unrest in the country, even if we did manage to stop a lot of it with our wedding – this was all beginning to fade.
So we were in meetings, in discussions, planning, practising…everything had to be perfect. I had proved that the removal of the castes would be a touchy subject which was why we were going to put it on with two subjects that no one could really be angry about and explain the whole proposition.
I was dressed in a beautiful dark blue dress that was relatively loose and matched the tie that Maxon wore with his sharp black suit. He had on a smaller version of his ceremonial crown that was still solid gold and encrusted with several colourful jewels. I wore a diamond filled tiara that was nestled into the crease in my hair just in front of the bun that had been meticulously been put up by my maids. I carried Shalom on my hip as we wanted to show him off as well – especially as we decided that the country hadn't seen him in a little while – and he wore a smaller version of Maxon's suit, only without a crown.
I came down to the recording room with Shalom about five minutes before it was due to start and began to look for Maxon. I soon found him wearing out the floor with his pacing on the far side of the room. I shook my head and sighed, it was just like him to worry, as I walked over to him. Before I could ask, or even greet him, he answered my question.
"This is right, isn't it?" He asked me, looking up and pausing as he awaited my answer.
"Maxon, calm." I held him by the shoulders. "You know that this is the right thing. We've discussed it, we've thought about it so many times and have always come to the same conclusion: the castes are wrong. Limiting what people can have and do is wrong." He nodded.
"I know…I know it's wrong. I know, I do. I just worry. What if there's riots? The twos and some threes won't like it. The lower castes will be happy."
"And we're the majority of the population. We will have the support of all the eights, sevens, sixes, fives, most the fours, some of the threes, and even a few twos. Some will be against it; some people always are. But we if we let that stop us then nothing would ever get done. Now, let's go tell everyone about all the wonderful things that have happened these past few weeks." I took his arm and we walked over to a white cross in the middle of the floor where the podium normally stood. After a moment a red light appeared on the camera telling us that it was filming and all of the fear was flushed away and upstaged by the adrenaline that comes from talking to millions of people across the country.
"Good evening, Illèa. I hope you have all had as good a time as I have recently. Tonight, my wife and I will be telling you all three very important – and exciting – pieces of news.
"We have spent the past week in New Asia with the Emperor and Empress and have finally managed to negotiate a peace treaty with them and will be bringing troops home as soon as possible, with the aim of getting everyone home and with their families. We were very glad to manage this after a long and deadly war which has killed many of our troops and torn apart families. The draft will not be enacted and any troops currently training will have the option to return home or to join our home guard and police forces." He paused for a moment as the few people watching cheered. "Whilst New Asia is still not an ally of our great country, it is no longer its enemy and we are both hoping to work towards friendship in the not-too-distant future.
"The second piece of news comes directly from our family as we are very pleased to announce that we are expecting a second child. After the great joy that our son, Shalom, has brought us in these past months we are very excited to be growing our family once more." There had been a lot of speculation all through the palace but any people who were filming and doing other parts of the back-stage for the show still looked surprised and joyful over the news. After the cheering had died down, Maxon looked back to the camera a little more solemnly.
"Now we are going to move on to something a little more serious. It has been no secret that a lot of you watching are unhappy with the way this country works. Rebels have caused disruption in all corners of it and it has affected everyone in some way. After my Selection two years ago, I feel as if I know the kingdom a little bit better. My wife grew up as a five in a poorer area of Carolina and knew what it was like for the people on the bottom-most rungs of our society. Therefore, I believe it is time to remove these social constructs and become one on the same level.
"Our country used to be a place where anything could happen and I suggest we do this again, that we become a place where you can be successful no matter what number your ancestors were assigned. A place where you can marry whomever you want without having to change careers or give up a live of luxury for one of poverty. A place where we judge you on your skills and talents rather than the number on a piece of paper.
"This is going to be a slow process and I know that there are some out there who may oppose it but I believe that this is what is right for everyone. Work is beginning on housing in all provinces for the eights who will become sevens, who will eventually become casteless and may go and do whatever they wish. To start this, both castes will be employed for the building of these homes and flats for which you can apply at your local province services office. I hope that you will all see this as as good an opportunity as I do to recreate the greatness we once had.
"Now it's Goodnight from us, Illèa as we pray for the new beginnings that tomorrow will bring." Maxon finished and we waved to the camera before the red light turned off and work began as people began taking things to be put away ready for next week. Maxon's hands were still shaking slightly.
"You did great, Maxon." I told him, putting Shalom in his play area in the corner of the set. "I think that people will see this as a wonderful thing. And, let's be honest, you did a better job than I did." I laughed. Maxon said nothing. His gaze was focused elsewhere, a ringing phone on the wall. A maid answered it.
"Your, majesty. They want to speak to you, they say it's urgent." She said quickly, fear in her voice.
Maxon's hand shook as he picked it up from the holder and lifted it to his ear. He said nothing but after a moment he put it down again before saying something to a passing officer who nodded and ran off. He ran over and picked up Shalom and grabbed my hand. He pulled me maybe two steps before the alarm sounded. The horrible shrieking alarm that I had hoped would stay in my nightmares where they belonged.
Now that I knew what we were doing, I helped in getting us down to the royal safe room which we managed in record time, and locked the door behind us as he took our son over to his bed.
"August says they're coming." He said softly, not wanting to upset Shalom who had just calmed a little from the shock of it all. "He told me a week ago that they had set up camp in an area just outside the city and I asked him to watch for any signs of movement from them. I thought they might do something tonight because the Southern rebels are the ones that would be against it and they are. August said they were maybe a mile away when he rang so they could be here by now." He spoke much more calmly than he had just after we finished filming – he always seemed to thrive under this kind of pressure. Neither of us spoke to each other for the next half an hour as we attempted to put our son to sleep but once he was we moved away.
"It's my fault, isn't it?" He asked me as we collapsed onto the bed. I put my arms around his waist and put my head on his chest. He held me there as he put his arm around my shoulder.
"It's not your fault that you wanted to make this country better; it's not your fault that there are some people out there that want to make it worse. The only thing you're guilty of is caring too much and that isn't a bad thing." I told him. He kissed my head.
"I love you, y'know?"
"I love you, too." I whispered back.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review! Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and just have a great time if I don't post a new chapter this week! – Chescaannie xx