I DO NOT OWN REIGN.

Craigmillar Castle. Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland. 3 days later.

After removing Marie de Guise from power, Mary began a complete overhaul of the Scottish government. She sacked a lot of the prominent French office holders and replaced with Scots who were both competent and Catholic. Once the empty spaces in her privy council and main administration were filled with men that Mary deemed suitable, she began making plans for my coronation. Even though we were married, I technically didn't have any power as King Consort until I was officially crowned as such by the Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Now that Mary was consolidating her power, I had to think on my feet about how to turn this into the best possibly outcome for us. Unfortunately, I was flying blind at this point; which was my only regret about coming with Mary to Scotland. I had spun shit so far off course that I couldn't ma plans on how to change things if they need to be changed. Henry was still certifiable and I knew that I was going to have to go back to France at some point and deal with that, but to be honest, I didn't want to.

Back in France, Mary, me, Bash, Kenna, and Leith had been living at the whims of Henry and the Medici bitch. Now, Scotland was Mary's turf and she called the shots; more or less. For the first time since being transported into the world of Reign, I felt a strange sense of freedom and I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that our new found freedom would vanish when we returned to French court.

The first few days were hard because Mary was so busy trying to undo the mess her bitch of a mother had made of the Scottish government while she had been away. That made it very difficult to find time to be together because Scotland always had to come first. Mary always came to bed super late and got up super early so that I could never catch her.

Bash and Kenna were spending most of their time either breaking in their new bed or with Kenna showing Bash all the beauty of Scotland. That basically left me and Leith to bond over feeling distanced from our lady loves.

"I'll probably never see Greer again." He said as we rested under a large tree after a sparring match.

"You wouldn't want to Leith." I told him as I poured him a cup of ale. "Before we left court, Lord Castleroy had reached an agreement with Greer's father for her hand and personally, it seems like Greer is truly in love with him."

"But I still love her." Leith said as he tried to swallow the heart break in his throat.

"Leith, Greer is a superficial person." I told him as I patted his shoulder. "She claims that she must marry for her family and a part of that might be true, but another part of her wants a wealthy life; just like Kenna. You need to find a woman who will focus on what you have, not what you lack. A woman who won't treat you like a silly fling." Leith was quiet for a few minutes before nodding.

"You're right...she will only remember me as a brief affair, and I'll remember her as the woman who told me I wasn't enough." Leith said bitterly as he looked into my eyes. "I will become everything Greer is so convinced that she needs. I will rise and rise and rise, until I am rich and powerful; but I will never be hers again."

"I know you will, my friend." I said as an idea popped into my head of a way for Mary to consolidate more power.

Later that day.

Mary's herald ushered me into her office as she was pouring over paperwork. She gave me a tired smile when she saw me.

"Francis, I'm glad to see you." She said as I went over and kissed her lips. "I know I've been neglecting you, but there are so many problems to fix that my mother seemed to avoid or ignore."

"I'm actually here on Scottish business." I told Mary as I caressed her cheek. "I heard that one of your issues is that your worried about the nobles not being totally loyal to you. What if you had some nobles who you knew you could trust?"

"Who are you suggesting?" Mary asked.

"Bash and Leith. Make them nobles and give them Scottish citizenship." I answered. "It would would give you nobles who you know are in your corner."

"Many would still see Bash and Leith as Frenchmen; even if I were to make them Scots." Mary replied wearily as I rubbed her shoulders.

"At first yea, but with time, I know that Bash and Leith would prove themselves to each have the heart of a Scot." I assured her as Mary pondered it fora moment before turning to me.

"All right, I'll call the court together tomorrow." She promised as I rewarded her efforts with a passionate make out session.

The next day.

Mary called all the court together the next day, as promised to make a special announcement. Bash and Leith were in attendance as Mary looked at them.

"I seek to honor to honorable men who have risked life and limb for me time and again. They left their homes in France to be with me and Scotland and I proclaim to be honorary Scots." Mary said as there was scattered clapping. She then turned to Bash. "Sebastian de Poiters, kneel before the throne."

"My Queen." Bash said as he knelt before Mary as she took a sword and dubbed him.

"For your services to the Scottish crown, I hereby bestow upon you, the title of Duke of Ross; and all benefits that accompany your title. You may rise, Milord Ross."

"You honor me, your majesty." The new Duke of Ross said with a wide smile as his new duchess couldn't look any happier now that she had the titles husband she'd always wanted.

"Leith Bayard, step forward and kneel before the throne." Mary continued as Leith followed suit and knelt. "For your services to the Scottish crown, I hereby bestow upon you, the title of Duke Montrose, and all benefits that accompany your title. You may rise, Milord Montrose."

"Thank you so much for this, your majesty." Leith said as I had never seen him look prouder than he did in that moment as he caught my eye and we shared a nod of respect as 2 of the best men I'd ever known finally got what they deserved.

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