Aleydis had just started to relax, but Alrik's question made her tense up again. She knew that their parents would protect them but as her teachers had reminded her repeatedly over the past few months, being royalty meant heavier responsibilities in exchange for all the privileges she currently enjoyed.

She'd already known that, knowing how hard her parents worked every day for their country. But she hadn't really thought about it too much beyond that, both of them telling her that she and Alrik's only job was to focus on their studies. When she'd pouted about it, both of their parents had laughed at her and told her that adult responsibilities would come all too soon and to enjoy her childhood while she could.

It didn't make any sense to her but she could tell that their minds were made up, so she'd let it drop. Now, though, she was wishing that she had pushed just a little bit harder. It would've been nice to know what they expected from her but it was too late to worry about it now.

Their mother simply smiled at them. "It's nothing to worry about, darlings. It just occurred to us when we were talking after the meeting that we never asked what you wanted. As you know, both of you have an equal claim to the throne. So we wanted to hear your thoughts on the matter before we figure out how to deal with the Council. So, Aleydis, do you want to try for the throne?"

Aleydis grinned, she had thought that this was going to be a hard question or something from how serious they were looking. "Nope! Alrik is going to be the best king ever, I just know it."

Their father grinned as well, "I'd be hurt that you think he'll be the best, but I agree."

She smothered a giggle when Alrik looked embarrassed, but he knew better than to try and protest, since the last time he'd done so they had heaped praise and compliments on him until he'd had to leave for lessons. Instead, he sighed and simply said, "I'll do my best."

He looked over at Aleydis, curiosity filling his expression. "If you don't want to be queen, do you know what you want to do?”

As if suddenly realizing how rude his question could seem, he scrambled to add, “I mean, you don't have to pick until you're fifteen, according to the rules of royal succession. But you answered so quickly, is there something that you want to do?"

She bounced a little in her seat, excited to finally get to speak about something she had been thinking of while she had been learning about the royal family and their legacy. "I wanna support you, Alrik! I don't want to get married or just become a citizen. I want to help you once you’re king."

Their parents exchanged a long look before their mother asked. "And how do you want to support Alrik? After all, it could be a very long time until your brother takes over being a king."

It had taken her weeks to figure out what she wanted to do since there were so many options. However, she'd finally found the perfect job. "I want to be a diplomatic envoy. I can go to the academy and learn all about everything and some magic too. Then, once Alrik is king, if people come here to Colbini, I'll be able to know exactly what we need to do. And since Alrik won't be able to travel a lot cause Colbini needs him here, I can travel for him and make the deals he wants me to. That way, he doesn't have to worry about leaving the deals to people who might not want what's best for Colbini."

Instead of looking pleased, her parents looked troubled. Her father said gently, "Sweetie, you do realize that means that you'll have to be away from us for several years while attending the academy? You would come home for visits and holidays, but you'd be spending months there, away from all of us."

Aleydis frowned, that was one of the downsides to her plan. She really didn't want to be away from her family at all. But if she didn't go now, she might end up having to have an arranged marriage and leaving Colbini forever instead of for just a little while. "I know. I don't want to be away. But this way, we can all be happy here in Colbini forever. And I'll come home every chance I get and you all can come and visit me at the academy and I can show you my friends that I'm going to make and everything."

Both Father and Alrik looked like they couldn’t figure out what to say to that. Did they really hate the idea so much? But it was the only one where she got to stay in Colbini and help Alrik. No matter how much she had thought about it, none of the options worked. If she went for an arranged marriage for an alliance, she would have to leave Colbini and go live wherever her husband was, because that’s what had happened to all of the princesses who had done it before. None of their husbands had moved here, she had double and triple-checked.

However, if she chose to give up the throne and stay in Colbini as an ordinary citizen, whether Alrik gave her a title or not, she would have to move out of the main castle and possibly out of the capital altogether, to oversee whatever territory she was given.

But diplomats and envoys had their own quarters in the castle and capital, so she could still see her family regularly, even if it wasn’t every day. And diplomats could get married, so if she ever wanted to get married someday, that meant that she wouldn’t have to give up her job of helping Alrik unless she wanted to.

She frowned as she stared down into her tea cup. It had taken weeks to work out this plan and she’d had to be so careful finding out this information and asking questions so that people didn’t find out and try to discourage her. Had it all been for nothing?

Her mother reached over and gently bopped her nose. Aleydis looked up, wrinkling her nose at the sensation. Her mother smiled gently at her, “Breathe, Sunshine. You worry too much, little one. It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into this.” She turned to Father where he was still sitting quietly, “Don’t you agree, Honey?

Their father shook his head as if suddenly realizing that he hadn’t said anything. He offered her a smile, although it was smaller than usual. “Your mom is right. It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into this.”

He straightened, looking back and forth between her and Alrik a couple of times before sighing. “All right, since you seem determined to do this, we’ll look into it further. Can you be patient while we do this?”

Relief filled her as she nodded quickly. It wasn’t a no, it was a wait-and-see. That meant that it could also be a yes, since if it was a no, their parents would’ve said so right away. “Okay! I’ll just keep studying with my tutors until you find out everything.”

Father reached out and ruffled her hair. “Sounds like a plan. All right, you two finish up and then back to your lessons. Your mom and I have lots of documents to finish looking over. We’ll see you guys at dinner.”

Aleydis nodded, hurrying to finish her tea so she could leave before they changed their minds. Setting down her teacup, she jumped up and hugged all of them before hurrying out the door. She needed to study more about the different academies now.

X

As if she was worried about him changing his mind, Aleydis bolted her tea and hugged all of them before scampering from the room. While he probably should’ve told her to eat or walk slower, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything to mute her free spirit. Life would wear away her childish energy quickly enough, he wasn’t going to do anything to make it diminish any faster.

Alrik finished his tea a little bit slower than his sister, already bearing the serious demeanor of someone several years older. He hated that being royalty meant that his children were under close scrutiny all the time.

Alrik excused himself quietly, offering them a small smile, although he could still see the rage simmering in his son’s eyes. Alrik didn’t seem to mind the demands put on him as a prince but involving his sister was another thing altogether. The Council would undoubtedly rue ever thinking of potentially using Aleydis as a bargaining chip, no matter how prettily they would’ve dressed it up.

Once the door closed behind Alrik, Alexis allowed his rage to show, standing up and pacing agitatedly in an attempt to work off some of his anger. “How dare they try to use our children! The laws clearly state that children are not to be used or even approached before their fifteenth birthday. Alrik is only thirteen! I should just disband the Council and be done with it!"

Marie rose and gently nudged him toward his desk and the pile of papers that were still waiting for them to deal with. “See, this is why we should’ve eloped and run away. But no, I had to fall in love with a man who both loved his country and was too noble to abandon it. And as much as I wish to burn the entire Council to the ground, there are unfortunately laws that protect them as well.”

Feeling his anger subside a little, he moved over and stole a quick kiss from her. “So fierce, My Queen. Still, we’ll find a way to protect our children from whatever they’re scheming. And Alrik and Aleydis make a fearsome team already, I can’t wait to see who they grow into. Colbini will be in good hands, no matter which one takes over. But together, I think they’ll be unstoppable.”

Marie smiled warmly, “Well, they are our children, after all. But don’t forget, we did promise that we’d look into the academy idea for Aleydis.”

Alexis groaned, sitting in his desk chair with a thump. Some days, he hated being king.