by C R Riley
“Your Majesty.” Dr. Flores rushes over as he instructs the men. “Take him into the other room so he can sit down.”
Edward barks out a long list of orders. “Send the Queen’s security team down to her chambers and have them secure her there. We need to call in Prince Esteban and Prince Lorenzo to come and sit with King Antonio. Also make a call to her Royal Highness Angela; summons her to the palace to join her sons and to bring Princess Gabriela with her. Contact the council for an emergency summit, so that they can establish the proper procedures that will need to be followed.
“We need to keep this quiet until we have done a thorough investigation and confirmed exactly how King Ramon died. No one. I mean no one is to mention that King Ramon was found deceased in his quarters until I give the okay.”
His men all nod in agreement and Edward then turns to me. “Your Majesty is there anything else you’d like to say.”
“Just that I don’t believe you should address me in such a way until we are ready to announce that my father has …” I can’t say it again. “I think for now everyone should continue to address me as Your Highness or Prince. That is an order as your King, therefore I expect you to all follow it until you hear otherwise from me.”
Edward gestures to his men to get moving. “You heard the Prince. Now let’s do what needs to be done.”
Not exactly how I expect my day to start, or an account I considered would be my legacy to the throne. Every Monarch, going back five generations, has willingly passed down the title to the next successor sometime after the heir turned thirty. I am only twenty-five. I expected to have at least five more years before possibly being ordained with that title.
Five years to find a proper queen to rule next to me.
Five years to prepare and learn how to act as I absorbed what to do in certain situations. Being a king isn’t just about instructing the people on what to do and how to do it. It is about guiding them while listening to the voices of the people and their elected council. There is so much I still haven’t been taught yet.
But like every monarch who has come before me, feeling equally unprepared, this is my time to step up and show them I am qualified. So that is what I plan to do. I will rule my kingdom the best way I can and make Hermosa Islas proud.
I am King Antonio Ramon Reyes, the first unwed king to ever take the throne.
Chapter 2
Antonio
Five days later the Royal family has been asked to assemble at my current residence, Castile Vicente. I have lived here since moving out of the Palace. It is located in the heart of Aragon.
While the world has now been made aware of the fact that King Ramon was found deceased in his quarters a few days ago, the circumstance surrounding his death have not been announced. Sir Edward and his trusted men have not yet released a cause of death or the details surrounding his investigation.
Three hours ago, I was summoned to Aragon Palace so I could meet with Sir Edward, along with the Prime Minister and the Governors. He had new information surrounding King Ramon’s death, and it was his job to deliver his report to the King’s Council, alongside the King—which happens to now be me.
Me as King, something I am still trying to wrap my head around. I always knew eventually that would be my burden since I was the firstborn of a family who still faithfully served.
Hermosa Islas is a constitutional monarch, where the King/Queen is still the head of the government with limited sovereignty. Which means that I cannot just create a law and force everyone in the kingdom to follow it. I have to get it approved by the King’s Council, who are all elected officials with regulated terms. Meaning during the average thirty-five-year reign of the King/Queen, he/she will encounter several revisions in their council, making it almost impossible for the sovereign to do as he/she pleases. Much like a democracy with the exception being our leader is born into that position instead of elected.
It does make matters rather interesting I can attest. Not long after I turned twenty-one and graduated from university, I have been my father’s right-hand man, all while completing my MBA.
That’s right, as the future King, I had to decide on what I felt would be a worthwhile degree, one that would assist me best once I became King.
I already held a political science degree, because to me that was a no brainer. As the King I believed it important I know all there was to know about politics and our history surrounding them.
However, when it came to obtaining my masters, I believed I needed to understand business, because let’s be realistic, a successful government should be run more like a business at times. If a nation is losing money instead of making it, then the economy and the people suffer. I intend to do my best to make wise business decisions that will aid our country to succeed and continue to make it flourish.
Okay, so now that you understand a little more about how affairs run, you hopefully grasp why the other six members of the King’s Council have been asked to attend. It is of equally interest to them that they hear why their Sovereign died before his time as much as mine. While the man was also my father, as well as my leader, he was also the face of Hermosa Islas, and it is their responsibility to figure out what needs to be done next.
For that reason, we all sat in one of Aragon Palaces’ official conference rooms and listened to Sir Edward explain particularizes to us. He was very thorough with his presentation. Producing evidence that supported his findings, leaving little to no doubt in everyone’s mind. It was clear that his initial investigation painted a very vivid picture.
After he had presented his case the Council and I discussed how this issue should be handled. We deliberated over several different scenarios that would satisfy what our constitution stated needed to be executed is such a situation. None of us wanted to leave until we were convinced that we had all our bases covered and ready to move forward with a solid plan. Then and only then did we disperse with the agenda to reconvene again in a few days, where we would then determine if further action needed to be taken.
When I arrive at my home Edward is with me. As is the Prime Minister, my second in command Celia Trevino. There was a rumor floating around that Celia and my father were closer than they should be. This rumor cannot be confirmed, but neither was it able to be proven false. By her solemn demeanor since the news we learned earlier, I had to wonder about its authenticity although I would never actually come out and ask her about it. She is a married woman with a family. And since I myself have rumors flying around about me that hold no truth by a long shot, I realize she isn’t immune from false accusations either.
“Why is she here?” Queen Sofia however doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.
“Sit.” I point to the chair she just leaped out of.
Sofia must detect the tone in my voice, because after one glance in my direction I am sure she comprehends that I know. Therefore, she drops back down in her seat and just as quickly lifts Isabel off the floor in front of her. Holding her very tightly against her chest as a few tears roll down her cheeks.
I can barely even look at her right now.
“Edward please asked Isabel’s au pair to come retrieve her.” I close my eyes and try to maintain my cool.
“Please Antonio …” Sofia starts to beg me through her tears.
“Say your goodbyes Sofia. Furthermore, you will address me as Your Majesty or King.” I warn her through clinched teeth.
When Beatriz the young princess’ au pair enters the room, Isabel smiles up in her direction. The young woman makes her way over to the child and waits. After a solid squeeze and kiss from Sofia, she passes her daughter off to the au pair and begins to sob.
I glance around the room only to discover several confused faces. My sister Gabriela seems to be conflicted about rather she should console Sophia or let her be. Although my mother halts her after her eyes lock with mine, establishing how that would not be a wise idea. My brothers are also closely watching Sofia who is sobbing uncontrollably. They s
eem to have their own suspicions; both glance up at me around the same time.
“Why?” I question the blubbering woman, who I suspect understands her fate has been sealed.
“You cannot be serious.” Sofia wails. “I did everything Ramon ever asked me to do. Everything. I gave him a child. Looked the other direction when he brought in his whores. And still it wasn’t enough. It was never enough.”
I nod towards Edward giving him the signal to do what he came here to do.
“Queen Sofia Lopez Reyes, you are being detained for the murder of King Ramon Esteban Reyes. You can confess now and forgo trial, or you can choose to allow the people to decide your fate.” He steps forward with his men flanking him. “What do you say?”
“I beseech for understanding.” Sofia falls to her knees. “I beg your forgiveness and ask that you have mercy on me Your Majesty. Think of Isabel.”
“Confess and it will be a swift sentence, carried out in private. Or you can draw this out and let the people sentence you to death. At that time, it will become a public execution, one I will not be able to prevent. I am thinking of Isabel, which is why I am even giving you the first option. The law is clear about how this is to be handled. You are lucky I was able to convince the King’s Council to do the right thing here.
“Your fingerprints were found on the tumbler, along with the bottle of scotch. Traces of the drug you slipped into his drink were found inside the necklace pendant you used to transport it. One of the maids saw you slip out of the King’s chamber early that morning when you assumed no one was around. The au pair confirmed that you called her to sit with Isabel around two that morning so that you could shower and take a break, returning around five looking shaken. Security cameras may not have caught you entering the King’s chambers, however they caught you in the hallways leading to and departing from the area leading to them.
“Do yourself a favor, do Isabel a favor, and just confess. You should also understand I will not allow you to have any unsupervised contact with her again. From this moment forward Princess Isabel will be under my protection and mine to nurture as I see fit. And as the King my word in this matter is law.”
“Then my life has no meaning any longer. All I ask is that you look after her and do your best to never let her lose her spirit. I confess that I, Queen Sofia Lopez Reyes, slipped a lethal dose of sleeping pills into my husband’s, King Ramos, nightcap. I did it after I went to him and tried to talk him out of filing for divorce. What else was I to do? I would have been sent away, Isabel as well, and then all but forgotten. Therefore, I did what had to be done to secure her status in this family, therefore I accept my fate. Make it swift and please tell my daughter that I love her every day.” Sofia’s body tumbles over and the guards have to practically carry her out of the room.
My brother Esteban is the first to say anything, as soon as the Prime Minster and Sir Edward leave with Sofia. “She killed him.”
“There was even a diary in her room stating her plan. Seems that father was tiring of her and no longer wanted to have her around.” I walk over to one of the empty chairs and collapses into it.
“I always told you there was something off about her that didn’t feel right.” My youngest brother Lorenzo reminds us. “That there was a screw or two loose inside that pretty head.”
“What did the council have to say?” My mother stands and takes the seat next to mine.
She isn’t talking about Sofia; there is nothing to really discuss anymore where she is concerned. Once the Queen is taken to the authorities and recounts the incident, signs a confession in front of the five Justices, and then instructed to read her confession for the record, her fate will be absolute. At that time the Justices will sign off on her death decree and resolve to which method seems the most just in this situation. Nothing will be released to the public until after that point, and within a few weeks it will be carried out in private.
My mother is asking me about my status as King.
“What is there to say really?” I square my shoulders and try not to appear defeated. “I am King.”
“And what about that fact that you don’t have a Queen?” She is a smart woman to understand that even if it wasn’t brought up today it will be soon.
“What of it. As you are very well aware, I was in a lengthy relationship that didn’t work out. No matter what others may think about my feelings on the matter, I will not compromise.”
I hate thinking about how it all went down nearly four months ago. The woman I had been involved with for nearly two years, whom I deemed might be the one, turned out to not be. We started off slow, friends first. Which as you can imagine isn’t easy when you are the Heir Apparent for so many reasons. Everyone wants to be your friend. Most women want to date you. There is always a motive behind matters where both are concerned.
Lady Dalia Batista however didn’t come across that way in the beginning. A friendship with her was easy and never seemed forged. After a while we began dating—my suggestion, she was even hesitant about it. Reported she wasn’t convinced she was suited to be royalty if things between us should become serious. Which only made me more fascinated with her and want to prove her wrong. Several months passed and my feelings for her started to grow. I started to consider telling her I loved her, started to think about it seriously.
Until I overheard her talking with her sisters and mother when I showed up early for my lunch date with them. I heard them all laughing, therefore I paused so I could grasp what was so funny. That is when I discovered that Lady Dalia had played me like a dang fiddle and all along knew exactly what she was doing. When I stepped out of my hiding place, she realized she’d been caught, although she didn’t even seem phased by it. Excused her behavior away as acceptable, voiced that if I believed I would ever find a woman who loved me for whom I was as a man, rather than as the future King, then I was delusional. Love was a fantasy that was written for movies and books. Pointed out that my mother and father didn’t marry for love, my grandparents and those before them hadn’t married for love, her own parents hadn’t even married for love, so therefore she also wouldn’t be marrying for love, instead she would do so for status. Hopefully later Dalia believed she would learn to love me, like her mother loved her father—which as a crock. Which was when I told her exactly what I thought about it all and then ended things. She didn’t take that very well, threw the biggest temper tantrum I have ever witnessed, which only made me that much more relieved that I’d eavesdropped on her conversation.
I wasn’t a perfect man. I had my flaws and had made mistakes along the way. Used my title to get young girls to fall at my feet and let me do things with them when I was a teenage boy coming of age. That all changed once I realized that I was quickly becoming my father. It happened after I caught him advising a young maid that as King he could do as he pleased. If she liked her job, wanted to continue working in the palace, then she’d keep her mouth shut and please her King.
I swore then that I would not ever be like that; never make anyone feel obligated to do as I said just because I was King. Vowed that I would only marry for love and nothing more. At the time I didn’t realize how difficult that would be, nonetheless I refused to marry just because it was what was expected of me to do. A King after all is to produce an heir, the next ruler to follow in his footsteps, so there would be those who would try to sway me. While ultimately, I hoped to one day do just that, I would do it my way and only my way.
A proud smile appears on my mother’s face. “You are going to make a great King, Antonio. You will be the kind of leader that others can once again look up to. Just be careful to keep your eyes open and your heart under lock and key. They will come out of the woodwork, but only one of them will stir a fire deep inside of you.
“Let the Lord be your guide. Ask for him to open your eyes when you meet the woman he knows will love you like you so very much deserve. Love you first and foremost, and then fall in love with the people you serve second. Lead your peopl
e like God has asked of you. You do that and everything else will fall in place as it should.”
“I hope you’re right, mother. Mostly because I don’t know when I’ll even have time to take a piss, let alone have the time to court someone while doing this job. I suppose that is why it is ideal to do so before you become King.”
Truer words have never been spoken I’m afraid. Because as soon as we buried my father, King Ramon Esteban Reyes, two days later. I moved into the palace and haven’t come up for air as of yet.
Chapter 3
Larkin
I stare at the man standing in my kitchen like he has lost his mind. I have known this man since I was nineteen. We met my first year at UIC and became friends shortly afterwards. He was so different from the kind of people I normally hung around.
Okay, so first of all I guess I should explain a few specifics so you understand. I mean until you know a little of my background, you will never really be able to fully appreciate where I am coming from.
I’m Larkin Moon Cross.
Hippie sort of name isn’t it. And if you knew who my parents were, you’d be really surprised about that. I have a hard time with it actually sometimes as well. My parents however are not really responsible for naming me, so there is that.
I am adopted. I lived the first three years of my life in the foster care system. My birth parents were really messed up. I was taken at birth from a mother whose body at that time was overdosing on cocaine. Yep you guessed it, meaning I was a drug-addicted infant.
If you have never been around a baby born in those conditions, then I recommend you do a little research. Basically, it’s hell on the baby, the staff at the hospital that are fighting to help the baby, and later the family who accepts the privilege of taking the baby home with them. Both of my foster parents happened to be doctors, so that was beneficial all the way around.
