Page 77 of Omega’s Fealty

The number in the corner of the screen is moving. I do not look at it.

“I want to thank the people who have written to the embassy and to the State Department and to every newspaper in this country and in mine. I have been shown some of your letters. I have never been allowed to read letters before either. I am reading them now.”

“I want to thank the government of the United States, which has given me protection while I asked for it and has asked for nothing in return. Your kindness has been unequaled. I want to thank the people of Monteverra, who are in the square tonight. I am sorry that before this I have not been able to be a better servant for you. I can only hope that you will give me the opportunity to do so, now that I am able to speak for myself.”

I turn my head, a little, so that I am looking at Roan.

“Many of you saw the man I embraced in the cathedral on Saturday. His name is Roan Kessler. Some of you have also seen his name on the news over the last two months, next to a great many words that were not true. Mr. Kessler was hired to guard a boat. He did not know what was locked in it. When he found out, he tried to do the decent thing in very difficult conditions. He kept me alive, and he tried to get me out, and he was shot for it. He came to the cathedral on Saturday to try again. He has been questioned by the American authorities and released without charge. He is sitting beside me now.”

Roan comes around the desk and sits down in the second chair. He does not look at the camera. He looks at me.

“I have two more things to tell you,” I say. “Neither of them is easy.”

“The first is about my father. His Majesty the King has been unwell for a long time. The palace has called it rest. It is not rest. My father is suffering from dementia. He has been for at least two years. He did not give his blessing to my marriage to the Prime Minister, because he does not know that it was arranged. He has not given his blessing to anything, or signed anything, or decided anything, for a very long time. Other people have done it in his name. I love my father. I will not let him be used any longer.”

I breathe.

“The second is easier. I am pregnant.”

Gerhard, out of frame, makes a small sound.

“The child is Roan’s. It was conceived while I was held on that barge. Roan is my true mate, my match and my love. We have bonded each other and I have never been happier. Of course, our child will be the next heir to the throne of Monteverra through my line.”

The number in the corner has stopped meaning anything.

“I am going home,” I say. “I miss my home. I miss the people. When I get there, there will be changes. I am not going to list them all tonight. But I will tell you that the first one concerns who in Monteverra is permitted to say no, and to whom.”

I look at Roan. He nods, once.

“Thank you for listening to me. Good night.”

I reach out and close the laptop myself.

22. Roan

Eight months later

There are many ways that I thought my life would go. The most likely was going to be my cabin in the woods. Just me. All alone with a shotgun to scare away anyone who came close.

Second most likely, some kind of early death. One of my jobs going wrong.

Third most likely? I have no idea.

I do know that I would never have imagined being dressed up in a fancy suit along with a bright gold sash being crowned Prince Consort while my husband is crowned King beside me.

Never in ten thousand years. I am still not sure that this is real. It’s too crazy.

And yet, there he is, the most beautiful man in the world standing next to me, pregnant with our child. He’s showing now. There’s a sharp curve to his stomach but still he looks as elegant as ever.

Who knew that all you needed to make legislative changes in a traditional old country like Monteverra was a global scandal?

And it works out for me. I still get to live in a beautiful place surrounded by trees. It’s just more palace than cabin.

The cathedral in the capital is older than the one in Washington and a third the size. It is also absolutely freezing.

It has been snowing since Tuesday and whatever heating they have in here doesn’t reach the nave.

If they have heating in here. I’m not convinced.