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Cassie
As I follow my queen, I feel the nerves join me as we pass along a huge corridor toward a staircase set at the end of it.
The ever-present guards follow us as we silently pass many doors that disguise opulence many only ever dream about. It almost sickens me at how rich this family is because every item of furniture, the art on the walls and the antiques surrounding us are the very best that money can buy and just thinking of the poverty in the world makes me sad when one object here could be sold and the money put to better use elsewhere.
As we head up the grand staircase, I wonder what Elizabeth wants. Probably to lay down the rules, teach me how to be a queen and put me firmly in my place.
By the time we reach her suite of rooms, I’m feeling anxious and slightly afraid and as we head through the huge oak double doors, I look around me with pleasure because this room is nothing like I expected.
Unlike the rest of the palace, this room is modern and stylish. Huge windows dominate it and behind the silk drapes I’m certain that in the light of day, look out across a splendid view.
A warm fire flickers in a modern fireplace that is mounted on the wall and a soft white leather couch waits to wrap us in comfort as we take our seats.
Elizabeth Augustus is an impressive woman and much loved by the people of Andromeda. She has never given anyone reason to think otherwise and has always been kind and generous to her subjects. Her face is a familiar one around the island and she is spoken of with love because of the many acts of charity she carries out and helps those who need a helping hand with a smile and a compassion I admire.
To my surprise, she pours me a mug of steaming coffee and laughs at the surprise on my face as she kicks off her shoes and tucks her feet under her as she sits back on the couch, watching me with interest.
“Relax, darling, and make yourself comfortable. There is no need to stand on ceremony with me.”
I’m grateful for the drink, but there is no way in hell I can relax around this woman and as I sip my coffee nervously, she sighs heavily.
“I’m so sorry my dear, you must be at your wits’ end.”
“What makes you say that?” I shake my head and she laughs softly. “You remind me so much of me at your age. I was exactly where you are now and wondering what the hell just happened to me.”
She laughs at the shock on my face that I’m struggling to hide.
“Yes, I was unwillingly unmasked at the graduation ball. I say unmasked. I was already promised to another and thought everybody knew that. Rex’s cousin, actually, Charles Augustus. He was away at the time and so when Rex tore that mask from my face in front of a packed ballroom, I think the crowd was more surprised than I was.”
“I never knew.” I stare at her in shock because how did I not know this? I always thought she had married in text book fashion, not been so cruelly taken from the man she loved.
“Yes, the Augustus men may be royalty but never really left the cave, as I’m sure you have discovered first hand.”
She giggles and I can’t help join her because she’s surprising me—in a good way.
Sighing, she fixes me with the sort of look that gives you nowhere to hide and says firmly. “I can’t change what happened, what’s going to happen, but I can reassure you.”
Lowering my eyes, I feel the walls closing in on me and, to my surprise, she reaches out and takes my hand. “Maxim is a good man underneath that rough exterior he projects to the world. Don’t try to understand him, Cassie, just try to guide him in the right direction. He needs you more than you need him and I know it may not feel like it now, but this has happened for a very good reason. You will be a worthy successor to me because you’re a kind woman with honorable intentions.”
She looks so compassionate I feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I fold under the softest pressure and she shakes her head.
“I know you want a career in medicine, and Maxim has taken that away from you. Fight for the right to realize your dream, Cassie, because he has the power to make it happen.”
“But how?”
I am genuinely confused because how could I work as a doctor when I’m expected to be his queen and Elizabeth smiles. “This monarchy needs to change and I think you may be the right person to make that happen. Maxim is the perfect person to make that happen too, although I doubt you see that right now. Andromeda is a small kingdom, an office really. As the king, he has an important job to do, but as his queen, your role is purely to support him in that. There is time to make a difference.”
She leans back and I’m fascinated by the wistful look in her eye as she looks at a framed photograph beside her of her husband, King Rex. “I was expected to be arm candy and not much else. Bear his children and look pretty. Always be available and never question his decisions.”
She laughs and I’m hanging onto every word as a wicked gleam sparks in her eye and she says with a giggle, “I didn’t listen. I made this job my own, Cassie, and so must you. I changed things; set up my own charitable foundation and made a difference to people’s lives when I should have been learning flower arranging and needlepoint. I carved out a role for myself that interested me and kept me interesting. Rex saw how happy that made me and that made him happy, and I settled into my role as queen on my terms. We had a happy marriage because I was happy. Rex got to rule, and I got to make a difference. We were equals because I demanded it. Go one better, Cassie, demand your own future because if you are happy, Maxim will be happy and that will make it easier on you both.”
“But what if he says no?”
I find my voice and she rolls her eyes. “Then use what nature gave you and make him squirm. Don’t be the victim in this marriage, darling. Take charge and use your assets to get what you want. Make him fall in love with you because love conquers all as they say and when a man falls in love with a woman, he’ll do everything in his power to give her what she wants. Play the game and win, Cassie, that is my advice from one queen to another.”
For a moment, I think this could almost work. Can I have it all? I’d like to think so, but then again, how can this ever work when he is forcing me to marry him? How can I feel love for a man who has taken what he wants without putting in any of the hard work to get it?
As I sip my coffee in the strangest of circumstances, I don’t think I’m half the woman Elizabeth was because how can I make her son fall in love with me? The man’s carved out of ice and testosterone and just imagining him doing something just to please me makes me almost laugh out loud. No, she’s wrong about this because the only way out for me is to run like hell and the first opportunity I get, I’m pulling on my sneakers and running like the wind back to civilization, back to normality.
