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“My tastebuds changed, I suppose. I can stand it now.”
“Okay. Let’s go with that,” Lillian said. “Are you really telling me the change in your overall disposition has nothing to do with the woman you love not being around anymore?”
“Of course, it has something to do with that. I miss her. But I don’t have a choice; I’m Queen now. I have responsibilities. I have Dad still meddling, despite the fact that he’s in a cast and can’t walk these days, and I have Markus in my business constantly. He’s mentioned the Duke of Kent three times just in this past week. Apparently, the Duke wants us to get together sometime, and Markus can find time on the schedule to make that happen for me.”
“If you came out, you wouldn’t have to worry about the Duke, at least.”
“I will, eventually. I don’t know, Lil… I feel like since I took over for Dad, he hasn’t really retired. I inherited one of his secretaries, and I’m convinced Markus and Steven work together to push Dad’s agenda, which they all deny. On top of that, I just… I don’t know… I just miss her. I don’t mean the personal stuff – I do miss her just being around. But I miss her professionally, too. She was really good at her job. And I get why Dad likes Markus, but Markus isn’t here for me; he’s here for Dad and Steven. Ingrid was here for me.”
“Probably because she had the hots for you,” Lillian replied.
“Lil!”
“What?! Wouldn’t that be a good thing?” Lillian argued.
“She deserves better.”
“Better than a Queen?”
“Oh, please,” Elin said, chuckling. “She deserves something with no strings. I come withallof the strings – I come with a country.”
“That she was, apparently, good enough to help you run,” Lillian reasoned. “That would make her a pretty good consort, don’t you think?”
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Elin rolled her eyes at her sister.
“Not really,” Lillian replied. “Although, I am thinking about calling the Duke of Kent – I’ve seen pictures. Plus, I’m Queen after you, right? So, if he’s interested in the throne, I’m his best chance.”
Elin laughed at her sister’s antics. Then, she took a sip of her coffee with two sugars.
???
“Now that we’re at Bygdøy full-time, we’re going to announce that we’re officially retired from all royal duties,” her mom said.
“I thought you already were retired,” Elin remarked.
“We were, but we were available for certain duties during your transition. Now that your father is healing from his surgeries, and we’re done with the move from the palace, we’ll release a statement that we will no longer be participating in any official royal duties.”
“Okay,” Elin replied, thinking this was a good thing, both for her father’s health and for her reign.
“That means, I’ll no longer require Steven’s services,” her father added.
“Oh, you’re letting him go?” she asked.
“Of course not. Steven has served the monarchy well for decades. He’s near enough to retirement, but he wants to remain on, which I support,” her father replied.
“I’m confused then,” Elin said.
“You’ll have both Markus and Steven. Steven will be your senior now, and Markus will return to his junior role.”
“I don’t need two private secretaries, Dad.”
“Of course, you do. Had I died and not just retired, you would have had them already.”
“Markus is fine. I don’t need Steven, too.”
“Well, you’ll have him officially starting on Monday,” he replied.
She stared at her father, who looked uncomfortable sitting there in his wheelchair. Then, she looked at her mother, who was also looking over at the former King.
