AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I lean in and kiss her hard, with all of the pent-up emotion from the day’s events spilling over. My cup overflows.
“Crown? What crown?” I mutter against her lips.
And it’s the truth. She will always be whatever I need. My darling Kala.
EPILOGUE
Five years later
Kala
It is always lovely to visit Torben and Hailey in America.
Even if the Wi-Fi is spotty in the countryside, it's peaceful here, where all the siblings can be themselves.
Besides, it’s nice to leave the Windewall Cider Works in the hands of trusted employees and have a change of scenery. Our little company has grown to a staff of twenty people. Just enough to keep Etienne busy when he’s not chasing down me or our little ones.
I continue to work remotely for the Human Rights Council. I’ve traveled enough, and my goal now is to spend as much time as possible with our family at Windewall. I love our life there. I love visiting with Sigurd, Flora, and the remaining members of the royal family, both old and young.
Sadly, the king has passed, and Queen Hilda has moved into the position of Dowager Queen with the ascension of the current monarch.
I do miss seeing and bonding with Hailey. And though I don’t love the fact that her grandmother’s passing is what brings us together at this moment, I’m happy to see her.
The family invited the queen to join us, as we always do, but she’s still stinging from Torben and Hailey being invited to the coronation.
“We’re all hoping she gets over it and reconciles with the American side of the family, as we refer to you,” I tell Hailey.
“I hope so, too,” she says, biting her lip. “I’ve reached out again and again. I send photographs and presents from the kids on the regular…”
“I know you do,” I say. “She might as well reconcile instead of hanging on to titles. Soon, the titles won’t mean anything at all.”
Hailey takes a step back and blinks. “What does that mean?”
And that’s when I tell her what Etienne and I have nicknamed the Great Secret.
The biggest news that will shake the monarchy of Gravenland to its core has my sister-in-law gasping and covering her mouth. “Are you serious?”
I nod my head.
Hailey leans in. “And she can just do that because…”
Again, I nod.
She understands the delicacy of this information.
“How long has this been in the works?” Hailey asks.
“Nothing has been announced yet. I was asked to assist with research on the disbursements in preparation last year.”
Hailey nods enthusiastically. “This is crazy! And exciting! What happened next?”
I lift one shoulder and tell her the truth. “I think everyone will be satisfied with how it all ends,” I say.
The two of us turn to the house where Etienne, Torben, Sigurd, and others are playing in the tall grass with the little ones. Our twins Madeleine and Marta have bonded instantly with all of their little cousins. Flora steps outside and waves down to us, smiling.
“The crown has always kept everyone on their toes,” I say.
“Well, in the end,” Hailey says, taking a drink of the new cider I’ve smuggled for her in my luggage, “we’re all still family, and that’s what matters.”
As far as Etienne and I are concerned, she couldn’t be more right.
