Reign: A Royal Military Romance

by Roxie Noir

  Quickly, I pray that I got this month’s password right.

  Chief Minister Arkady heaves a sigh of relief into his end of the line.

  “Kostya, good,” he says.

  Then I hear him talking to someone else in the room, and all I can make out is go tell the Queen.

  That means my mom is okay. The knot in my stomach loosens, just a little, and I look over at Hazel. She’s sitting on an ugly wooden bench, elbows on knees, watching me.

  “What’s happened?” I ask.

  “There’s been an assassination attempt on the King,” he says, gravely.

  “An attempt,” I say. My heart squeezes in my chest.

  “The bullet only grazed his shoulder, thank God,” Arkady says.

  “My mother? Misha? The cabinet?”

  “All well right now,” Arkady says. “Everyone at the palace is fine.”

  I cover the mouthpiece of the phone and whisper, “Assassination attempt, but everyone is fine,” to Hazel.

  She nods.

  Then Arkady pauses, and even over the phone, I know that’s not everything.

  “Tell me,” I say.

  It’s a long, slow, halting story full of holes, but it’s essentially this: my father was in Tobov, the capital city, for a meeting of the Council on Black Sea Fisheries. As he was leaving, a gunman leapt out of the crowd and got off one shot at him before my father’s guards brought him down.

  Then it gets complicated, partly because no one seems to have all the information. The gunman was screaming about a partner, or maybe many partners, hiding in wait around the city. There were strange reports from air traffic control of a squadron of unidentified planes flying south over the mountains — a blip on the radar for a moment, then gone.

  The military has been intercepting something that looks like coded messages all day, sent via fax machine from service stations in remote areas to other service stations in other remote areas. And then there are the rumors: someone’s seen a fighter jet, someone’s learned that Russian hackers are planning to breach our national security and sabotage the state-run oil company, there are submarines in the Black Sea headed for Velinsk.

  “It’s probably all nothing, except for the assassination attempt,” Arkady says. “You know how things spin out of control. But at this stage, we have to take it all seriously.”

  We talk a bit more. I speak with my mother, who’s nearly beside herself, sobbing into the phone. My father is meeting with his military advisors, so I can’t speak with him yet, but we agree to video conference in fifteen minutes and I hang up the phone.

  Hazel looks at me.

  “Someone tried to assassinate my father,” I say.

  I can barely believe it, but as soon as the words are out of my mouth, anger flares inside me. Suddenly, I’m seeing red.

  How dare they? How fucking dare they, after everything my father’s done for Sveloria?

  No, he’s not always the gentlest leader. He has some policies that I think are stupid, that I wish he’d do away with, but twenty-five years ago Sveloria was a war-torn wasteland that had been utterly wrecked by the Soviet Union, and now it’s a peaceful country with a thriving economy.

  I jump up and start pacing back and forth in front of the ugly, boxy steel desk.

  Now someone wants to murder him?

  “Is he okay?” Hazel asks.

  “The bullet grazed him,” I say. “He’s fine.”

  “Is everyone else okay?” she asks.

  I turn and pace the other direction, and as I do, I realize she still looks worried. It stops me in my tracks.

  You didn’t even ask about her parents, I think.

  “He said everyone in the palace was fine,” I say. “I’m sorry, I didn’t ask about your parents.”

  Hazel half-smiles, and shakes her head, looking at the floor.

  “I’m sure you’d have heard if they weren’t,” she says, but there’s still a flicker of worry in her eyes.

  “I told Arkady you were here,” I say. “At least they won’t worry.”

  “Thanks,” she says.

  There’s a long pause as Hazel looks at the floor and I pace back and forth, trying to collect my angry, scattered thoughts.

  “Did they catch the guy?” she asks.

  “Yes, but they don’t know if he’s working with others,” I say.

  Pace, turn. Pace, turn.

  “It’s the USF,” I say. “I fucking know it is.”

  “I thought they were defunct,” Hazel says.

  I stop pacing for a moment.

  I shouldn’t tell her that the United Svelorian Front is active again, that they’ve been wreaking havoc and my father has throttled the media. She’s an American, and she’s not even in Sveloria on official business. She’s on vacation.

  But she’s also here, with me, in a goddamn bunker, and I think she deserves to know why.

  “They’re not exactly defunct,” I say, slowly.

  I tell her about the raids, about the burned farms, about the anti-government attacks.

  I tell her about how my father is handling the situation, how I think it should be handled, how the USF isn’t actually united at all, that some of its constituent groups are peaceful protestors who want reform and some are violent militias who just want to watch the world burn. That we think they might have Russian backing, but that we don’t really know.

  I sit next to her on the bench and tell her about the rumors, about the jet planes and hackers and submarines. Hazel just listens, nodding until I finish.

  There’s silence. She looks at her hands.

  “I guess that’s why my mom is here,” she says. “I thought it was weird that she got sent somewhere without too many problems.”

  The phone on the desk rings. I touch her knee lightly, then stand and answer.

  “Kostya.”

  “Where are you on the video call?” my father growls into the phone.

  I glance at the state-of-the-art monitor on the desk. I haven’t even turned it on.

  “I’m glad to hear you’re well,” I say, my own voice sounding hollow. “I’ve had some technical difficulties. I’ll be on in a few minutes.”

  “Hurry up,” he says, and hangs up the phone. I bend down and boot up the computer, and it whirs to life. The technology down here gets updated at least every year, which is more than I can say for the canned food in the kitchen.

  Hazel stands.

  “Prince stuff?” she asks.

  I nod.

  “Hours of it, I’m afraid,” I say. “In Russian.”

  She half-smiles.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to entertain myself,” she says, and walks out of the office.

  It’s incredible how quickly a situation can go from heart-stopping to tedious. Within thirty minutes of listening to my father and his military advisors argue, bicker, shout, and point fingers at everyone from the Russians to Turkey to “the young people,” I’ve nearly had enough of them.

  We still don’t know what’s going on. Most of the rumored threats don’t seem credible, but we’re still untangling everything. I’m barely participating, and in another window on the computer, I’ve got Twitter open.

  If there’s a silver lining to the assassination attempt, it’s that it’s been too big to ignore. My father can muzzle the TV stations and newspapers, but he can’t muzzle thousands of people with phones. Now, at least, the people know what’s happening like they deserve to.

  After two hours, I sneak out to use the bathroom. Unlike the rest of the bunker, this room is all stainless steel, with a toilet, sink, and shower big enough for exactly one person.

  Hazel’s sitting at a table in the main room, an ugly gray blanket wrapped around her, and she looks up when I come out.

  “How’s it going?” she asks.

  I just shrug.

  “No one knows anything, so this is useless, but they’ll never admit it,” I say, walking toward her.

  The table is covered with a half-finish
ed puzzle of an elaborate castle, the box off to one side.

  “There are books, but everything is in Russian,” she says. “I’m not a puzzle person, but it’s this or stare at a wall.”

  “Interesting choice,” I say.

  “Because I’m in a castle, putting together a puzzle of a castle?” she asks, turning a piece around in her fingers. “The only other one is a basket of puppies, and I wasn’t in the mood.”

  In the office, I can hear the shouting escalate, and I close my eyes briefly.

  “Go,” she says. “I’m fine out here.”

  I nod. I’d much rather be here, even helping Hazel put together this stupid puzzle, than arguing with men over video chat. I can still smell her faintly on my fingers, and even though it ought to be the last thing on my mind right now, I can’t help but be distracted.

  Stop it, I think. There’s a time for ruling and there’s a time for fucking around.

  I walk back into the office, where men are still shouting in Russian.

  Another four hours later, we finally wrap things up. There’s no reason that we didn’t wrap it up already, because we haven’t gotten more information in ages. Air traffic is still looking for those jets, and the military police are still trying to uncover a larger conspiracy behind the assassination attempt. That means we’re all still in Soviet bunkers and there’s nothing we can do besides sit on our hands and wait.

  My father dismisses his advisors, then looks straight into the camera.

  “Kostya, stay on the line,” he growls, and then gets up from his chair. I’m left staring at the concrete wall of a different bunker.

  I sigh and lean back in the chair. It’s steel and leather, but it’s old and the leather is dried and cracking, showering bits onto the concrete floor.

  Everything about this bunker is harsh and ugly, a throwback to the way things used to be, a sharp contrast to the sunny, beautiful palace above us.

  At least it’s here, I think. No matter how good things seems sometimes, we’ll always need these.

  On the computer screen, my father sits in his chair again. He’s wearing a jacket, so I can’t even see his bandaged arm. I sit up straight.

  For one crazy second, I think he might be about to tell me that I was right about the USF all along, but then he opens his mouth.

  “I had the military police raid several illegal gathering places in the gray district last night,” he says. His voice may as well be made from concrete.

  Shit, I think. The last thing I’m in the mood for right now is getting into yet another argument with my father.

  “Several of the officers reported seeing someone who looked quite a bit like you at an illegal drinking establishment,” he says.

  “My face isn’t that unusual,” I say.

  He glares so hard I’m surprised the monitor doesn’t burst into flames.

  “Don’t play games with me, Kostya,” he says. “I will not have you undermining my authority by going directly against my orders, and I don’t care who you are. While I’m still drawing breath, I am the King and you are my subject. Is that clear?”

  I clench my jaw and don’t answer. He barely seems to notice as he leans forward, toward the camera.

  “I know you think that because your brother is a spoiled teenager you’re the only option I’ve got to succeed me,” he says, his voice getting even lower and harsher. “You’re not. I can choose whomever I wish.”

  I glare back. It’s technically true, but it’s not that easy. I’m popular with the people of Sveloria; if he named someone else to the throne, he’d launch Sveloria right back into civil war.

  He knows that. He knows I know that. But here he is, trying to strong-arm me anyway.

  “Of course, father,” I say. My voice is ice. “Are we done?”

  “One last thing,” he says. “Watch yourself with that American hussy.”

  My blood boils, but I force myself to remain perfectly still and expressionless, even as my hand curls into a fist below the desk. I want to defend Hazel to him, but I know it’s worse than useless.

  I nod once, curtly, trying not to show my fury.

  For years, I obeyed his orders to the letter. The first time I really disobeyed him was when I joined the Royal Guard.

  Since then I’ve broken the rules a little more, but never seriously. I’ve never done anything to bring harm to Sveloria. Unlike him.

  I’m fucking tired of it. I’ll do what he wants most of the time, but not here. He can’t order me to take up with a wealthy man’s simple daughter over the sharp, beautiful American in the next room.

  “Goodbye, father,” I say, and cut the connection.

  For a long moment, I stare into the black screen, fuming. If I were anyone else, this wouldn’t be an issue. There wouldn’t be this ridiculous pressure not to be with an American, the pressure to produce as many heirs as possible with a nice Svelorian girl.

  The computer chirps again, and I take a deep breath.

  Niko pops up on the screen, and I exhale.

  “Ambassador Towers and Mr. Sung would like to speak to Miss Sung, if she’s available,” he says.

  I almost laugh. Of course she’s available. What the hell is she going to be doing?

  “One moment,” I say, and stand.

  21

  Hazel

  I’m leaning my chin in one hand, staring at a puzzle piece of yellow fur. I finished the castle, though there are a couple of pieces missing, and moved onto the puppies.

  This one is actually harder, because every puzzle piece of dog fur looks exactly the same. All I’ve really got to go on is gradations of light and color, plus the shape of the puzzle piece itself.

  Not exactly thrilling, but there’s nothing else to do. The only book in English is the Russian-to-English dictionary, and at least the puppies are cute.

  It’s a moment before I realize that the bunker’s gone quiet. Kostya kept the office door slightly ajar, so for the past hours I’ve been listening to men talking, shouting, and arguing in Russian. Not the most soothing soundscape, but it was nice to know that at least I wasn’t alone down here in this Cold War bunker.

  Kostya opens the door and leans out.

  “Hazel,” he calls. I look up. “Your parents want to talk to you.”

  I jump up, leaving the blanket in the chair where I was sitting, and walk for the office in the tube socks I found when my shoes got too uncomfortable.

  There they are, their faces on the screen.

  “Sweetheart,” my mom says.

  “I’m okay,” I say, sitting in the chair. Kostya’s in the doorway. He nods once at me and then disappears.

  “I’m so sorry about all this,” she says.

  “Mom, it’s not—”

  “I never should have suggested you come here,” she says, and I think my iron-willed mother is close to tears. “I knew that the situation was worse than they were letting on, but I didn’t think it was this dire, and — oh, God, I’m just so glad you’re okay.”

  My dad’s got an arm around her, holding her tight.

  “You guys okay?” I ask, even though it’s rhetorical.

  “Perfectly fine,” my dad says, rubbing my mom’s shoulder. “We were relieved to hear you were with the prince.”

  “I ran into him after my fitting and he offered to give me a quick tour,” I say, hoping that I’m better at lying over video than in real life. “I guess the closest bunker to us wasn’t too popular.”

  I’m pretty sure I’m blushing.

  “These things are very safe,” he says. “Built to withstand nukes, so they’re pretty serious.”

  “Any news?” I ask. “I’ve been listening in a little, but it’s all Russian.”

  “Nothing concrete yet,” my mother says. “But they’re working on it. The King says we’ll be out of here in a few more hours. I’m just glad you’re all right,” she says. “We have to go, official business. Stay safe, all right? I love you, Hazel.”

  “Love you, sweetheart,
” my dad says.

  “Love you guys too,” I say, and the screen goes black.

  I rest my head in my hands, silently thankful that my parents are okay. I have no idea what I’d do here without them.

  Then, despite myself, I think of Kostya with his face up my skirt, and I press my thighs together.

  He reappears in the doorway, and I stand, walking around the desk. I lean back against it, the hard steel cutting into the backs of my legs.

  “Your parents okay?” he asks.

  I just nod.

  “Shaken up, I think. Yours?”

  Kostya shrugs, leaning against the door frame. His sleeves are rolled up and his shirt has the top two buttons undone.

  Even here, now, in this bunker after hours of stress, I can’t help but watch the way he moves, the calm self-assuredness he has.

  “My mother is borderline hysterical and I’m not sure my father’s noticed yet that he was shot,” he says.

  “They’re a strange couple,” I muse. My mind is half on this, half on the stairwell.

  Then I look at Kostya again.

  “Sorry,” I say. “Opposites attract, I guess.”

  He shakes his head.

  “My mother was two months pregnant with me when they got married,” he says. “When my father became king, he changed the marriage license so it looks like they got married first. So they could be the perfect, ideal family.”

  “There’s a lot of pressure on a ruler,” I say. I think of Yelena, the wannabe-princess who throws masquerade balls, and for a split second I’m angry that anyone could think that Kostya could ever be with her.

  “He found out where I was last night,” Kostya says. “One of the military police recognized me.”

  He glances around the corners of the office, almost looking amused.

  “He got shot today, the country might fall apart, and he’s angry that I’m going to illegal bars,” he says, half to himself. “You know what else he’s angry about?”

  “What?” I ask.

  He gives me a long, long look, and I feel like it goes straight through me and lights my core on fire.

  “Me?” I ask, softly.

  “He’s furious that I could have my pick of any Svelorian girl, and instead I’m spending my time with a trashy American,” he says.