World Devoted

by Emily Albert

  When they had made their way down to the base of the mountain, all the guests were sitting at the tables under the tents. Reeve spotted them and clapped to get everyone’s attention. “Who’s ready for some food, hm?”

  A carriage arrived hauling a bounty of food for dinner. There were four types of meat, bread of all shades of brown, brightly colored vegetables and fruit, countless pastries, and one whole carriage filled with wine. On a separate, smaller table surrounded by candles was a tall, decadent fruit cake for the bride and groom to share.

  Food was brought to them first, and Lenna ate until she was bloated. It was a satisfying fullness, though, not something she regretted. She could tell Marco did the same. After several polishing off several plates, they ate a slice of cake each.

  As the night settled down, people came over to congratulate them. Most residents of the castle didn’t know either of them personally, but those who did walked up with caution. Lenna saw Kendra stealing looks at them, but she did not pay them a visit. As she was watching Kendra, she heard Ollivan say, “Congratulations. I can see that you are both very happy. Lenna? Lenna?”

  She took her eyes off of Kendra and looked at her father. “Yes?” She surprised herself with her bitterness in the midst of all this.

  “I’m so pleased to see you this happy. You have no idea.” He turned to Marco. “Do you mind if I take your bride for just a moment?”

  “Of course! Take all the time you need.”

  Knowing what he wanted to talk to her about, she got up grudgingly. She didn’t want to talk to him about their imagined mutual problems, even being in a good mood.

  Standing away from all the tents, there was barely enough light for Lenna to see Ollivan’s face, but she could still tell he was pleased. Predictably, he said, “I see you’re fighting for your sanity. I’m very proud of you. You’re doing better than I ever could. Maybe I was wrong about you needing to run. I needed to, but you… you’re stronger than me. Still, Lenna, if it’s ever too much—”

  Lenna had to take a breath to keep from storming off. “I know I’m stronger than you. I told you that.”

  Ollivan looked unfazed. He said quietly, “I’m proud of you, my lion.”

  “I’d better get back to my husband.”

  “Yes, go ahead. I’m glad I got a moment to speak with you.”

  When she returned, Marco was beaming almost as much as Ollivan had been. “What did your father have to say?”

  “I’m not sure. Sometimes he just rambles on about things. Old men, you know.”

  Marco looked suspicious. “Well, if you’ve reconciled with him, that’s terrific.”

  She tried to smile in place of words. She had been so enveloped in her wedding that she had forgotten about her guardian. She was happy, yes, but her mind was too quiet, missing what she had loved long before Marco.

  For the rest of the night, Lenna looked off thoughtfully into the sky and attempted to make light conversation with her husband and anyone else who approached their tent. She met Marco’s parents—sharp, tough people who talked of having Lenna visit Elawar.

  The food disappeared, guests quieted down with hands on their bellies, and fireflies and crickets filled the lull. Marco held Lenna’s hands from across the table. She looked at him with a hazy mind. “Would you like to go to bed?” he asked kindly. She nodded absently, stood, and followed him to their carriage. The ride back was quiet; both partners touched shoulders but did not speak, and Lenna’s mind was blank.

  Thirty-Eight

  Lenna woke to a happy whisper: It’s time. In her groggy state, it took her a moment to process what she heard. Once she had, she opened her eyes, wide awake. Her guardian had come back to her, and it would help her become Queen.

  She looked over at her husband who lay on the other side of the pillow barrier she had created. When they had fallen into bed, they had been too tired to think about anything but sleep, but Lenna still needed to know she had her space. Marco stayed on his side the entire night. They were a sapling, but that was okay.

  “Marco,” she whispered.

  “Hm?” He was barely awake.

  She shook him gently. “Marco.”

  He picked his head up. “Yes, dear?”

  It’s time.

  “It’s time,” she echoed.

  He blinked and rubbed his eyes as if wondering if he was dreaming.

  “We have to call a meeting. A council meeting. They’ll surely give in now. They have to. I have you.” Lenna swung her legs over the side of the bed and jumped out. She rubbed her hands together and looked at Marco, imploring him to understand. He sat up.

  Finally seeing recognition in his face, she hopped back up, moved the pillow, and kissed him. “It’s time.”

  “Is that all I am to you? A means to become Queen?” he said playfully.

  Yes. Don’t forget it.

  “You’ll come to the meeting, won’t you? It will help if you’re there, if they see that we’re together politically. You have to be there.”

  Marco darkened his face, furrowed his eyebrows, and said deeply, “Of course. I will do whatever you ask, my queen.” He bowed dramatically, as much as he could while sitting in bed.

  My queen.

  They both smiled, children grinning wildly at their own jokes. Lenna got up once again and started pacing. “This is it. They’re not going to have anything against me now. Right? I’m married, I’m stable, I’m the perfect queen. What does Remy have? Blood on his hands? Hah! They’ll have to give in now!”

  “Yes, absolutely.”

  Lenna halted and turned to face him, hands interlocked under her chin. She studied him; he looked too intent to be anything other than fully committed. They grinned slyly at each other, turning from giddy children to conspiring lovers.

  “We’re going to be great,” Marco said.

  You are. You’re going to be great, and he will stand by your side while the people bow to you.

  Lenna flopped back onto the bed, and Marco stroked her hair. She looked off distantly, thinking not of her husband, but of her crown. Guilt crept into her mind as she realized how much she had been focused on love instead of her true goal. Now her guardian had come back to remind her what was important. “I’m going to be Queen,” she said.

  She expected him to say, “And I King,” but all he did was smile wider. “Yes, yes you are.”

  Lenna lay with her head in Marco’s lap until he said, “You want to go now, don’t you?” She nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll come with you.”

  Her excited energy pushed her up and she bounded to the door. She opened it slightly and said to the guards, “Call a council meeting. We will be there shortly.” She ran back to kiss Marco and dressed in her dressing room as he got up to do the same.

  Once ready, Lenna took his hand and led him down to the council room, trying to contain herself. When they walked into the room with the huge table, all her advisors congratulated them. She slipped into her chair at the head of the table and motioned for Marco to do the same. Vince Alton scanned her as if gauging how much longer he would be regent.

  It’s time.

  “I think you all know that it is time,” Lenna said.

  No one looked surprised, but sighs escaped a few of them, and they tried to cover it up with noises or coughs.

  Lenna smirked. “First of all, I would like to mention that there has been no sign of Grace’s ‘backup’ whatsoever.”

  One advisor leaned forward. “But that doesn’t mean—”

  “They’re not coming! No one is going to do anything to you if you crown the rightful queen! She’s bluffing.”

  “Your Highness, the note…”

  “The note,” Lenna yelled before grounding herself with Marco’s face, “means nothing. The woman behind it is dead, and if she had anyone behind her, they are weak without her cover. Do you see Prince Marco sitting across from me? Have you seen his family and heard of Elawar? Do you think he is someone who would let us get attacked by petty bullie
s?”

  Everyone looked to Marco, who nodded and smiled at them. No one objected.

  “It has been too long since this country has had a ruler. You all know Ollivan won’t become King, you’re just too scared to accept it. I am your better—and only—option. I am strong, I am capable, and I am married to someone who is the same.”

  They had to know she was right.

  Vince said slowly, “Devon Stantio, though no longer an advisor, was a trusted member of Parliament for years. He always sang your praises. I think that says something, especially considering he was only dismissed after trying to protect you.”

  Marco looked uncomfortable, and Lenna had to ignore that to smile at Devon’s impact.

  “I would like to sing my praises as well, if that’s all right,” Marco said.

  Vince motioned for him to continue.

  “You all know the strengths Princess Lenna possesses,” he said. “Ambition. Determination. A great love for her country. I could try to prove myself to you as her husband, but knowing her should be enough. If she is too intense for your liking, I’d like to remind you that she is twice as strong as all of you put together, and it must be channeled somewhere. Beyond your fear of something you can’t control, you know she will be the perfect queen, and I will be there to support her. Now, if that isn’t enough to coax a decision out of you, I heard there were some other methods the Princess planned to use that I would be happy to implement.”

  Marco was tall and burly, making him more threatening than her even while sitting. An elder began to raise doubts but was silenced by Marco’s deadly look.

  “So, what will it be?” Marco clasped his hands on top of the table.

  Lenna did the same, and husband and wife trapped the nervous advisors from opposite ends of the table.

  Vince ran his hand over his balding head and said, “All right… All in favor of Princess Lenna becoming Queen, now with Prince Marco by her side? Of ignoring the threats that come with it and abandoning the idea of Ollivan Greyor ever becoming King of Haeden?”

  All of their hands went up, most only part of the way, some shaking.

  Lenna leaned back in her chair. She smiled widely at Marco, and he did the same. “Perfect,” she said. “That’s what I thought. I was thinking the coronation should be held tomorrow.”

  Several advisors nodded numbly.

  You are the true queen and you will squash any doubts.

  Lenna clapped her hands once, satisfied. “Dismissed, then?”

  “Dismissed,” Vince said.

  Lenna stood, and Marco followed her out of the room.

  ○○○

  A happy voice and musical sounds danced around Lenna’s mind as she sat on her throne. The room was empty, but it didn’t feel that way. She closed her eyes and absorbed the pride, the euphoria.

  She was not present in the room, so she didn’t notice Devon until he tapped her shoulder. She jumped, and he apologized profusely. “It’s okay,” she told him. “What do you need?”

  “I figured I would speak to you about becoming Queen, if that’s all right. I know I’m not your advisor, but I can’t imagine anyone else will be of much help. I think they’re scared of you.” Devon smiled shyly.

  Lenna’s smile spread wider than his. “Yes, I think you’re right.”

  “And anyway, there are things they wouldn’t think to say.”

  “Like what?”

  Devon looked at her, trying to choose his words carefully.

  She said, “What? What is this about?”

  He rubbed the bridge of his nose and looked away. “You have to be careful around Marco… You shouldn’t have married him in the first place. I told you that from the beginning—”

  Lenna scoffed. “It’s a little late to worry about that.”

  Devon looked at her sadly. “Lenna, I know that. I-I only meant to tell you to be careful.”

  Lenna studied his face and remembered Marco’s jealousy. “What, you think I should have married you? You think I wouldn’t have to be careful around you?”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “Then what is it? Why do you distrust him so much? Why do you distrust me?”

  “I don’t distrust you, Lenna…. I… You’re right, it’s too late. It doesn’t matter.” He looked exhausted. “Is there something you want to talk about?”

  “Devon, you came to me. What did you want? Because if it was to talk about Marco, that was a pretty sad attempt.”

  Devon sat on the floor in front of the throne and pushed his glasses up. “No, that wasn’t… Um… Your coronation. That was it.”

  “Okay then.”

  “It will be a fairly short process. Every castle resident will be there, as expected. Your advisors will stand closest to you. A speech will be read, and then you and Marco will both be crowned. So I guess there’s not as much to say as I had thought… Do you have any questions about it?”

  Lenna sighed. “Why are you really here? I don’t need to know that everyone will be at my coronation and a crown will be placed on my head. What did you actually want to say about Marco?”

  Tension built as Devon silently cleaned his glasses. When he put them back on, he said, “Come to me when things don’t work out with him. I’ll help you no matter what.”

  “I knew it. You’re counting on that, huh? You want my marriage to fall apart so I can be with you?”

  “No,” Devon said firmly. “That’s not what I want. What I want is for you to have a friend to go to if you’re in trouble.”

  He put his hand near hers on the arm of the throne, and Lenna moved hers away.

  “I think it would be best if you didn’t go around thinking I’m going to come to you when my marriage fails. It’s misleading.”

  Devon’s face looked beaten down. “I won’t count on it, but you should keep me in mind. As your friend. I’m only trying to protect you.”

  Lenna didn’t need Devon to look out for her or judge her relationship. And if he had motives besides keeping her safe, his opinion was pointless anyway. Her marriage was more than safe—it protected her. It raised her up. She knew it was right because it felt like home. Because he had stood up for her in the council meeting and let her become Queen. Because the peace she felt from her guardian when she was with him was the best thing she had felt in a long time.

  Thirty-Nine

  The bright gold crowns embellished with red jewels looked heavy on their pillows. That’s exactly how Lenna imagined hers would feel sitting on her head. She squirmed in her throne. She had been longing to feel that weight for so long, and now it was right in front of her.

  Marco patted her hand from where he sat on his throne. She wanted to ramble on and tell him how excited she was, but many eyes watched her, so she tried to sit still and look graceful.

  Reeve Anselet would once again be the head of the ceremony.

  “I believe we are ready to begin,” he said after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. He clapped once and excited murmurs turned into complete silence. Lenna had no idea if the people of the castle were excited for her in particular; it was surely exciting whenever someone new took the throne, especially right after a wedding, and even more so after not having a ruler at all for a stretch. It was a change. People liked change. It gave them something to think and talk about. But she hoped that most of it was about her.

  They love you. You will rise far above them, far above the world, and they will only love you more.

  Lenna took it all in—the grand throne room, the delighted faces, her supportive husband, the polished crowns. It was everything she dreamed of, and almost overwhelming. Her head filled with a sound like the indistinct, vivacious voices from the crowd. She could pick out, It is time, it is time, it is time. We’ve made it, we’ve made it, we’ve made it.

  Reeve cleared his throat and looked at Lenna and Marco. “Ready to begin?”

  “Yes, we’re ready,” Lenna said.

  Reeve glanced at Marco, who smiled, the
n nodded once and motioned for them to stand on either side of him. They did so, bringing them right in front of the crowns. Lenna was tempted to reach out and touch hers.

  So close. So close. Can you feel it?

  Her guardian’s previously frantic energy had settled into a feeling of relief and wonder.

  Instead of reaching out to the crown, she looked from Reeve’s old, haggard face to her husband’s handsomely smiling one, to the happy crowd.

  “As you all know, our Princess Lenna has been waiting some time for this moment.” Some people dared to laugh, and Lenna blushed. Perhaps he was too old to be scared of a girl like her. “Finally, we have granted her this ceremony, as well as Prince Marco. This is, I dare say, one of the most important coronations in recent history. Our people are in trouble—have been for a while—and we are giving these two the responsibility to fix it. They must know that these titles are not given to instill pride, nor to let them to lord their power over the rest of us. They exist to name someone to protect the kingdom and make it thrive.”

  And you will do it, little one. You will change the whole world. Your ancestors will be proud.

  “But I digress. Of course these two will make wonderful rulers. I believe they plan to fix the kingdom, and they will. If I did not believe that, I would not be standing here.”

  She saw Reeve shift his feet and take a deep breath; it was almost unnoticeable. She felt a twinge of anger in her gut but pushed it down. He would see. All those who doubted her would see.

  “And I’d like to think, also, that you are all gathered here today because you believe the same thing. I know it has been a long time since we had a true ruler who was capable of looking after the kingdom. Our previous queen struggled, as we all know.” He bowed his head for a moment. “So at the very least, you should be excited to finally have a capable king and queen who will take her place and honor their ancestors’ work.”

  Lenna’s stomach jumped. There was that idea of ancestors again. They weren’t important. It was only her now. The kingdom was only hers.