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Teagan Gentry had been her best friend since primary school. They’d met at age five when Elizabeth was shy and knew she was different than the rest of the kids. Teagan had been outgoing and befriended her when no one else would. They’d grown up together after that.

Elizabeth walked around the kitchen first, figuring that would be the room that least had to do with Teagan, who never cooked, but then she saw a picture of Teagan and herself on the refrigerator, and she had to go into the living room instead. There, she found furniture that also reminded her of Teagan. Alex’s bookshelf next to the TV contained a photo of him with his wife on their wedding day, along with every book he’d ever read. The tears began in earnest as she made her way down the hallway, skipping the guest bathroom, bedrooms, and linen closet and heading to the other two bedrooms in the house instead.

They’d gotten married at least in part because Alex never wanted to come out to their parents or the country. One of their cousins had come out publicly, and for all his positive traits, their father wasn’t exactly waving a pride flag. When their cousin’s news wasn’t taken very well, Alex decided to keep his own sexuality to himself. Being only three years older than both Elizabeth and Teagan meant he’d also spent a lot of time with Teagan growing up. Teagan knew who he was and agreed to marry him all the same. As a result, they’d slept in separate beds, and oftentimes, Alex spent nights outside the manor with men he trusted. It was an arrangement that worked for everyone. Well, it worked foralmosteveryone.

“I’ve laid the items I’d like to keep for myself on one of the beds. Everything else can be donated or kept in the archives,” Elizabeth said, exiting the house.

“Yes, Ma’am.” The staff member nodded.

Elizabeth was driven back to the palace in her bulletproof car, led by another bulletproof car, and followed by yet another one in an attempt to disguise which car she could be in. For weeks now, security had been tighter than even she imagined it would be. She also wondered if it was worth it all. Maybe the countryshouldbe without a monarchy. Parliament ran the nation. The Prime Minister was in control. What was the point? What washerpoint? If she found a way to give it all up, wouldn’t it make a lot of people happy? Then, Elizabeth realized. If she gave this up, she’d be giving in to the people who killed her family; who tried to end her line. She’d be giving them exactly what they wanted, which wasn’t fair. Therewerepeople in this country who supported the monarchy. She would be the Queen they needed, the Queen they deserved.

???

“Rebecca, this is too much. I said simple.”

“I know, Ma’am. It’s still a coronation. It must be fit for a Queen.”

“It’s disrespectful.”

“It’s not, Ma’am. This is what happens: when one monarch dies, another succeeds him or her. This coronation is as much a celebration of your father’s life as it is of your succession. It’s a way to show the nation we are strong, and the monarchy will survive even in the most troubling of times.”

Elizabeth turned to her private secretary and asked, “You’ve always been a strong proponent of the monarchy, haven’t you?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“May I ask why?”

“You never have before,” Rebecca replied.

“I know.”

“May I sit, Ma’am?”

“Yes, Rebecca. Sit down.” Elizabeth patted the spot on the sofa next to her. “We’re alone now. You can call me Lizzy.”

“It’s hard to remember to go back and forth sometimes.” Rebecca chuckled a little. “Your grandmother Louise was the patron for two institutions that benefitted my family. The St. Rais Cancer Society saved my mother’s life when she was a child and had leukemia. The Wesley Rehabilitation Center saved my older sister Chelsea when she was struggling with drugs and alcohol. The monarchy isn’t just a family of figureheads – it’s an institution that supports the nation, not the other way around.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Rebecca’s phone rang. She stared at the readout for a second and then looked up at Elizabeth.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I thought I set it to silent.”

“It’s okay. Do you need to get it?”

“No, it’s not important.”

“Rebecca, I know this isn’t exactly the best time, with everything that’s going on, but if I wanted to get away and just go somewhere with light, and I meanlight, security, would that be possible?”

“I don’t think so. You know how things are right now.”

“I do. And I don’t want to put myself or Victoria at risk, but I need some space. This place is suffocating me.”

“Where would you go if Icouldarrange it?”

“School.”

“Lizzy, you can’t go back to school right now.”