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She didn’t consciously decide to open it but a second later she was reading the extraordinary message sent by a legal expert who’d unearthed a long-forgotten document.
To rule in their own right, future sovereigns must be the child of a member of the House of Prinzenberg and born into a marriage that was celebrated publicly in the Royal Cathedral of Prinzenberg.
Annalena stared, unable to believe what she read. There was more, extolling the importance of giving the public certainty about claimants to the throne.
The lawyer explained there was no doubt the document was real and valid. He’d confidentially checked with the most senior constitutional lawmakers. So, he concluded, he felt it necessary to bring this to His Majesty’s attention, given the current unique situation.
He means you sharing the crown with Benno.
Benno must have consulted the man about his options when she first came to the palace.
She swallowed. Benedikt’s parents had married in the cathedral but hers hadn’t.
This document destroyed her claim to the throne.
Oma had always said her parents had planned to renew their marriage vows in public, at the cathedral. Was this why? Had they known about this decree? Whatever they’d intended, it hadn’t happened because her father had died.
So you never had a claim to the throne.
Oma couldn’t have known that.
Benno’s power-sharing deal, his marriage offer, was based on a lie. Her threat to take the crown from him had been no threat at all.
She pressed a hand to her throat where it felt as if her heart were trying to escape. The whole basis of their marriage was invalid.
Aghast, she looked at the date of the email. Two weeks ago. She slumped back in his chair, disbelieving.
He’d known for a fortnight and hadn’t said a word to her! Why? Annalena’s nape prickled, skin tightening as a chill enveloped her.
So much for trust, for sharing.
She pressed her other hand to her churning stomach. While she’d been reading so much into their improved relationship, Benedikt had kept this from her.
She’d believed their relationship was open and honest.Special. Yet he’d lied by omission.
Lied about something fundamental. For two weeks!
Did Benno, the man who’d inveigled his way into her trust and her heart, truly exist? Or had she imagined him, reading too much into physical intimacy and her husband’s efforts to make their relationship easier? Had he simply been making the best of it? He’d said more than once that sex was their compensation for a dynastic union.
Said too that love was off the table, and after his revelations she understood that love wouldn’t come easily to him. His dysfunctional family had damaged his view of himself and his ability to trust.
Had she let great sex and a little consideration turn her head? Had she confused physical intimacy with real affection? It didn’t seem possible, yet…
She shot to her feet and crossed the room, as far from the email as she could get. Backed up against a bookcase, she wrapped her arms around her middle, fighting shudders as she thought back over the past two weeks.
He’d been more distracted though he’d denied it. Meanwhile he’d encouraged her to devote more time to her scientific work. Her heart had melted when he’d called that work valuable, saying it would be criminal for her to give up her career completely. When he’d suggested a plan to give her more time for that, devoting only a few days a week to royal obligations, she’d rejoiced.
You thought he cared. But maybe it wasn’t that at all. Maybe it’s the first step in…
Separation? Divorce? Unseating her from the throne?
Once she’d have jumped at anything that took her away from royal responsibilities. Now she’d begun to feel pride and satisfaction in some of them, feeling she was contributing to her country. The work stretched her and she welcomed that.
But her husband didn’t need her any more. He encouraged her to spend more time at the research and development centre in Edelforst. It had beenshewho’d hesitated. Because she didn’t want to be away from him, restricting herself to working from the palace except when they visited Edelforst and she’d catch up with her colleagues and Oma.
While you were dreaming of happy-ever-afters and a family with him, he was pushing you away.
Could it be true? Everything rebelled at the idea.