my eyes. “Handsome. Not handsome. It is irrelevant. The fact is that he is an idiot masquerading as an intellectual, preaching that the sky is always falling. Ersovia is always on the brink of some disaster that only he can save us from. Never in my life have I ever wished I could vote as badly as I did in the last election.”
She stood, smoothing her dress, and glanced at me. “Have you gotten all your displeasure out now?”
“If only I could. Everyone in this palace except us can vote.” I frowned, taking a step behind her. “I wonder how many of our own people voted for him.”
“We are not supposed to wonder that.”
“Yes, I know. He is the people’s choice, and therefore, I must respect him even if I dislike it. And I very much dislike it.”
“Sometimes, you are almost exactly like your father, and I do not know if it is comforting or terrifying.” She snickered before grabbing her bell and ringing it.
Immediately, the butler stepped inside and bowed his head before proclaiming, “Prime Minister Hermenegild.”
The tall, blond-haired, square-jawed man stepped inside, wearing a pinstriped suit and holding a cane, even though the man had no problem with his legs, nor was this an event that called for it. He placed his hand over his heart, bowing to us both.
“Prime Minister,” my mother said as she extended her hand.
When he kissed it, I knew why she had requested gloves so quickly. It was a tradition to kiss the hand of the queen. However, in these modern times, people avoided doing so by bowing their heads instead. But not Hermenegild—he was a hardcore traditionalist.
“Your Majesty,” he said as if he was trying to seduce my mother. “Your radiance never dulls but grows ever more blinding with each passing day.”
I, the man who loved prose and poets, cringed at his flagrant display of forced and fake chivalry—another trait of noble bastards.
“Adelaar.” He placed his hand over his heart, bowing to me.
I nodded in return, keeping my mouth shut.
“You flatter me, but thank you.” She took back her hand.
He looked back at my mother. “Forgive me for intruding again, ma’am. However, I was just made aware of the Adelaar’s current engagement.”
Current? Did I have a previous one?
“I am honored that you came in person to congratulate me, Mr. Prime Minister,” I said, though I had a feeling that was not his reason, seeing as he did not acknowledge my comment.
“Please, sit.” My mother broke the silence, her voice changing to that softness she always used in public. She stretched her arm for him to take his seat, and he waited for her to do so before he did while I sat in the corner chair away from them both.
“Tea?” she asked him, pointing to the maid at the cart, who walked over and gave a cup to my mother.
“Yes, thank you.” He nodded, accepting it.
“Well, Mr. Prime Minister, what is it that has brought you back to the palace so urgently?” she asked him when the maid left quietly.
“Concern, ma’am.” He looked pained to say it, sitting upward on his seat. “When I was here two days prior for our Wednesday meeting, you made no mention of an upcoming introduction or the Adelaar’s fiancée.”
“I was not aware I was to inform you,” she said in reply.
“Of course, it is not a must. Nevertheless, it has always been done so that a statement could be prepared by Trinity Row. This is to show the unity between the government and the crown. I fear by not allowing us that courtesy, ma’am, it looks as if we, your government, are not in line.”
In the time it took him to come here, he could have put out a statement. However, he chose not to and came to lecture us on the customs our family created.
“I see, and such an oversight shall not happen again, I assure you,” she said in return. “Have you already released a statement?”
His pink lips, glossier than they should have been, formed a thin line before he spoke again. “Ma’am, there are times when the monarchy may not know the impact of their choices on the nation at large. So, the prime minister’s duty is to inform you of them.”
“Mr. Prime Minister, excuse me,” I interrupted. “I thank you for your consistent attention to the monarchy and what we may or may not be aware of. However, that was not Her Majesty’s question. She asked if you had released a statement?