Devrim's Discipline - Brianna Hale Page 0,47
that my family lost everything before the revolution. There are no lands or money to restore to us.”
Beside me, Mama makes a choking nose.
King Anson nods. “Several families were in severe financial straits before the revolution. I’m afraid my parents sorely mismanaged the country. This is my way of beginning to make reparation for their mistakes.”
My mouth falls open. He’s criticizing his own parents? Surely, it was my father, who was mismanaging things, through his gambling. Before I can say anything, the next words out of the King’s mouth blindside me.
“Besides, as Devrim pointed out to me just yesterday, your family is older than even his or mine. Where would the Court be without one of the most illustrious families in Paravel attendance?”
Mama dimples at the King, thanking him for his kind words, while simultaneously trying to grab my hand. I take a small step away from her, determined to find out why the King is being so flattering to one of the oldest, but frankly, least important of the First Families in Paravel, especially after what Mama has done.
“I’m sorry, sir, I still don’t understand.”
King Anson fold his hands in front of him and drops the charming smile. “I want to do things differently. Different to Varga, of course, but also different to the way my parents governed the country. I want the First Families to feel involved in the way the country is run. I understand the two of you were hotel chambermaids under the People’s Republic?”
“We were, sir,” I tell him.
He turns to Mama. “Lady Rugova, I’m hoping that you might agree to sit on an advisory board, I’m putting together, to ensure that hospitality employees have access to any resources they need, during this time of transition, and that they’re subject to fair work practices.”
Mama stares at him, like he’s started speaking Pig Latin. “Oh—yes, sir. Of course. Anything you wish.”
My eyebrows creep up my forehead. Mama is going to have to work? An advisory board is a world away from scrubbing floors, but it wasn’t the way things were done in old Paravel.
And he’s concerned about menial workers. I think I like our new King.
I turn to him with a smile. “What about me, sir? What can I do?”
He eyes me, thoughtfully. “I don’t know, Lady Wraye. What can you do?”
“Not a great deal, as I left school at sixteen.” I think for a moment, remembering the newspapers that have been stacked on our table every day, filled with empty words and gossip. Maybe I can undo some of the damage Mama has caused. “I’ve noticed that there hasn’t been a lot of official communication with the press, except for the Royal Commission being announced. Maybe I could help with that? We could get the papers interested in the good work the First Families are doing for the people of Paravel.”
King Anson smiles. “A press office. A good idea. We should have one of those. I’ll talk to Remus, and you can both expect letters from me very soon.”
Even I find myself smiling and curtsying too much as we back out of the room.
I clutch Mama’s arm in delight as we make our way out of the building. “Not only does King Anson think about the people of Paravel and what they need, but he listened to us as well. I never dreamed that anyone in charge could care about his people like that. He does care, doesn’t he? I wasn’t just imagining it?”
But nothing is going to distract Mama on this most wonderful of days. Her expression is rapturous. “We’re to have our house and fortune restored. The Rugovas truly are a First Family, once more. We can hold our heads up, wherever we go.”
I turn to Mama, channeling my severest Devrim-like frown. “Promise me you’ll take your new position seriously. We’re going to earn what is given to us by the King, and not just attend parties and lie about on sofas all day.”
Mama thrusts her chapped hands at me. “I do remember what it’s like to work hard, thank you very much. Before the People’s Republic, I was deeply involved in charity work.” She wrinkles her nose. “Though, why I’m to sit on an advisory board for unskilled workers, I can’t imagine.”
I think I can. King Anson hopes she’ll understand those who work in the same job that she used to and know what they need. I wonder how many other members of the First Families he’s asked to contribute to the