Three days remained. Only three days remained till Theodore’s and Emily’s coronation.
He had been awfully busy the past week because his business needed his attention, and he found himself leaving early when Emily was coming to, and returning late enough to find her asleep.
That day, however, he did his best to take care of all relevant business quickly, so as to go to his mate early.
There was no denying the love they shared, but could it withstand distance and responsibilities? He was neither sure nor ready to test that just yet.
He arrived when it was close to 6 pm at the palace.
Her training must have ended, he thought to himself as he went straight to his bed chambers. He didn’t bother knocking and let himself in.
Serena was on a chair while Emily was – from the sound of it – taking a shower.
“Took you long enough,” his sister spat out almost angrily at him.
He frowned then raised an eyebrow in question.
“Emily’s upset, but she’s too stubborn to cry in front of an audience, it would seem,” she let out carelessly.
What happened to his mate for her to want to cry? What could possibly be so wrong? He didn’t recall doing anything as of late, save for his absence. Was that it?
Serena rose to her feet. “Fix it, brother,” she told him earnestly, and he nodded.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Emily had been under the shower for quite some time, crying silently so as not to worry Serena, when the bathroom door opened.
Within seconds, she was pulled back against a chest she only knew too well. His very presence gave her more comfort than she would ever care to admit.
Emily was absurdly upset by a soft reprimand from one of the nobles during her piano learning session.
Really, she had not expected any praise, but she hadn’t bet on her getting reprimanded simply for missing a note – one damned note.
Her nerves were frayed. Theodore had been too busy lately for her. She was becoming lonely. She missed him greatly.
Ergo, when he joined her in the shower and she laid her head back on his chest, almost awkwardly, she breathed out a sigh of relief.
He didn’t do anything except hold her gently to him, until she stopped crying.
He turned off the water, and then helped her out of there before drying her body.
“I love you, dorogaya,” he said simply.
“I love you more,” she let out on a whine. “But it’s too much. I don’t think I can hold my own at the palace.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I am just so… so inadequate,” she let out on a sigh as more tears sprung to her eyes.
“Tell me what you wish for,” he urged her softly.
She sighed anew, “I wish for something that won’t happen sadly enough.”
“Which is?”
“You and me, back at the estate, taking life easily, away from the despicable nobles, and free of the absurd protocol,” she flashed him a bleak smile.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her closer to his still bare body. “Is that truly what you wish for, dorogaya?”
Tears escaped her eyes and she nodded before telling him in between hiccups, “Sadly, I can’t have that.”
His face was grim when she looked at him, his mouth set in a thin line. He was hard to read once again.
“Let’s rest,” he suggested after a while. “Dinner will be served soon.”
She agreed with a nod. “I’m sorry for worrying you and Serena. I don’t know what came over me. I’ll be fine, Theo.”
“Yes, you’ll be fine, dorogaya,” he told her softly before placing a sweet kiss on top of her head.
Two hours later, they were having dinner, surprisingly with no nobles in sight. That was a nice change to Emily.
“So, what pray tell, did you want to discuss with us, son?” The king asked, addressing Theodore once dessert was served. “We have dismissed the nobles as per your request.”
Emily was slightly confused, wondering what he could possibly want to discuss with the king and the queen, and which required the presence of both Liam and Serena – and admittedly her too.
“I want to abdicate the throne,” he announced matter-of-factly, making everyone present suck in a deep breath.
“Do you know what you are saying, son?” The king demanded in a booming voice.
“I am well aware of what I am saying, father,” was his flat response.
“Why?” The queen then asked. “You are clearly not thinking straight. Or else, why do you wish to do such a thing? Is it because of her?”
It didn’t take a genius who this her she was referring to was – Emily of course.
“I have had a lot of time to think this through,” he shrugged his shoulders. “Besides, Liam has always been the most diplomatic one out of us two. He’s a better fit than I. I wasn’t born to rule over the kingdom. I am mostly suited to the battlefield and the boardroom.”
“Must you make me shoulder such a weight, brother?” Liam asked in a soft tone.
“I will be your adviser whenever the need arises,” Theodore tried to compromise, “I will be your eyes and your ears to the outside world. I will also be your most loyal warrior…”
“Nonsense!” The queen barked as her eyes flashed crimson.
Her anger was palpable. Serena, who hadn’t spoken a word, told her softly, “Calm down, mother. You know Theodore enough to know that tone of his. It’s useless to argue with him now.”
But there was seemingly no reasoning with her…
Within seconds, she had flashed next to Emily and was holding a dagger to her neck.