I focused on the carpet for a moment, needing to steady myself. “But meeting these young men showed me a world beyond the walls that I enclosed myself within. It is only in these past few weeks that I have learned how little I knew about my own country. Budgets and proposals can give me a blueprint of your needs, but it has been seeing you face-to-face that has shown me how much more you are up against.
“As such”—I took a deep breath—“I come before you now to announce that Illéa will become a constitutional monarchy.”
There were gasps and murmurs around the room, and I gave them a moment to settle, imagining those watching at home needed the same consideration.
“Please don’t see this as me shirking my duties. In truth, I know now that I love you too much to attempt to do this job alone. Even with a partner,” I said, peeking over to Eikko and smiling, “it would be far too great for anyone, as has been shown by the young deaths and health issues of my predecessors. I will do my part so that you can do yours.
“For so long now we here in the palace have searched for ways to make your lives better, happier, only to find that there is no way for us to do that. Your lives need to be in your hands. Only then will we see the change so many of you have waited through generations to see.
“I will find a suitable prime minister in the interim, and we will plan to hold proper elections within the next two years. I cannot begin to express how eager I am to see what you have in store for our country.”
“I’m sure there will be many questions and hiccups as we reinvent our country, but please know that we in the royal family are on your side. I cannot govern your hearts any more than you can govern mine. I think it is time for all of us to seek out a brighter and better future.”
I smiled, not feeling fear or anxiety, but a sense of peace. If any of us had stopped worrying about how we looked like we were performing and focused on how we were actually performing, we would have come to this conclusion long ago.
“Thank you so much for your support. For me, for my family, and for my fiancé. I love you, Illéa. Good evening.”
I watched as the lights on the cameras went out, and I stepped off the set to a flurry of shouts. The advisers were angry, obviously, turning to my father and demanding answers.
“Why are you yelling at me, you fools?” he called back at them. “She’s your queen, for goodness’ sake. Ask her.”
I turned to Eikko.
“Are you all right?”
He laughed. “I have never been happier or more terrified.”
“That sums it up pretty well.”
“Hey!” Kile called, with Henri coming up behind him to embrace Eikko. As they began celebrating, I moved away. There was much more that needed to be taken care of.
I elbowed my way past confused and irate advisers, dialing a familiar number on the phone in the back of the studio.
Marid picked up instantly. “What did you just do?” he screamed.
“I uninvited you from any participation in my reign.”
“Do you realize how stupid that was?”
“What I realized was that something perfectly normal completely horrified you a few weeks ago. It makes sense now. Why would you want power in anyone’s hands but yours?”
“If you think this will be the last you’ve heard from me—”
“Indeed I do. For my ear is now closer to my people, so I have no need of you. Good-bye, sir.”
I smiled, positively blissful, now knowing this very important thing: my country could never be taken from me now; I’d happily given it away. My people wanted happiness as much as I did, and I was sure we were all done with people trying to live our lives for us.
“Eadlyn!” Lady Brice called, rushing in to me. “You brilliant, brilliant girl!”
“You’ll do it, right?”
“Do what?”
“Be prime minister. It’s just until we have elections, but still.”
She chuckled. “I’m not sure I’m the best person for the job. Besides, there are—”
“Come on, Aunt Brice.”
For a split second she looked absolutely horrified. Then her eyes swam with tears. “I never thought I’d get to hear those words.”
I reached for her, embracing this woman who’d become one of my greatest confidantes. It was strange because, even though I’d never lost her, holding her now felt a lot like getting something back. Like when Ahren came for the coronation.
“Oh, my goodness, I have to call Ahren!” I exclaimed.
“We’ll add that to the list of things to do. Get engaged, check. Change the country, check. What’s next on the agenda?”
I looked across the room, watching my father shake Eikko’s hand and Mom reach up to kiss his cheek.
“Changing my life.”
EPILOGUE
IT’S A FUNNY THING TO be the product of a fairy-tale romance. It’s another thing to think you might find one yourself. You can read the stories and watch the movies, and you can think you know how it’s all supposed to unfold.
But the truth is, love is as much fate as it is planning, as much a beauty as it is a disaster.
Finding a prince might mean kissing a lot of frogs. Or kicking a lot of frogs out of your house. Falling might mean running headfirst into something you always wanted. Or dipping your toe into something you’ve been scared of your whole life. Happily ever after could be waiting in a field a mile wide. Or a window as narrow as seven minutes.