Chapter 299 What You Want
ADRIANA
I waited until the room had absorbed what I’d said before I continued.
There was a specific quality to courtroom silence that told you whether your words had landed or whether they’d been absorbed and would be quietly set aside the moment you stopped talking. This was the first kind — the silence that meant things were being reconsidered, positions quietly re-examined, the kind that made people very careful about what they said next.
Elder Peter was not careful enough.
“My Queen,” he said, rising carefully, “I don’t believe there’s any — that is to say — the council has no issue with the Crown Prince on the basis of his — we simply—”
“Elder Peter,” I said pleasantly. “How many times have you and your colleagues raised questions about Leo’s right to the throne since his existence became publicly known?”
He went slightly pink.
“I’ve lost count as well,” I said. “But I haven’t forgotten a single occasion. And now, when a boy arrives who shares the King’s blood but has none of the preparation, none of the training, none of the years of commitment that Leo has demonstrated — this council is suddenly very interested in making sure the succession law is followed to the letter.” I looked at him directly. “That is called hypocrisy, Elder Peter. And I want it stated for the record.”
Elder Martins cleared his throat. “My Queen, we understand your position. However, by the strict interpretation of succession law—”
“The strict interpretation of succession law,” I said, “also states that the King’s formally recognized heir takes precedence over a biological claim that has not been previously established or acknowledged. It also states that the King retains the authority to name his heir within specific parameters, which the King has done.” I looked at Elijah. “You’ve stated your position. Make it formal.”
Elijah leaned forward. “For the record of this court — Leo is my heir. His position is established and acknowledged by the Crown. That is my formal statement and it is final.” He looked at the council. “Is there any legal ground remaining to contest that?”
The Elders consulted with each other in the low, rapid murmur they used when they were trying to find an angle and not finding one. I watched them and held Lana against my chest and kept my face completely neutral.
“No, My King,” the Chief Elder said finally. “The succession is established.”
“Good.” Elijah sat back. “Now. Lucien’s situation.” He paused, and I could see him choosing his words with care. “He is my son. I won’t pretend otherwise and I don’t intend to. He grew up without a father through no fault of his own and that is something I intend to address as honestly as I can.” He looked at Simone directly for the first time in the session. “I will be a father to him in every practical sense that a father can be. He will be cared for and acknowledged and given what he needs. But he is not the heir and that will not change.”
Simone’s expression had shifted across the session from performed confidence to something more genuine — something that was still fighting but had started to understand the shape of what it was fighting. She looked at Elijah for a long moment after he spoke.
“And where does that leave us?” she said. “Where do we go from here?”
“That depends partly on you,” I said. I kept my tone even, not unkind but not warm either. “Lucien can remain in this house. He’s a child who did nothing to deserve being a piece in whatever this was arranged to be, and I won’t punish him for his mother’s choices.” I held her gaze. “You, Simone, will make different arrangements. The annex is temporary. You’ll be given assistance in finding appropriate accommodation and you’ll have access to Lucien within terms we’ll discuss separately.” I nodded slowly. “What happens next depends on whether you decide to cooperate with those terms or whether you continue to fight for things that are not going to change.”
Simone looked at me for a long moment. Then she looked at Lucien beside her.
He was looking at his hands. He had been looking at his hands for most of the session. When he felt my eyes on him he looked up, and I saw in his face exactly what Elijah had described — a young man who genuinely didn’t know what to make of any of this, who had been brought here by his mother with what I suspected was a much simpler version of events than the reality, and who was now sitting in a formal courtroom watching a succession crisis play out around him and clearly wanted to be anywhere else.
He had Elijah’s jaw. Up close, in the proper light, it was unmistakable.
“You have your son here,” I said to Simone, more quietly. “He’s confused and he’s uncomfortable and he doesn’t know what’s happening. Stop fighting for things that were never going to be and start thinking about what actually helps him.”
She looked at me with something that was not quite anger and not quite acknowledgment.
“My King,” the Chief Elder said carefully. “Is there a final ruling for the record?”
“Leo is the heir. Lucien is acknowledged as the King’s son. The details of his arrangement will be handled privately.” Elijah looked at the room. “This matter is closed for formal court discussion. Dismissed.”
People moved. The Elders gathered their things with the specific efficiency of people who were going to have extensive conversations once they were out of earshot. Simone said something to Lucien that I couldn’t hear and he nodded without looking up.
I caught Lucien’s eye as I rose.
“Are you all right?” I said.
He blinked. He clearly hadn’t expected me to speak to him directly. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It’s going to be strange for a while,” I said. “Probably strange for longer than a while. But you don’t have to figure it all out today.” I looked at him for a moment. “What do you actually want? Not what your mother wants, not what the Elders want. You.”
He was quiet for so long that I thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then he spoke barely above a whisper. “I just wanted to know who my father was.”
I held his gaze for a moment. “Then you have that,” I said. “The rest can wait.”
I went to find Elijah.