Page 98 of Duty and Desire

May 27

Nick

I walked slowly behind the royal wagon carrying the two coffins, followed by the visiting dignitaries, the Prime Minister, and members of the cabinet. Franz was a few feet behind me on my right, watchful as always.

Karoline was on my left, her gaze trained on the wagon, black ribbons in her hair, her long black coat stirred by the breeze.

The streets were lined with people who stood in silence, three-deep in places, their heads bowed as the funeral procession passed by.

And somewhere toward the rear were Claudia and Gio.

During the service, I’d wanted them close to me, but I’d been informed that was against protocol.

It was a word I was starting to loathe.

The air became still as we reached the cemetery, and we passed through its stone gates, more people lining the narrow paths that wound through the quiet green space, punctuated by headstones.

The Royal mausoleum stood at the end of the path, an imposing edifice in black marble.

One day I will be laid to rest in there.

I stood still as the pallbearers carried the coffins into the darkinterior. I didn’t want to watch them being lowered into huge stone caskets, to see heavy stone lids moved into place, sealing them in the dark forever.

When the door was sealed once more, I expelled a long breath.

And that’s that.

I’d done my duty. It was time to leave the dead in their resting place, and return to the living.

To my father’s legacy.

It wasn’t a destination I looked forward to.

“After such a somber event, the ball will be a welcome change,” Karoline murmured beside me.

I wasn’t convinced holding a ball even a week after the funeral was in good taste, but I’d acquiesced to the wishes of the Prime Minister, who’d reminded me this was a royal tradition after a death. Attendees were to dress in bright colors, with no sign of black, not even a tie.

The people need to see that life goes on, Your Majesty.

Theirlives, maybe.

Mine was about to take a backwards step.

Karoline cleared her throat. “Your Majesty, I know I said I’d stay for a while, but I learned this morning that my mother isn’t well.”

I did my best to maintain a calm exterior. “Then of course you must go to her. The ball isn’t until the fifth of June. I won’t expect you to return until a day or so before. Take all the time you need.”

All I could think of was that I could be around Gio without the fear of Karoline being in earshot. They hadn’t exchanged words, but then again, Karoline avoided Claudia too.

My future queen doesn’t mingle with the lower classes.It wasn’t an unkind thought, merely the truth.

Her absence meant I could show Gio the rest of the palace, and maybe even a little of Korenz.

The way my mother had shown me.

Chapter Thirty-Two

May 28

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