Fate's Final Season by Leigh Ann Edwards

Author:Leigh Ann Edwards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781959988816
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2023-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Garbed in black, Rhianwyn walked into the chamber off the great hall where the king and his advisors usually met and important decisions were made. There were only a few men here. The others had been executed for disagreeing with Hankin and Clements.

Oliver sat in the head advisor’s chair. Severin and Winston were here. Broccan and Cassian, too. She didn’t believe knights usually attended meetings with advisors. Not that she knew everything that occurred in the castle. The men stood respectfully. She lifted her black veil.

“Thank you for joining us, Princess,” Oliver greeted her. “You have our sincere condolences.”

She nodded and he pulled out a chair next to him. She tried not to look at Broccan. She’d gone to sleep in his arms and dreamed of him. Damned erotic dreams. She felt her cheeks flush.

“Have you asked me here to inform me you’ll be the new king, Lord Barlow, and that I’m to be sent to God knows where to marry God knows who?”

Oliver grinned. “In truth, we’d like to make a very different proposal, Princess.”

“Go on then.” She was curious to hear.

“Would you like to be queen?” Oliver asked.

She wasn’t expecting that. She held her hand over her mouth. It probably wouldn’t look regal if her jaw dropped.

“There’s never been a ruling queen in this kingdom,” Rhianwyn said.

“Don’t you think you could do better than Hankin?” Oliver asked, eyebrow raised.

She rolled her eyes. “A village idiot could do better than Hankin. But the people wouldn’t accept a queen ruling over them. Most would believe women incapable or untrustworthy.”

Oliver shook his head. “I believe they would if she had the support of the advisors, the sheriff, the grand cross, and his knights.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear. “People do take heed of Severin and his knights and respect you as sheriff, Winston,” Rhianwyn mused.

“You’re an intelligent woman, Lilliana,” Cassian offered with a grin. “A little manipulative and underhanded. You’d make a fine queen.”

Was that a compliment?

“I believe a woman might be more liable to listen to the people,” Broccan said, “and perhaps better empathize with their plights.”

Rhianwyn considered that Lilliana might revel in being queen. Elspeth, too, if she ended up living Lilliana’s life. Selena, probably wouldn’t, yet she’d learned to be princess remarkably fast and had excelled.

Rhianwyn looked at Oliver. “May I request my own advisors?”

There was a rumble amongst the men, muffled comments. A few shook their heads.

“Would I be free to take a husband of my choice?”

“You could perhaps pick some of your own advisors,” Severin suggested rubbing his chin.

“You’d certainly have a say in who you wed if it was someone who’d be seen as suitable for a queen’s husband.” Oliver looked serious.

“So long as you didn’t choose the village idiot,” Cassian snorted.

She smiled. A little humor was welcome, even in dire times or maybe especially then.

“Who would you name as advisors?” Broccan asked.

“I’d have to think on it, but probably Friar Drummond, for he’s wise and caring. I’d name some female advisors, too. Perhaps Radella and Rhianwyn.

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