Chapter 46: The Council of Snakes

The first morning of Serenity's reign did not start with breakfast in bed. It started with a headache.

"Your Highness," the Head Maid knocked on the gilded door at 6 AM. "The Royal Council is waiting. You are late."

Serenity sat up in the massive royal bed. The silk sheets felt cold. Next to her, Jackson groaned, pulling the pillow over his head.

"Tell them to wait," Jackson mumbled. "Or fire them."

"I can't fire the Council, Jackson. They run the country," Serenity sighed, getting out of bed.

She walked to the mirror. The maid helped her into a stiff, formal navy-blue dress. It buttoned up to her chin. It felt suffocating. Like armor.

"Do I look like a Grand Duchess?" Serenity asked.

"You look tense," Jackson walked up behind her, buttoning his cufflinks. He was dressed in a sharp black suit. "Just remember, you own the throne. They are just employees."

---

The Council Chamber was a cavernous room filled with oil paintings of dead ancestors. Around the long oak table sat twelve old men.

When Serenity walked in, the heavy doors boomed shut.

None of the men stood up. They continued talking among themselves, sipping tea.

Disrespect. Pure, calculated disrespect.

Serenity stood at the head of the table. "Good morning, gentlemen."

Slowly, the man at the far end turned. He was Count Hemlock, the Prime Minister. A thin man with a white goatee and eyes like a vulture.

"Ah, the... American girl," Count Hemlock smirked, not bothering to address her by her title. "We didn't expect you to be awake. We assumed you would be busy... playing house."

"I am Grand Duchess Aurelia," Serenity’s voice was icy. "And in this room, you will address me as Your Highness."

"Titles must be earned, child," Hemlock sneered. "You lived your life designing trinkets in New York. You know nothing of politics. Stefan left this country in debt. The treasury is empty."

He threw a stack of financial reports on the table.

"Unless you can magic money out of thin air, you are a Queen of nothing. We, the Council, suggest you sign this power-of-attorney. Let us handle the state, while you look pretty for the cameras."

He slid a document towards her. It was a paper to strip her of all real power.

Before Serenity could reach for it, a large hand slammed onto the document.

Jackson.

He picked up the paper, read it once, and ripped it in half.

Rrrrip.

"Who invited this... commoner?" Hemlock stood up, furious. "This is a closed meeting for Nobility! Guards! Remove this merchant!"

"Merchant?" Jackson laughed. He walked around the table slowly. "Let me introduce myself. I am Jackson Sterling. My net worth is three times higher than the entire GDP of Montbert."

He stopped behind Hemlock’s chair.

"You mentioned the treasury is empty?" Jackson leaned down, whispering in Hemlock's ear. "Who do you think bought your national debt this morning?"

Hemlock froze. "W-What?"

"I wired 2 billion Euros to the Central Bank of Montbert at 8:00 AM," Jackson straightened his tie casually. "Technically, I am your landlord. I pay your salary. I pay for the tea you are drinking."

Jackson placed his hands on the table and glared at the twelve old men.

"Now. My wife is speaking. If any of you disrespects her again, I will foreclose on your estates and turn them into parking lots. Do we understand each other?"

Silence. Absolute silence.

The arrogance vanished from the Council's faces, replaced by fear. Money was a language everyone understood.

Serenity looked at Jackson, trying to hide her smile. She turned back to Hemlock.

"Stand up, Count," she commanded softly.

Hemlock swallowed hard. He shakily stood up and bowed his head.

"My apologies... Your Highness."

"Good," Serenity sat on the main chair at the head of the table. "Now, let's talk about those taxes Stefan raised. We are cutting them by half."

"But... the budget..."

"My husband covers the budget," Serenity smiled sweetly. "Next item on the agenda."

As the meeting went on, Serenity realized that ruling a kingdom was going to be hard. But with a billionaire pitbull by her side, it might just be fun.