The Queen's Knight

Aurelia’s POV 

“I blame Brother,” I said to myself, “in case I fail this.”

I knew that wasn't fair. Particularly not when the reason I even had this life so ordinary and simple and so wonderfully anonymous was my brother.

Rowan had amended three royal laws only to allow me to live outside the palace without having to be guarded all the time. Two more to dismiss me from the public service. And even one more to make sure that I could have proper freedom of my education and my life choices.

Because I asked.

He loved me to the extent that he could give me freedom when the council said he was not supposed to.

I smiled a little over the thought of him rising to his feet at that council meeting years ago and addressing a roomful of stiff-necked councilors:

“She is entitled to a life of her own. Not to the crown.”

I loved him for that.

I adored that although he wore a crown on his head, Rowan was still my crazy, loving, considerate elder brother.

My telephone was vibrating on the table.

I looked at the screen, hoping to see a reminder message or possibly an email about exams.

Rowan - Incoming Call

I blinked once. Twice.

 Attempting to sound less stressed and more alive, I breathed in and responded.

"Rowan?"

Rowan, with his warm voice, was saying "Aurie" in my ear, and it immediately relaxed my shoulders. You are drowning in notes again?

My lips were pulled into a small involuntary smile. "Define drowning."

 "You haven't slept, have you?"

 "Define slept."

He chuckled. The music surrounded me as though it were my blanket. We spent the next several minutes in the catch-up session, discussing my university classes, the terrible food at the cafeteria, my roommate who snored like a dragon with a malfunctioning engine, and the cat that had taken over my balcony.

 Then he changed the subject, as he always did in cases when he wanted to check on my mental well-being.

 "Are you eating properly? Drinking water? Going outside? Talking to actual humans?"

 "Rowan... I am literally in the middle of studying.

 "Studying," he replied, "is not socialization."

I rolled my eyes fondly. I like the worry, Your Majesty, but I am not dead. Mostly."

 He hummed thoughtfully. “One day you will not be able to run away from your court duties.”

I laughed. "No. Absolutely not. I turned my back on that life just as I had turned my back on lactose.

 "You love cheese," he said to me.

"I said what I said."

 He sniffed, but there was a change in his voice. The lightness faded. The silence stretched.

Gradually I dropped my pen. "Rowan... what's wrong?"

 He exhaled, long and heavy. There is something that I have to tell you.

 My stomach tightened. I leaned straight in my chair. "Okay."

 More silence.

Then:

 "I... I've fallen in love."

 My eyes widened, then lit up. "Rowan! That's amazing! With whom? Which kingdom? Wait—does I like pastries? You have to like pastries, because you--

"I's a commoner." 

The excitement of I died away. "Oh."

I swallowed hard. "Rowan, you know the law. You can't—"

 "I know," he said quietly. "I know better than anyone."

 My heartbeat stumbled. I sat back in my chair and held the phone more firmly. "So, what are you going to do?"

 Another long pause.

 "I have made my decision," he said, steadily but softly. "I'm choosing her."

 I stopped breathing.

 "...Choosing her how?" I whispered.

Then followed the sentence, which broke it all: "I'm abdicating the throne."

 My pen dropped out of my hands and fell on the floor. "You... you're WHAT?"

 "I'm stepping down."

 "Rowan—no! You're the king! You cannot-- you cannot leave a whole kingdom because--

 "Because I'm in love?" He finished quietly. "Auri... I'm not asking for permission."

 My throat contracted in agony. I threw myself aside and stood pacing.

 "You're not thinking clearly. The council will riot. The aristocrats will go crazy. The palace will-- Rowan, you cannot do this!

 "Yes," he said, "I can."

I threw a hand to my forehead. "Okay. Okay. Then who is to be crowned when you are going aback? There must be one who comes behind. Another noble? A distant relative? Anyone?"

The following thing Rowan said was a punch right to my stomach.

"You."

I stopped walking.

"...Me?"

"You're the rightful heir. Always have been."

"No, no," I said, shaking my head. "No, Rowan. I have not been staying in the palace for many years. I don't attend ceremonies. I do not even recall half of the names of the court officials! I'm not trained. I'm not ready. I am studying to take exams, not to govern a country!

 "You'll learn," he said gently.

 "Rowan, please—don't do this."

 "It is done," she said. "I, it is already done. The paperwork is signed. The council has been informed. A formal summons will be sent to you.

 I slowly sat down, with the ground tilting me.

"Why didn't you warn me?"

 "Because I knew you'd try to run."

 "I would have!" I snapped.

"Exactly."

 My eyes burned. "Rowan... don't leave me with this. Never leave me alone in that palace again.

His voice cracked. "You won't be alone. I promise."

Then, softly:

 "I'm sorry, little sister."

I could not answer; I could not justify myself or plead with him to forget all—

--He ended the call.

 The silence that succeeded was deafening.

I stood and looked at my phone with my heart racing and my breath coming out in uneven gulps. My silent, quiet, secret life--gone. Broken down by one conversation.

 "No," I whispered. "This can't be real. He didn't just make me queen. He didn't—"

 My telephone rang once more—loud, sharp, and cutting through my whirling thoughts.

 My hand was shaking, and slowly I raised it.

Unknown Number - Calling

I gulped, hardly able to breathe, and replied.

"Hello..." I said shakily. "Who is this?"