Ryker shook hands with both of them. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Ginny spoke first. “Thank you for helping Joh... Amalia when she needed it most.”
Amalia winced a little bit. Most people were adjusting to her use of a new name fairly easily, though there were often slips like the one Ginny just made.
“It was my pleasure, I assure you.” Ryker smiled at Amalia. “I’m very glad I was in the right place at the right time.”
“We are, too,” Ginny told him.
The rest of the family walked in before they could say anything else. Amalia’s younger brother and sister, along with their parents and grandmother greeted them all in turn.
She introduced Ryker to all of them as they waited for her grandfather to join them. From the knowing looks, Amalia suspected her parents and grandmother knew about the legal situation, though no one said anything about it directly.
There were a few questions about the things they’d done in Ravenzario, but only surface level ones.
When her grandfather arrived, they all moved to their chairs around the table.
Servers brought in the meal. Amalia found that her late lunch meant most of her meal would likely go to waste. Ryker appeared to have no such problems.
Conversation around the dinner table remained light. It didn’t seem that her younger siblings knew anything about her disappearance or Ryker’s role in anything. They accepted him as her friend. Eventually, her younger brother and sister left while the rest of them gathered in a sitting room for dessert and coffee.
Even as the small talk continued, Amalia could feel the mood in the room change. She suspected Ryker could as well from his continual shifting of his body. Most others likely wouldn’t notice it but given their proximity, she could feel the bouncing of his knee on the ball of his foot and the constant shifting of his cup in his hands.
As even that part of the evening began to wind down, her grandfather cleared his throat.
“I’ve talked to each of you individually about this.” He turned and nodded their way. “Except for you, Mr. Drasil. To my great sorrow, I will need to appear before Parliament and the Council in the next few weeks and legally remove Betlinde as my heir.”
* * *
Of all thepeople in the room, Ryker wondered why he had been included.
The current crown princess stared at her hands, clearly accepting but not happy about the decision.
“You never said why,” Ginny told the king. “I mean, I’m sure it has something to do with me, but what exactly?”
The king took in a deep breath. “You’re aware of who your biological father is, and it is now nearly certain that he had a role in the issue with the visas a few years ago. Given the deep feelings of resentment that continue to surround the tourism industry, it seems prudent. We all know, and likely most of the country suspects at this point, that Isaiah was at minimum emotionally manipulative. However, he remains the culprit of the greatest economic disaster in well over a century. The royal wedding of the lost princess certainly helped, and it’s rebounding but...”
“But I will never have their trust.” Princess Betlinde finished the sentence for her father. “I’m not happy about it. I’ve worked hard for over two decades to prove that I love my country and will always do what’s best for her people. Unfortunately, my father is correct. It is best for her people for me to step aside graciously.”
“Which means you’ll also need a definitive answer from me.” Ginny, nearly the spitting image of their mother, looked sober.
“Yes,” the king confirmed then looked at Ryker and Amalia. “It also means the two of you will need to make some very big decisions, very quickly.”
As he nodded, he realized that Amalia now squeezed his hand. Ryker had no idea who had reached for who, but it seemed a sign that they were in this together.
The king stood with the rest of them following suit. “I know all of you have lots of thoughts and questions, but for now, I think it best that we all retire to our quarters and meet again in a couple of days.”
He left holding his wife’s hand. The other two couples quickly went through different doors. Ryker barely realized when Amalia led him through a small side door he hadn’t seen earlier. Once again, they went a back way to her apartment. He’d always been good with directions and thought he’d have no problem retracing any of the routes they’d taken so far.
Once back inside with the door closed behind them, Amalia headed straight for the only room she hadn’t shown him.
The kitchen.
Wondering what she could be looking for, Ryker followed.
“I don’t have any real food in here,” she told him again. “I do have some drinks though.” She held up a pod. “I prefer the non-instant version, but for now instant will have to do.”
“Coffee?” He moved to stand next to her.
