Page 2 of A Royal Obligation
Barrett turned his attention to the dishes being set in front of him. He would not let his brother win by getting a rise out of him.
As the staff served their food, King Henry cleared his throat. “Barrett, I invited Lady Charlotte for dinner this evening.”
Barrett nearly spit his soup out. He opened his mouth to protest, but the king held up a hand to stop his rebuttal.
“Not to worry, she can’t make it. She was busy helping with the opening of a children’s center in Findorra. You really should reach out to her soon. You need to start courting someone. I’m not getting any younger, and you could do a lot worse than Charlotte. You know the law.” He raised his eyes to meet Barrett’s with a stern, knowing gaze.
Barrett gulped. Article 2, Section 17.To continue the royal lineage, the king’s successor must be married to ascend the throne as King of Wistonia.The individual the royal heir marries must be of royal standing.If the king’s successor is not married when the residing king becomes deceased, the King’s Council will rule for a period of ninety days. If the Crown Prince does not marry within the allotted ninety-day period, the next married royal heir in line will ascend the throne.
Basically, one needed to be married to someone royal to take the throne.
“As you both know, the Royal Council who created this law centuries ago believed that two people ruling Wistonia side by side were stronger than only one. They felt strongly about this, so much so that the law explains in detail how a queen and king are two separate halves of a whole. Men are like the wind and women are like the water; one roaring and mighty, the other nurturing and swift. A kingdom needs both to stand strong.”
Barrett and Liam exaggeratedly mouthed the ending of their father’s words with him. Their father had ingrained the laws of Wistonia in them from a young age. The part about the wind and the water had been Barrett’s favorite when he was a child—it was the closest thing he ever got to a bedtime story from his father.
Although this information had been embedded in Barrett’s brain since he was old enough to understand what being the Crown Prince of Wistonia meant, the idea of marriage still sent a shiver up his spine. His breathing strained, as if a tight fist clamped around it. Laws he could understand. A bride and a lifetime of happiness were less easily promised. Despite the uncertainties, Barrett always knew he would one day have to take the plunge and marry as a part of his duty to his country. But love might never be in the cards for him.
If the kingdom was a betting one—and it had taken many polls through the years that the king made certain Barrett saw—the people would pair him with Lady Charlotte of Findorra. Barrett and Charlotte had been born only one year apart in bordering countries, so their suitability for each other was something everyone in the news gossiped about incessantly. However, there was never a promise of betrothal between them. Barrett always had friendly conversations with Charlotte at events, but never explored their relationship beyond that.
The way Barrett saw it, there was still plenty of time to find a bride before he would ascend the throne.Why get married before it’s absolutely necessary?He wasn’t exactly against the idea of marriage—he grew up with parents who loved each other deeply—but he was more interested in focusing on his studies and preparing himself with the knowledge needed to be a good king.
He did need to be married to become king, but surely he would be able to find a suitable bride when it was time. He was only twenty-eight; there was no need to rush matrimony. Getting married right now would be too much of a distraction.
“I understand the law. But do you really think a small family dinner is the best way for me to get better acquainted with Lady Charlotte? I promise I will get to know her when the time is right. But I don’t see the sense in rushing things right now.” Barrett’s brows furrowed as they always did when he was trying to make a point.
A laugh escaped from Liam. “You really better hurry up. You don’t exactly have women lining up at the door for you, so you better snag one before your hairline recedes even more.” He raised an eyebrow in contest.
Barrett allowed himself to roll his eyes this time and huffed at Liam. “At least I haven’t dated half the eligible royal ladies in the surrounding countries. Besides, there are many more important things to worry about as the future king of Wistonia than finding love.”
Liam slammed the butt of his fork into the table as his mouth pulled into a sharp line. “Dancing with women at balls doesn’t qualify as dating around. You would know that if you actually asked a woman to dance at a ball rather than conversing with all the royal men in the room,” Liam sputtered before a smirk pulled at his lips. “But, who am I kidding? You can’t even form a coherent sentence around a lady. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten the Melanie situation.”
Barrett groaned and rubbed a hand over his face. When he was fourteen, Liam had dared him to approach a duchess a few years his senior named Melanie and ask her to dance. He had accepted the dare and walked over to her with all the confidence in the world before completely choking on his words. Random sounds that sounded nothing like a request to dance sputtered out of his mouth, and Melanie—and her friends—had laughed in his face.
Ever since then, he clammed up and sounded like a blubbering fool whenever he tried to talk to a woman with any kind of romantic intention. His uneasiness around women was so bad that he had never been on a date or even kissed someone. He had simply stopped trying altogether after the Melanie situation.
“I know that you will never let me forget it,” Barrett muttered under his breath. He shook the memory away and looked at his brother with a confident gaze. “I know that when I am ready to marry, things will work out accordingly. My ideal queen will check all the boxes, including conversing with ease.”
Liam let out a hearty laugh. “It sounds like you have a list of the qualities that make up your perfect woman.”
Barrett swallowed hard and clenched his jaw, his eyes falling back onto his plate.
“Oh, please don’t tell me you actually have a list. That’s pathetic.”
“Enough.” Their father’s voice boomed, holding a tone of authority. “The two of you still bicker like teenagers sometimes.” He rubbed his chest, wincing as he spoke.
“He started it,” Barrett muttered under his breath.
“Oh, real mature coming from the future king,” Liam hissed.
“I said that’s enough.” King Henry paused to take a sharp breath before adding, “Now, let’s please enjoy the rest of our meal in peace.”
Neither of them argued as they resumed their meals in awkward silence. Halfway through eating their now lukewarm potato and leek soup and soggy house salads, a sudden outburst caused Barrett’s spoon to clank against the glass bowl as he jumped. He turned to see his father’s face turning red from a sudden coughing fit. Barrett ignored proper protocol, throwing his dirty spoon onto the table and rushing to his father’s side. He clapped his hand on the king’s back.
“Are you okay, Father? Your cough sounds like it's getting worse.” Barrett’s voice grew husky with concern.
Liam’s eyes drifted from his food to gauge his father’s reaction as well.
King Henry held up a hand signaling the wait staff not to run for help and then took a long swig of the ice water in front of him. “I’m fine, it was just a tickle in my throat. A little cough and chest pain never hurt anybody. Nothing to be concerned about.” He took a deep breath and set the water back on the table.