The King's Mistress

Chapter 204: Dilemma

Over the next few weeks, the Kingdom of Cair began to recover from its dark times. Under Sierra’s temporary leadership, kingdom affairs were all well taken care of. With the help of the Bancroft family, and the others who’d pledged their loyalty, things were lightening up.

However, the question of succession to the throne remained a heated debate. Sierra remained undecided for days, uncertain of the next step to take. She had been in talks with all the noble families who survived the reign of the usurper Cedric.

She even consulted her father in private. Still, she could not make up her mind. After three days, Alistair had to return to Drakin to take care of some affairs. He’d already spent a long time on the road and in Cair.

He could not stay a day more. She did not even get the chance to ask his opinion on the matter.

But there was one thing Sierra knew for certain, the consequences of the decision she made would affect a plethora of things.

"How’s Felicity doing?" Sierra asked Lady Linette, who’d taken the former princess under her wing.

Sierra met Lady Linette in one of the drawing rooms for tea.

"She’s doing well," Lady Linette reassured her, "Now I know what you’re going to ask and her answer remains the same, Sierra. She doesn’t want the crown. She’d much rather it went to you."

"But..." Sierra pursed her lips as she closed her eyes and let out a sigh. freewebnøvel.coɱ

She picked up the teacup, secretly wishing for a glass of whiskey instead as she took a sip.

"What’s so bad about becoming Queen?" Lady Linette mused. She could not understand why Sierra seemed so against it.

"I..."

"If this is about the status you’d be in when you returned to Drakin, have you considered not returning at all?"

Sierra looked at her, stunned by her words.

Lady Linette saw the look in her eyes. She leaned back in her seat, chuckling to herself.

"Love truly is blind, is it not?"

Sierra smiled, "It is indeed."

"Well, talk it out with him. I’m sure you can both figure something out. If that’s the only thing stopping you from taking the position, I’m sure it did be an easy fix."

"It’s not my only concern," Sierra sighed as she looked down at her teacup.

She’d seen and heard of what royal duties required of her. She shared her woes with Lady Linette. She worried that the people would not follow her. The Kingdom of Cair needed stability above all else in the years to come.

"My father would be much more suited for the role," She sighed.

Lady Linette placed her hand on Sierra’s, "My younger brother would indeed be a solid choice. I have no doubt in my mind that should you ask the lords and ladies of our kingdom to give him their support, they would do so.

But have you stopped to wonder why they want you to take up the position? Have you wondered why your father wants you to take the throne and not him?" ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Sierra paused in thought for a moment. She shook her head in response to her question.

"Because you represent the future of the kingdom. Sierra, none of us are getting any younger. How many more years do we have ahead of us? Amongst all of us, who’d seen the world beyond our borders more than you have?"

"But if I became Queen," Sierra shivered at the thought of it, "and I chose for our kingdom to submit to Drakin, not everyone might like me much then."

"Is that truly the decision you’re going to make?" Lady Linette asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, of course not. Why would we have to submit to them and join their empire."

Lady Linette chuckled, "Do you not see why you’re the best candidate out of who we had left."

"But my lineage. I’m not a noble by blood, I..."

"You were an orphaned child, taken in by the leader of the Bancroft House. You were brought up on Cair’s soil. You fought your way through a camp of men to prove your worth amongst them. You are intelligent and smart. You led the effort to overthrow the usurper and stayed on to ensure the kingdom got back on its feet.

Sierra, you can’t ignore your accomplishments. You can’t,"

Sierra blushed beet red. She’d never gotten such high praise for everything she did. She was not expecting any of it. The Bancroft Family members weren’t the most talkative either. Needless to say, praises were few and far between.

"You honor me, Lady Linette. I don’t think I deserve such high praise," she replied humbly.

"You know how rare it is for a Bancroft to give such praise. And I mean every word of it," Lady Linette reassured her.

After their tea session, Sierra made her way back to her quarters. She’d been offered the Royal Regent quarters to say, but Sierra could not bring herself to do so. It just did not feel right to her.

Hence instead, she chose to use her room in the Bancroft estate instead. Ida followed silently behind her. As they came up on the estate, Sierra stopped in her tracks.

"Your Grace, is everything alright?" Ida asked anxiously.

She knew there was something on Sierra’s mind for the last few weeks. She had done her best to assist in every way she could. It took time for Ida to adapt to things in Cair, but she did everything to the best of her abilities.

"Ida, what do you think I should do?"

The maid was stunned by the question.

"Your Grace... I don’t think I’m qualified to answer that," she confessed.

Sierra shook her head. She reached out and held Ida’s hands in hers.

"You’re more than qualified. Sometimes you seem to know me better than I know myself," Sierra mused, "I want your most honest opinion on the matter. What do you think I should do?"