SEQUEL TO ROYALLY BUMPED || After a whirlwind of a year, Mila Abbott is finally enjoying her life as a princess and mother. As wife to the new first in line to the British throne, Mila is adjusting to juggling royal work and being a mother, and the...
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"When exactly do they expect you to take over?"
"It was two months, so how long now? A week, two weeks? A month?"
I shrug on the video call to Patrick, Dad, and Annie. "I don't know anything right now. Kai's talking to the press officers now. They're releasing the news in half an hour about the King's cancer. I think the plan is to announce that and nothing more for now. They're just sorting out what else to say."
"Are you releasing the pregnancy news?" Patrick asks.
"I heard it was a possibility."
"Mila, is that what you want?" Dad asks. "Princess and soon-to-be queen or not, your pregnancy is of no one else's concern unless you want it to be."
I sigh. "As much as I agree, I lost all right to that when I fell pregnant with Emma. I've been pictured puking in an Egyptian museum, the rumours were already sparked. It makes sense to balance out the bad news with good news, you know?"
Dad sighs. "If you agree, that's all that matters. Despite your status, sweetheart, you shouldn't be pressured into this."
I smile at my dad. Always one to think about me in all of this and quick to disregard my duty if he disagrees. I love him so much. "Dad, honestly, it's fine. Thank you."
He narrows his eyes. "Hm. I'm watching is all."
Both Patrick and I laugh as the door opens and Kai walks in.
"I better go. I'll phone later. Love you!" I blow them a kiss.
"Bye, Seahorse!" Patrick calls before we all hang up.
I turn to Kai once I pocket my phone. "What's going on?"
He looks stressed; his hair is ruffled where he's been running a hand through it, eyes look slightly pink with dark circles underneath, his shirt has come untucked and he's hastily undone the top two buttons. The sleeves of the shirt are half rolled up, but coming undone there too.
I wish I could ease this for him. If I could, I'd take all the stress away with a swish of a magic wand and a simple spell, but I can't. Magic might happen in the smallest moments of life, but that's because humans give those moments the magic of memory. Magic isn't real, even if we wish it was. That's what makes Disney and fairy tales all the power they have.
For Kai, the very reality of this responsibility has always been in the background, and he's known it because he's seen his dad rule, and seen his late sister dealing with the role we have now. But the very fabric of it has become very real and all at once; we no longer have the value of time on our side.
"The palace is releasing a statement as soon as we decide what to do," Kai says. "They're saying they want to do a joint statement; give the people a good thing with the bad thing—"
