The King's Bride

Thank You, Mackenzie

The following morning, Jensen is in his study, finishing up his daily meeting with Josh and Mackenzie, both sitting across from him. He will admit that he still pats himself on the back for making the decision to appoint Mackenzie as his High Advisor and Josh as his Military Commander, both of his siblings excelling at their respective positions.

Jensen watches Josh leave, but notices that Mackenzie hasn't moved from her seat, a determined look in her eyes.

-"Is there anything else?"

He picks up a paper from his desk and looks it over, certain that his sister is about to share some piece of gossip she has heard around Court that has nothing to do with her obligations.

-"Just one thing."

-"And that is?" - His eyes don't leave the paper in his hand.

-"That you need to get your head out of your ass, brother."

-"Excuse me?" - He looks back at her, surprised.

-"You heard me. But in case you're having trouble hearing today, I'll say it again. You need to get your head out of your ass." - She smirks at him.

-"Care to explain?" - He places the paper back on the desk, his focus now entirely on her.

-"Look, I get that you're pissed at father for forging a marriage agreement without consulting you first and you have every right to feel that way, but... Everleigh had no idea either."

"She found out the day you told her and yet, she has managed to take it with grace and poise, not letting your coldness and dismissiveness get to her, especially when she feels like no one wants her here, yourself included."

"You have to realize that she is to be, not only your wife but your Queen as well, so the least you can do is try and have some sort of relationship with her, whatever that might look like. Otherwise, you'll both be miserable and that won't be good for either of you or for the Kingdom."

Jensen doesn't say anything, just stares at her, thinking that as much as he hates to admit it, his sister is right. Mackenzie stands and starts to leave, before stopping at the door and turning back to him, her hand on the doorknob.

-"Just so you know, her favorite flower is the orchid. I figured you should know something about your future wife and Queen that isn't tainted by your anger at our father."

She leaves then, not looking back at him, closing the door behind her. Jensen leans back on his chair, the paper he was reading now long forgotten, and closes his eyes, thinking that once again Mackenzie is right.

All this time he has been so focused on his anger towards his father that he has completely misplaced his anger onto Everleigh and forgot that she is on the same boat that he is. They were both pushed into a marriage agreement with someone they didn't know.

He should've handled things differently, starting with not letting his anger get in the way of getting to know the woman that will help him rule his Kingdom and will, eventually, be the mother of his children.

Jensen thinks that he needs to do something about this, he needs to do something to try and salvage a possible relationship between him and Everleigh, this is if it's not too late.

He will need to start with an apology, making sure that she knows that he never meant to take his anger out on her and that, if she is willing, he would like to build something between them, whatever that might be, like Mackenzie had said.

But that probably won't be enough. He will probably have to make some kind of grand gesture, something to show her that he really wants to try, but he isn't sure what that might be, since he doesn't know anything about her.

Jensen opens his eyes and looks back to the door, smiling suddenly, an idea already forming, as he thinks "Thank you, Mackenzie.".