Thrown into Royalty [chicklit romance] [REVISING]

XVI.

A/N: Hi guys, welcome back! So sorry it took me long to update, but I've been pretty busy. Anyway, don't forget to vote and/or comment! It'll mean the world to me. Check out Maeve's outfit for this chapter on my Polyvore page (link in profile) too! xx h

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XVI.

The shrill ringing of the telephone in the suite made me cringe as I was recovering from what had happened. I leaned my palm against the vanity table, taking a seat at the chair. I took a deep breath, picking the phone up.

"Crown Princess speaking." I managed to greet.

"Your Highness," Juliette sighed in relief. "Okay, so I've ran all the results on the country's database about Mr. Nordskov. Do you want it tomorrow or—"

"Tell me now, I'd really like to know." I said shakily, leaning my head against the surface of the vanity table.

She paused, a heavy silence on the other line. "Princess, are you okay? You don't sound... good."

"I'm fine." I gulped. "Just tell me and get this done and over, please."

I could hear her hesitation. "Okay," she gave in. "Well, long ago, in fifteen sixty-seven, the royal Danes and the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein at that time were at war with each other. To end this fight, the King at that time made a treaty with the Duke— if there are no more heirs to the Danish throne, the Duke's family will take over Denmark."

I groaned. "Why did my ancestors make that kind of treaty with them? Oh god. Couldn't the king just strip the Duke of his title?"

"No, Princess," Juliette then explained. "The royals back then depended on nobles since the nobles were the ones who gave them power and supplies. The nobles are currently the equivalent of the government officials. If the king was to strip the Duke of his title, the nobles will turn their backs on the royals, which will mean no supplies to the Danish people. No supplies mean a weak country, and a weak country means an easy target for others who are building empires."

I sighed. "I don't even like this one tiny bit of information right now."

"I understand, Your Highness, and so currently Anton Nordskov is third in succession to the throne. You're the first, while his father who is currently in the hospital after suffering from a severe stroke yesterday is second. He's in critical condition, so it wouldn't be long until Anton Nordskov becomes the next Duke of Schleswig-Holstein." She continued.

"So his father is still living, right?" I confirmed. "Tell the doctors to do anything to keep him alive— Crown Princess's orders. That will at least give me more time to think about my next move."

Juliette grew quiet over the phone after I ordered her to do so. My heart squeezed tighter in worry.

"Juliette? Did you hear me?" I asked.

"Crown Princess...," she finally spoke, "it's too late now."

I frowned. "What?"

"The database was updated ten seconds ago— the Duke had passed on at nine twenty-one at night." She clarified. "That was about two minutes ago."

My heart stopped. "Shit." I cursed. "I can't—" I stopped myself from continuing my sentence as a backup plan was crafted in my mind. I could only hope it would work. "Is there any way that I can end this treaty?"