The Royal Romance - The Valtoria Diaries

How the most beautiful things can bloom

"Hoo, mama. I am stuffed." Maxwell threw himself down on one of the comfy sofas in the drawing room of the keep, after they'd all consumed an unfeasibly large but delicious Christmas dinner. "Gonna need a whole new exercise plan in the New Year to get some of this timber off of me from all this fantastic festive food."

"I don't think you've got too much to worry about," Hana commented, as Jen sat down beside him. "You strike me as one of those people who can eat anything and stay slim."

"Nope," Maxwell said, exchanging a look with Jen, who knew full well that Hana had made a rare misjudgement. "Any excesses have to be carefully contra'd out with additional dancing opportunities."

"Yeah, Hana, you should have seen him when he was younger," Drake commented. "Maxwell's basically a fat kid hiding inside a thin man's body."

Hana shot a warning look at Drake, as Jen draped an arm around her husband. "Well, babe, I was thinking I should check out what I should do to help me lose some weight for our honeymoon. Maybe if I find something, like an exercise class or a plan, you could join me."

He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Exercising with you, now you're starting to make me think bad things."

"Get a room you two," Drake moaned. "Some of us are here to watch Rick's speech. Where's he got to, anyway?"

At that, Rick and Olivia walked into the room together, along with a member of Olivia's house staff, who switched on a large television on the wall and began to search through channels.

"It's time," Jen said to Rick. "How are you feeling?"

Rick nodded. "Surprisingly calm."

"I can't wait," Maxwell said, fidgeting about in his chair excitedly and tapping on Jen's knee as she relaxed into him. "This has gotta be the best thing about being King, huh Rick?"

Rick sighed. "It's a big responsibility, delivering a Christmas message to an entire nation..."

"Shhh," said Olivia. "It's starting."

Rick appeared in front of them on the screen, accompanied by fading regal music. He was dressed informally, in an outfit similar to the one he was wearing right now, and standing in one of the palace drawing rooms.

"Twelve months ago, my father Constantine, delivered what was to be his final Christmas message to you. At the time, none of us, except perhaps him, had any idea that it would be his last message. This year has been one of great change for my family, and for Cordonia. And we have not met these changes without overcoming significant challenges."

"Hear hear," Olivia called out.

The video cut to an image of Rick and Constantine at the Royal Regatta, greeting the press and some of his suitors. Jen caught a glimpse of herself and Hana standing in the background. Rick's voice narrated. "Over the social season, preparations for my reign were in full flow. My father was working hard to pass on all the wisdom and diplomacy he had obtained in serving as your King for four decades. And although I was sorry that he felt he had to stand down for health reasons, my duty to Cordonia enabled me to rise to the challenge."

The next video was from the Coronation Ball; clearly after Jen had made her unplanned departure. A sombre looking Rick was accepting congratulations from various nobles, Madeleine smiling smugly on his arm. "My Coronation was a very proud event. And as soon as I was able to, I toured our kingdom to meet the people I seek to protect and serve, and visited our allies in other countries to reinforce the connections we share."