Twisted-Games

degrees hanging on the walls.
I studied Erhall, trying to see the resemblance between us. I spotted a hint
of it in the angle of his cheekbones and the slope of his forehead. It wasn’t
obvious enough strangers would look at us and guess we were related, but it
was there if one looked closely enough.
I blinked, and the resemblance disappeared, replaced by a pinched visage
and cold, calculating eyes.
“So.” Erhall steepled his fingers beneath his chin, his lips as pinched as
the rest of his face. “The crown princess herself visiting me in my office. To
what do I owe the honor?”
“I have an agenda item for Parliament’s next session.” Bridget radiated
authority, and pride flashed through me. She’d come a long way since the day
we sat in her hotel suite in New York, watching Nikolai’s abdication on TV.
She’d looked like she wanted to throw up during his speech, but there was no
trace of that scared, uncertain girl today. “Open the motion to repeal the
Royal Marriages Law.”
Erhall stared at her for a second before laughing. Loudly.
A snarl rumbled in my throat, but I forced myself to remain silent. This
was Bridget’s show.
“I thought this was another citizen write-in issue,” Erhall said. “I’m afraid
I can’t do that. The law is one of the oldest in Eldorra, and as…moving as
your press conference was, it’s tradition. Not to mention, we have far more
important issues at hand, including the water pollution problem you brought
to our attention last month. You want clean drinking water for the people of
Hedelberg, don’t you?”
Bridget smiled, not blinking an eye at his heavy-handed threat. “I’m
afraid you misunderstand me. That wasn’t a request, and I trust Parliament is
competent enough to handle more than one issue at a time. If it’s not, I
suggest a change in how you run the chamber, Mr. Speaker…or a change in
the Speakership altogether.”
Erhall’s chuckles vanished, and his face hardened. “With all due respect,
Your Highness, Parliament consults the Crown as a courtesy, but no one, not
even His Majesty, dictates the law.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not dictating the law.” Bridget crossed her
legs, her posture flawless as she stared him down. “I’m telling you to repeal
one. It is outdated and holds no practical value for the country or the people.
Without value, tradition is nothing but an imitation of the past, and the people