Twisted-Games

I wasn’t here to beat down on Erhall, at least not physically. We had a
more important goal to accomplish.
“That’s not what the DNA tests say.” I reached into my pocket and
slapped the papers, courtesy of Andreas, on the desk with a thud that made
Erhall jump. “Take a look if you don’t believe me.”
He didn’t touch them. We both knew what I said was true.
“What do you want?” Erhall recovered some of his composure. “Money?
A title?” He raised an eyebrow. “Monthly bonding activities?”
Despite his mocking tone, he stared at me with a strange expression that
almost…
No. The day I willingly engaged in any form of “bonding” activity with
him was the day icicles formed in hell.
“Her Highness already told you.” I tilted my head in Bridget’s direction.
Shes sat calmly next to me, her expression neutral, almost bored, as she
watched our conversation. “We want you to open the motion to repeal the
Royal Marriages Law.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You might find the news about your long-lost love child splashed across
the front page of the next Daily Tea,” Bridget said. “Hypothetically speaking,
of course. Journalists can get their hands on the darnedest things.” She shook
her head. “It’s too bad they won’t wait until after the elections. You have
quite a strong opponent this year. Just a hint of a scandal could tip things in
his favor. But what do I know?” Her smile returned. “I’m just a ‘pretty
face.’”
Erhall’s face changed from chalk white to bright purple in zero-point-two
seconds. It would’ve been alarming had it not been so satisfying. “Are you
blackmailing me?”
“No,” Bridget said. “I’m encouraging you to do the right thing. Because
you will do the right thing, won’t you, Mr. Speaker?”
I could tell he was struggling to hold back some choice epithets as the
wheels spun in his head.
If he refused, he risked losing his political career over the scandal an
illegitimate child would cause. He represented one of the most traditional
counties in the country, and his voters would not respond well to the news he
had a child with an American waitress out of wedlock.
If he caved, he would lose the power play, because that’s what this was. It
wouldn’t take much for Erhall to bring the motion to the floor, but doing so