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"I can't remember the last time I had a meal that good," Stephanie said as she sat back in her chair, rubbing her stomach.
"Safford will be pleased to hear you enjoyed it." Jotham wiped his mouth with a napkin before setting it aside.
"More coffee, Jotham?" Jacinda asked, holding the pot over his cup.
"That would be wonderful, my love, thank you. You know how much I like the blend Pittaluga makes just for you." His gaze turned to Stephanie. "Now, Stephanie, what is it you wanted to discuss with me?"
"The position you offered me."
"Position?" Jacinda asked, setting the pot back down after filling his cup.
"I offered Stephanie the position of Commander of the Royal Guard for the House of Protection. It's a position that hasn't been filled in nearly thirty cycles, and she will be the first woman to ever hold it."
"You did? Oh, Jotham..." Jacinda squeezed his forearm as she gave him a grateful look. He covered her hand with his.
"She has yet to inform me if she'll accept it."
"Stephanie?" They both looked to her.
Stephanie's gaze moved from their clasped hands to the two sets of eyes waiting for her reply. In that moment, she actually saw the love between them. It was there for all to see in the little things like the way her mother made sure Jotham had his favorite coffee. And the way Jotham's thumb caressed the top of her mother's hand on his arm. She hadn't let herself see it before or after her injury, because she was too caught up in her own wants and needs. But she couldn't deny what she saw, and she needed to make sure they knew that.
"I owe you both an apology," she started.
"For what?" Jacinda's eyes filled with confusion. "Stephanie, what are you talking about?"
"The way I reacted, the things I said, especially to you, Mom, when you told me that the two of you were involved. I should have handled it better."
"It was a shock..."
"That doesn't matter," Stephanie cut her mother off. "I've been trained to handle shocking situations."
"Professional situations," Jotham quietly interjected. "This was personal."
"Yes, it was. Is. I grew up idolizing my father. He was so handsome to me, so strong, and did such important work. When I was little, I used to sneak into his office and hide under his desk."
"Stephanie!" Jacinda didn't try to hide her surprise.
"I know, I was supposed to be in bed, but Dad was always gone so much. It was the only way I could spend time with him. It never took long before he found me, but no matter how busy he was, he would stop what he was doing and talk to me. He'd ask me about my day, school, then he'd pick me up, tuck me back in bed, and tell me he loved me."
"I never knew," Jacinda murmured.
"I know, neither did Danton or Ethan. It was something only Dad and I knew about."
"You two always had a special relationship," Jacinda acknowledged.
"We did, but that wasn't the only reason I reacted so badly. You see," she looked to Jotham, "I was there, under the desk, when you told Dad you would never take another Queen."
"What?" Jotham asked appearing shocked.
"You and Dad were on a comm. He was trying to introduce you to someone. I don't remember her name. I really wasn't paying close of attention, not until you raised your voice."
"I..."
"You said in no uncertain terms there would only ever be one woman for you... one Queen. You said that woman was Lata, and she was gone." She looked at her mother. "I knew from what you said to me that day in the hall that you were going to stand by Jotham no matter what. The way you did with Dad. You always put his needs first, then ours, and I couldn't stand to see you do it again. Not when it felt so wrong. You were never meant to be a companion, Mom. Not even to a King."
"I couldn't agree more, Stephanie," Jotham agreed, "and I should never have allowed anyone, your mother included, to think I would. The only defense I have is that I wanted Jacinda with me so badly, wanted to have something that was just ours, that I never realized how others were going to view it, especially her family. As soon as I did, I made sure everyone understood exactly how I viewed her and that her place in my life was at my side."
"I know that. It's just taken me some time to actually accept it."
"Are you saying you do now?" Jacinda asked, hope filling her voice.
"Yeah, Mom, I do, and I'm so happy for you." She reached out and gripped her mother's other hand then looked to Jotham. "For both of you. Welcome to the family, Jotham. I hope you know what you're getting into."
Jotham tipped his head back and laughed. "I believe I will thoroughly enjoy finding out." After a few moments, the humor left his face, and he was again the King. "So, Lieutenant, are you going to accept the position I offered you?"
Stephanie straightened in her chair and looked her King in the eye. "Majesty, if you truly believe I am the right person for the position, because of my experience and skills and not because of my sex or our new relationship, then yes, I would very much like to be the Commander of your Royal Guard."
"Excellent." Jotham leaned over and kissed Jacinda’s cheek before he rose. "Then, my love, Stephanie and I need to return to my office so we can finalize this."
"Of course." Jacinda smiled up at him. "I'll see you at last meal. You too, Stephanie, if you are still in the Palace."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
"Several things need to be taken care of before your promotion can be made public, Stephanie," Jotham said, as he moved around his desk. He'd informed Chesney on their way in to let his afternoon appointments know that they would be delayed. If they were unable to wait, they would be rescheduled for the earliest possible date, and to also notify Deffand he was needed in his office.
The first had surprised Stephanie, as she'd never heard of a Royal willing to rework his schedule for the benefit of others. It gave her an insight into the man her mother had fallen in love with. The second she realized was necessary as she and Deffand would be working together.
"First you will need to submit your resignation from the Coalition to the High Admiral." Jotham sat down and began to enter a code into his comm.
"What?"
"Is that going to be a problem?" His fingers paused before completing the code.
"I... No, I just hadn’t considered that."
"You can't serve both the Coalition and your King, Stephanie," he told her quietly.
"Isn't that what I've been doing my entire life?" she asked.
"To a point, yes, but you've always answered to and taken your orders from the Coalition. Now you will take them from me. Can you do that?"
"As the Commander of the Royal Guard, I will take orders from no one when it comes to making sure those under my protection remain safe, including you, Majesty. Can you do that?" She could see she'd surprised him as Jotham stared at her in disbelief.
"You would disobey a direct order from me?" Jotham's eyes widened in surprise.
"If it puts you or any other Royal in danger, then yes. That's the job, isn't it? To make the hard decisions?"
"It is," he agreed.
"Then as long as we agree who is in charge of your protection, then I have no problem giving up my commission in the Coalition."
Nodding Jotham gestured for her to sit, and finished entering the code into his comm.
"Zafar." The High Admiral's voice filled the room.
"High Admiral, I am contacting you to officially inform you that Lieutenant Stephanie Michelakakis will be resigning her commission in the Coalition. Effective immediately."
A long pause greeted the King's statement, letting Stephanie know the King had taken the High Admiral by surprise.
"King Jotham, with all due respect, you are outside your authority. No Royal, King or not, can resign the commission of an officer in the Coalition unless it is the heir to the throne."
"Lieutenant Michelakakis is now my daughter, High Admiral," Jotham's voice rose his displeasure easily heard.
"But she is not the heir to the throne. Which means only she can resign her commission."
Jotham turned the screen toward Stephanie so she and the High Admiral could see one another.
"High Admiral," she spoke, "I hereby give notice that I will be resigning my commission with the Coalition. I realize this isn't the proper chain of command, but ultimately you are my Commanding Officer."
"That is true." The High Admiral paused for a moment. "Are you sure this is what you want, Lieutenant? While I realize your injury makes it impossible to return to your previous position, there is a place for you in the Coalition."
"High Admiral, with respect, we both know that's not true. I would be nothing but a handicap out in the Fleet with the ever-changing pressures and sudden leaps to warp speed."
"There are always positions on planet or the Bering."
Stephanie appreciated him giving her options but it was unnecessary. "Thank you, High Admiral, but no. My time in the Coalition is over. I'll be accepting the position King Jotham has offered me."
"And what position is that?" The High Admiral asked, frowning at her.
"As soon as you release the Lieutenant, Stephanie will become the Commander of my Royal Guard," Jotham informed him.
"Commander..." the High Admiral trailed off, his gaze sharpening. "The Coalition will sorely miss you, Lieutenant, but I honestly believe you are where the ancestors always meant for you to be."
Stephanie felt her cheeks heating at the compliment. "I... thank you, High Admiral."
"No thanks necessary. I’ll get the paperwork started. It will be done by the end of the day."
"That fast?" Stephanie couldn't keep the shock out of her voice. Couldn't believe her old life could be over that quickly.
"You prefer I wait? In case you change your mind?" the High Admiral asked.
"What? No. No, High Admiral. I know this is what I want. I was just surprised."
"Well, while you are not the heir to the throne, you are now a Royal, and there are always exceptions for when they need to leave the Coalition." She watched him take a deep breath before continuing. "If I may, I'd like to speak to you on a personal level."
"I... yes, of course, High Admiral."
"It's William, Stephanie. May I call you Stephanie?"
"I, yes, of course."
"I have not had the chance to personally apologize for what happened to you while in my House."
"High... William, it was not your fault," she told him unable to believe he would ever think that.
"It was, because not only am I the High Admiral, but I am the King of the House of Knowledge, and I take the protection of those within it very seriously. It also comes from being from the House of Protection." He and Jotham shared an understanding smile. "I fully planned on offering you a position within the House of Knowledge once you completed Peter's training."
"What? You can't be sure I would have. Completed the training, that is."
"Oh, I have no doubt you would have, neither did Peter. His belief in you was so strong that he recommended you to become a member of Cassandra's personal guard." Stephanie knew her shock showed on her face. "It is a position never before offered to someone who was not from the House of Knowledge. It speaks to the belief Peter has in your skill, that he would trust you to protect his sister."
She knew what a high honor that was. "I never knew."
"You weren't supposed to, and you more than proved Peter's belief was well placed with the way you protected your mother and Jotham."
"It’s what I was always meant to do," she told him quietly.
"I agree, and now you will be in charge of making sure the rest of the Royals in the House of Protection are as well protected. It is a daunting task, but I'm sure you are more than up for it. I'm also sure Jacinda will appreciate having you near after coming so close to losing you."
"You speak as if you know my mother."
"I do. We went to the Academy together. We never reconnected though until Jotham brought her to Kisurri. We were both surprised to discover how intertwined our lives have actually been."
"She never said a word." It seemed there was a great deal more for her to learn about her mother.
"She wouldn't now... would she? Jacinda is a truly remarkable woman, and her daughter takes after her."
“She does,” Jotham agreed. “Have the paperwork sent to Chesney, Will. Some arrangements need to be made before the official announcement can be made.”
“Understood.”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Deffand nodded at Chesney when he waved him directly into Jotham’s office. He wasn’t sure why he’d been summoned at this time of day, unless it was because Jotham had learned his security had failed with Stephanie before Deffand himself had been able to inform him. As Stephanie had lunch with Jotham and her mother, he was sure that's what it was. He needed to be prepared for whatever consequences the King felt fitted such a heinous transgression.
Pausing only long enough to make sure his uniform was straight, he entered the office. Inside he found the King sitting behind his desk as he expected. What he didn't expect was for Stephanie to be sitting across from him.
"Nicholas, come in. Close the door."
Doing as his King commanded, he moved and stood at attention before his sovereign.
"Sit, Nicholas." Jotham pointed to the chair next to Stephanie's, and after only a moment’s hesitation, he did but remained stiff which had Jotham frowning. "What is wrong, Nicholas?"
"Sire, I take full responsibility for what happened. I should have anticipated the possibility and taken measures."
"Possibility? Measures?" Jotham's frown deepened. "Nicholas, what are you talking about?"
"I believe he's talking about how I arrived here today," Stephanie quietly spoke up.
"How you arrived?" Jotham asked.
"I failed to inform my protective detail that I was leaving," she told him.
"You did what?" While Jotham didn't raise his voice, there was no doubting the anger that filled it.
"I'm not used to having to account for my comings and goings, Sire, so when I decided to come to speak with you, I got in my transport and did so. As soon as Lieutenant Turk contacted me, I realized my mistake. Instead of stopping and waiting for my detail to catch up as he requested, I assessed the situation and decided the best course of action would be to proceed to the Palace. The fault is mine, as are the consequences. Not Lieutenant Turk's or Captain Deffand's."
"Is that how you would see it if you were in charge?" Jotham asked.
"No, but this situation is different," she told him.
"I have already removed Turk from Lieutenant Michelakakis' protective detail, Sire. Lieutenant Gilbert is now in charge."
"But it wasn't Turk's fault." Stephanie rounded on Nicholas.
“He was in charge of your protection and failed in that task,” Nicholas fired back.
“Enough.” Jotham’s sharp order had both of them snapping their mouths shut as they turned to face him. “While that’s not why I asked for you here, Captain, I should have been informed.”
“I intended on telling you during our scheduled afternoon meeting, Sire,” Nicholas said stiffly.
“When a member of my family is without protection, I expect to be immediately informed, Captain!”
“Yes, Sire. It won’t happen again.”
“I know it won’t, Captain, because you will no longer be overseeing that protection.”
“I...” Nicholas’s eyes widened in shock, and his skin paled. He’d known Jotham would be upset when he’d learned about what had happened, that there would be consequences, but he’d never thought it would cost him his position as Captain of the King’s Guard. Not after all the cycles of loyal service he had given his King. “Of course, Majesty. I will immediately remove myself from your House.”
“What?” Jotham frowned at him for a moment then cursed. “Ancestors, Nicholas, you have been with me for more cycles than I can remember. I have complete and utter trust in you. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.”
“But...”
“I only meant that you will be returning to your original duty of overseeing just my protection.”
“But, Sire, Prince Barek, Queen Jacinda, and the rest of the Michelakakises...” Nicholas could believe it. Those details needed to be coordinated. If he didn't do it who would?
“Will have their own Captains and they, along with you, will answer to the Commander of the Royal Guard. She, in turn, will answer to me.”
“Commander? She?”
“Stephanie has retired her commission with the Coalition, and as soon as the High Admiral completes the paperwork, she will be assuming the position as Commander of the Royal Guard."
"I see," Nicholas said slowly.
"I know this comes as a surprise to you, Nicholas, but this change isn't because of the way you have executed your duties of late. In fact, you have handled the sudden increase in those needing protection admirably, but you are being pulled in too many directions. I want my Captain back. Stephanie has the skills needed to coordinate multiple security details while not having to worry about being in one."
They both saw Stephanie stiffen and Jotham instantly regretted his words.
"My apologies, Stephanie," Jotham said apologetically.
"No need to be, Sire. You were just stating the truth," she said stiffly then looked at Nicholas. "Perhaps it would be best if we took this to your office, Captain. There's a great deal we need to discuss, and the King has a busy schedule we are interfering with. If that's alright with you, Majesty?" She looked back to Jotham.
"Yes, of course. I have complete faith in both of you. You can report back to me with what you've decided at last meal tonight."