Chapter 9 - THE KING WITHOUT A COUNTRYKing Adrian laughed.
He had commanded troops in three wars.
He had protected two kings.
He had been Prince Alexander's godfather.
And according to the voice coming through my radio, he was willing to kill us on an abandoned bridge.
“Place the evidence on the ground,” Rainer ordered.
I looked toward Vale.
He gave the smallest shake of his head.
No extraction yet.
We needed time.
So I gave Rainer conversation.
“You signed my medal.”
A pause.
“I did.”
“Was that awkward?”
“You deserved it.”
“Even though I ruined your ambush?”
Silence.
Voss looked sharply at me.
I continued.
“Kandahar wasn't Voss's operation, was it?”
The helicopter hovered.
Rainer said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Six years of assumptions rearranged themselves.
Voss had wanted Adrian captured.
Rainer wanted him dead.
“Why?”
Rainer finally spoke.
“Valoria is bigger than one family.”
“People who say that usually mean they want to control it.”
“Adrian weakened the crown.”
“So you tried to murder him.”
“I protected the nation.”
Voss shouted toward the helicopter.
“You killed Sophia!”
Rainer's voice remained calm.
“Sophia was unfortunate.”
Voss lunged toward the open roadway.
I grabbed him.
“Don't.”
“She was my wife!”
“And you'll accomplish nothing dead.”
He shook beneath my hand.
Rainer continued.
“Sophia discovered arrangements she did not understand.”
“Defense contracts?” I asked.
“National security.”
“Money.”
“Influence.”
“Same thing to you?”
“To every government.”
There was something almost refreshing about hearing a traitor stop pretending he was noble.
“What did Bell get?”
“Political restoration.”
“And you?”
“Stability.”
Voss laughed bitterly.
“Power.”
Rainer ignored him.
“Major Carter, hand over the recorder.”
“No.”
“You are on foreign diplomatic property.”
“Virginia is still very much America.”
“Do not make this worse.”
“You brought a military helicopter into Virginia to kill witnesses.”
That finally unsettled him.
Because he realized something.
I wanted him talking.
And our conversation was being recorded.
Vale had activated the secure body channel the moment Rainer spoke.
The general changed tactics.
“You misunderstand our intentions.”
“Too late.”
The helicopter shifted.
Vale whispered, “Thirty seconds.”
To what?
Then I heard it.
Jets.
Fast.
Two American military aircraft roared overhead.
The Valorían helicopter immediately turned away.
Rainer's transmission cut.
I looked at Vale.
He smiled.
“Your government became interested.”
Apparently six unapproved SUVs, an international kidnapping, gunfire and a foreign military helicopter near Washington had finally become impolite.
The hostile vehicles retreated.
Federal tactical units approached from the west.
Voss slowly lowered his weapon.
The fight was over.
For tonight.
But Rainer was in Valoria.
Surrounded by military power.
And Rachel's wedding had just become the opening battle in a constitutional crisis.
By dawn, everything was public.
Not every detail.
Enough.
News outlets reported a kidnapping attempt.
Lord Bell's arrest.
Questions surrounding Rachel's birth.
Government instability in Valoria.
King Adrian addressed the press from the Chesapeake estate.
He confirmed that Rachel had been adopted.
He confirmed her connection to Princess Sophia.
He refused to discuss the conspiracy.
Rachel stood beside Alexander.
I stood outside camera range.
Where I preferred to be.
Until Rachel changed the plan.
She walked to the microphone.
“My sister should be here.”
I closed my eyes.
Vale smiled.
“Good luck.”
“I dislike you.”
Rachel looked directly toward me.
“Major Eleanor Carter.”
Every camera moved.
I could have remained where I was.
Instead, I walked forward.
Mom was crying somewhere behind the press line.
Dad looked proud enough to explode.
I took my place beside Rachel.
She reached for my hand.
“This is my sister.”
Simple.
No titles.
No medals.
“My entire life, she has protected me. Yesterday I forgot what that meant.”
Reporters leaned forward.
Rachel continued.
“I let people convince me that appearance mattered more than loyalty. I excluded her from my wedding because I was ashamed of the wrong things.”
My throat tightened.
“You don't have to do this,” I whispered.
“Yes, I do.”
She faced the cameras.
“I was wrong.”
No excuses.
No carefully polished royal language.
Just that.
“I was wrong, and I am sorry.”
The internet loved it.
Of course it did.
But we had bigger problems.
Within hours, General Rainer denounced King Adrian.
He claimed Bell's arrest was politically motivated.
Several military units in Valoria declared they would not follow “unconstitutional orders.”
Parliament split.
Protests began.
And then Rainer made his move.
He released Sophia's marriage certificate.
The document proved Rachel's biological parentage.
Then he argued that Adrian had hidden a legitimate royal heir from the nation for twenty-five years.
It was brilliant.
Disgusting.
But brilliant.
He transformed Rachel from victim into political weapon.
Crowds gathered outside Parliament carrying portraits of Sophia.
Some demanded Rachel return.
Others called her an American impostor.
Rainer announced that the military would “protect constitutional continuity” until the succession question was resolved.
Translation:
A soft military takeover.
King Adrian's government still existed.
But Rainer controlled several bases.
One television station.
Two airports.
And enough frightened politicians to create paralysis.
At noon, Adrian called us into the library.
“I must return to Valoria.”
Queen Helena immediately said, “No.”
“If I remain here, Rainer wins.”
“He may arrest you.”
“He may try.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“Then I return with you.”
“No.”
“Father—”
“You stay with Rachel.”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
Adrian turned to me.
“Eleanor.”
I knew what was coming.
“No.”
He almost smiled.
“I haven't asked.”
“You're going to.”
“Yes.”
“Still no.”
Rachel looked between us.
“What?”
Adrian folded his hands.
“Six years ago, Major Carter saved my life.”
Everyone was quiet.
He continued.
“She also identified the security leak that allowed the Kandahar ambush.”
“Partly,” I said.
“Enough to save dozens of people.”
Rachel stared at me.
Adrian continued.
“I need someone Rainer cannot control.”
“Use your intelligence service.”
“Half of them answer to him.”
“American agencies.”
“This is an internal Valorían crisis.”
He met my eyes.
“I need you.”
Rachel immediately shook her head.
“No.”
I looked at her.
“You were just arguing I should be at your wedding.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“People weren't trying to overthrow governments.”
“Technically, they were.”
“Ellie.”
Adrian lowered his voice.
“If Rainer succeeds, Rachel will spend the rest of her life as his symbol. Even if she never enters Valoria.”
That decided it.
I hated that it decided it.
But it did.
“When do we leave?”
Rachel swore.
Mom gasped.
Alexander almost smiled.
Adrian said, “Two hours.”
I nodded.
Rachel grabbed my arm and pulled me into the hall.
“You cannot keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Walking toward dangerous things because everyone else is afraid.”
“It's literally my job.”
“You're my sister.”
“And you're the person Rainer is trying to use.”
Her eyes filled.
“I already lost twenty-five years with one family I didn't know I had.”
I softened.
“You didn't lose us.”
“I almost did.”
That hurt.
She lowered her voice.
“I don't care about being royal.”
“I know.”
“I don't care about Valoria.”
“You might someday.”
“I care about you.”
I looked at her.
For years, Rachel and I had measured our relationship through arguments.
Who called.
Who forgot birthdays.
Who understood whose life.
Now none of it mattered.
I hugged her.
“I'll come back.”
“You can't promise that.”
“No.”
I pulled away.
“But I can promise I'll try.”
Two hours later, I boarded a government aircraft with King Adrian, Commander Vale and a small security team.
Before the door closed, Rachel ran onto the tarmac.
She handed me something.
Her bridal bouquet.
I stared at it.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Bring it back.”
“Rachel.”
“Bring it back, Ellie.”
I looked at the white roses.
Then at her.
“Okay.”
The aircraft lifted into the sky.
Nine hours later, we approached Valoria.
The capital glittered beneath us.
Then the pilot's voice came over the intercom.
“Your Majesty, we have a problem.”
Adrian stood.
“What?”
“The military has closed Valorían airspace.”
Commander Vale swore.
I looked out the window.
Two fighter jets appeared beside us.
Their insignia belonged to General Rainer's command.
The radio activated.
A pilot spoke.
“Valorían government aircraft, you are ordered to turn around.”
Adrian stepped toward the cockpit.
“This is your King.”
The reply came immediately.
“With respect, Your Majesty…”
May you like
A pause.
“…General Rainer says Valoria no longer recognizes your authority.”
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