Cort Monreau entered his father’s private chambers. He took a deep breath as he entered. He was nervous but he was trying to put up an air of confidence and total self-assurance, especially in front of his father’s primary advisors who were seated at the table in the center of the large room.

They all stood up to greet him, bowing their heads in allegiance and respect. Cort smiled and nodded at them but kept his eyes focused on his father who was seated at the head of the illustrious table that had been sitting in the King’s chambers for over two hundred years. Even Cort being the Prince of Ronovia was not immune to its impressive history. He could practically hear the voices of great men who had sat at this table dwelling over major decisions that had shaped the course of his nation’s history. It was an impressive legacy and one he hoped he would be able to do justice one day.

And he had a feeling that day was soon.

“Please leave us,” his father King Tristian Monreau said motioning for his advisors to exit the room. They quickly did so shutting the huge doors behind them.

Now it was just the two of them.

“Father,” Cort said.

“Have a seat my son,” Tristian replied.

Cort sat down at the other end of the table and leaned back in the stiff backed chair. “What do I owe the pleasure?”

“Son, as I’m sure you are aware you are nearing your thirtieth birthday in a matter of a little more than a month,” his father said.

“I am aware of this,” Cort replied.

“Well, I am also approaching my seventieth birthday,” Tristian added. “I am getting too old to continue my duties as King of our nation.”

“Father you are as fit as a fiddle,” Cort said. “I don’t see what your age has to do with anything.”

“Well, the people do. And I do as well. I’m getting older, I’m getting tired, and it’s come time for me to declare an heir to secede me in my duties. I am going to declare the process to begin of selecting a new king.”

Cort held his breath. He tried not to show his nerves or how anxious he now was. It was obvious to everyone that this was about to happen, but he wasn’t sure his father was ever going to give up the rule. It was purely up to the king to decide if he wanted to pick an heir to secede him or if it would be done strictly by chronological order of the first born son when the King passed on. Either way it was going to be him one day. He was pleased beyond words that it was going to happen so soon.

“I am pleased to hear this, father,” Court said.

“Well, you shouldn’t be too pleased yet.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Cort replied. His father was starting to worry him a bit.

“According to the laws set forth by the council the son of a king cannot assume the crown even if decreed by the king to do so unless that son is in fact married. Single men can’t become King.”

Cort felt as if he’d just been slapped. What was going on here?

“I’ve heard of this rumor father—“

“It isn’t a rumor. It is royal law set forth by the council over two hundred years ago.”

Cort swallowed hard and took a deep breath. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. He’d waited for this since the day he was born and now it was about to be taken from him because he hadn’t found miss right and refused to marry just anyone. It wasn’t right. He was not going to go down on this without a fight. But these matters had to be handled delicately. He had to show that he had the poise to handle a crisis such as this without resorting to childish antics.

“I’m sorry. I always felt this was something that mother told me to scare me into marriage. You know how mother has always wanted grandchildren.”

“I’m aware of all of that. But you can’t assume the crown if you are not married. That is all there is to it.”

“So, you expect me to just pick some woman at random and marry her? That really doesn’t sound right to me.”

“You are the prince. Any woman would be happy to marry you. The pick is yours for the taking,” his father said.

“Father that is not what I’m looking for. When I get married I want it to be to someone I love with all of my heart. Not just to anyone who wants to be a king’s wife.”

“I’m not sure where you get these silly, romantic notions. That certainly wasn’t in my day. Do you think I was madly in love with your mother when I married her? No. I did it because it was expected of me. And you will find a woman and do the same if you want to wear this crown.”

Cort was getting angry. He wanted to tell his father and the council to go right to hell.

“Father this is a silly rule. I’m going to find a way to appeal to the council and get his archaic rule changed. I’ll not lie down and let myself be forced into some kind of a silly arrangement.”

“You have the right to challenge the ruling, but I doubt you will get very far. These rules are in place for a reason and you aren’t going to change the council’s mind. Dismissed.”

Cort stood up and began walking out. “We will just have to see about that!”

He let the large doors to the chambers slam shut behind him.

The council had no idea who they were dealing with.