After I leave Victoria, I head outside. It’s been a long year—first with our conflict with Rosvalia, then our wedding and all its complications, and finally now with this pregnancy—but though I’m emotionally and physically exhausted, I’ve never felt more blessed. Even the headache I’ve been battling for the last couple of days seems like such a small thing right now. My back aches from long hours spent at my desk, trying to get as much work as possible done before the birth, but even that is a small complaint.

I stuff my hand into my pocket, curling my fingers around the little lump of metal I’ve been keeping there as a good luck charm of sorts. The air has been sharp and cool for a couple of months now, and the wind coming down off the mountains bites at my cheeks.

Winter will be early this year, I think, staring up at the gray sky.

As if in direct response to my thoughts, tiny white flakes begin to drift from the clouds, blown about by the wind on their way down. The first snow of the year.

Grinning, I spread my arms and turn around, letting the flakes land on my fingertips. They melt immediately, but with some luck, we’ll have a thin layer of snow on the ground by morning.

Winter is always my favorite time of year. There’s something about the starkness, the majesty, that makes me feel content and peaceful. It’s a time of contemplation, a time of change. And that couldn’t be truer this year.

I look back toward the palace. They’ve already decorated for Christmas, and my home looks like something out of a storybook. Garlands hang across the doors and larger windows, and twinkling candles shine in the others. Every major doorway is flanked by gold filigree decor, all swirls and glittering lights, and red ribbons have been tied around every lamppost across the grounds. Clusters of bells hang from branches on many of the trees, and they tinkle as the breeze pushes them back and forth.

These decorations aren’t just for the enjoyment of my family—on Christmas Eve, we open our palace to the people of the city. Every year on the day before Christmas, a tree is chosen from the nearby forest to serve as the official Tannenbaum of Montovia, and we carry the tree up from the city into the Grand Ballroom, where it’s displayed for all to see. The tree is then decorated—with help from our citizens—with garlands, ribbons and an ornament from each family, and finally, each member of the royal family places a candle among the boughs.

I’ve always enjoyed the tradition, as have our citizens—after the decorating of the Tannenbaum, there’s dancing and caroling and plenty of food—but this year, I suspect I’ll be distracted. By the morning after, my child could be here. The thought of that brings me such joy.

But with the joy comes some trepidation, too. It’s been impossible to miss how hard this has been on Victoria. This pregnancy would have been difficult enough had she been able to be up and about, but bedrest has only made her restless. There’s been nothing to distract her from the possibilities, nothing to keep her anxiety at bay. And I don’t know how to comfort her, not when I can’t even take her into my arms like I want to.

Footsteps crunch behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I turn and find my brother Leopold there behind me, with Eleanor next to him, her hands around Matthew’s. My little nephew has been trying so hard these last couple of weeks to take his first steps on his own, but for the time being, he seems content to toddle along with his mother’s help.

Leopold’s grin widens when he sees me.

“It’s snowing!” he says, looking as excited by the weather as I feel. “It’s going to be a cold winter if it’s starting this early.”

Matthew takes a misstep on the cobblestones, nearly falling, and even though Elle manages to keep him upright, he blinks, clearly shaken. His bottom lip begins to shake, and a moment later, he begins to wail.

In an instant, Leopold is crouched down beside him.

“It’s all right,” he says gently. “You’re all right.”

Watching my formerly irresponsible younger brother comfort his son makes me feel warm inside, reminding me of what awaits me in a few short weeks. My headache has returned in full force, but I ignore the pain as I watch them.

When Matthew is calm again, Leopold straightens with a grin.

“You’re getting pretty good at that,” I tell him.

He laughs. “It’s taken a lot of practice.”

As Elle leads Matthew over to the edge of a little pond, my brother comes to stand beside me.

“You ready for yours?” he asks.

“As much as I can be.”

“Terrified yet?”

“More than you can know.”

“Trust me—I do know.” He rubs the back of his neck. “It’s funny how much one little person can change your life. Everything I thought I knew about the world was wrong. I’d do anything for Matthew. Anything to keep him happy and safe. I don’t want him to want for anything in life.”

I frown. My brother and I haven’t talked outright about Matthew losing his role as heir since that day back in my study, months ago. Leopold insisted everything was fine, but I’m still not sure it is.

“No matter what happens, you know we’ll make sure Matthew is provided for,” I assure him.

Leopold raises an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean? You think something is going to happen to Elle and me?”

“No, not at all,” I quickly correct him. “I just meant…well, given that Matthew no longer inherits the throne…” I trail off, not sure how to articulate the thoughts in my head. Finally, I say, “I don’t want there to be any tension between us, Leopold. Or between our children.”

“Ah, this is about the heir thing again, isn’t it?”

“Yes. And I really think we need to discuss—”

“What’s there to discuss? I already told you we’re fine with it.”

I wish I could take my brother at his word, but there’s a slight edge to his voice that troubles me. So I push a little further.

“I just think it might be wise to discuss all the—”

“We’re fine,” my brother snaps. “Seriously, Andrew, how many times do I have to say it? Who cares who’s the bloody heir?”

“Many people, actually,” I say as my temples begin to pound. I stuff my hand back into my pocket, finding the lump of metal and squeezing it in my fist. “I’m not looking for the easy way out, Leopold. There’s no need to spare my feelings. If there are things to resolve, I’d prefer to do it sooner rather than later.”

“What’s there to resolve? Your child will be the heir, Matthew won’t. The law is pretty clear on the matter. There’s nothing left to resolve. It doesn’t matter how I feel. Or how Elle feels. Or how Matthew will feel when he’s old enough to understand these things. The law is clear, as you’re so quick to constantly point out. Have a good evening, Brother.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond. Instead, he goes over to his wife and child by the pond. He murmurs something into Eleanor’s ear, and she bends over and picks Matthew up into her arms. She glances over and gives me a little wave of farewell as they continue down the path.

My brother, however, doesn’t glance my way again.