Duncan had been brooding for days about what Alix had told him. They still saw each other every night, and she hadn’t mentioned it again. He knew that if he were the one to bring it up, she’d realize how much he was hurting.

He had gladly accepted Leo’s invitation for a drink to help get his mind off of the whole situation.

Duncan was surprised that his brother had suggested drinks at his apartment in town instead of going out. Duncan realized that it had been weeks, actually, since they had all gone out to a club. Not that he missed the clubs, exactly, but Helena’s party had been the last time he’d seen all of his siblings together. They were all so much busier all of a sudden. They used to hang out nearly every other night.

Leo’s apartment was in the historic part of the city, down a tiny, private road and behind a gated courtyard. Helena sought privacy by being high above everyone else; Leo looked for it in more old-fashioned, unobtrusive ways.

Duncan could tell the second he walked in that something was bothering his brother. He was pacing, his back to the door, repeating something under his breath and gesturing with his hands as if he was rehearsing.

“Hey, Leo, what’s the matter?” Duncan asked, worried.

“It’s Annabelle,” Leo said, sighing, sitting down on the couch dejectedly.

“Who, the hot redhead that’s been following you around?” Duncan joked. He’d seen her at a few events both Leo and Duncan had attended together. She hadn’t said a word to anyone, but looked at Leo with that longing in her eyes he’d seen countless times before.

“Shut up, I love her,” Leo said defensively.

Yikes, he’s sure in a mood tonight, Duncan thought to himself, holding up his hands.

“Hey, sorry, I didn’t realize.” He made his way over to the bar. Though he’d wanted to avoid the topic of girls this evening, if that was what his brother wanted to talk about, then so be it. But he’d need a bit of help, if Leo was going to be cranky about it. He poured himself some whiskey and leaned against the bar to face his brother.

“So what’s the problem? You love her, and she doesn’t love you?” Duncan could certainly relate to that.

“Her parents are teachers, her grandparents were farmers,” Leo put his head in his hands. “They’re all commoners. Not even a second cousin who might be a viscount or something.”

“Well that’s unfortunate,” was all Duncan could manage to think to say.

It was one thing for Leo to promise to change the law so Helena could marry her girlfriend (who, despite her efforts to be mysterious, they had all figured out was the Countess of Eiligene). The requirement for royals to marry nobility, however, was pretty much set in stone. The more socially egalitarian tendencies of the other European monarchies had not made their way into the Prynesse court quite yet. The siblings would all have to marry someone noble, and of Prynesse birth, to be eligible to rule.

Leo was running his hands through his hair, sighing in what Duncan considered a slightly melodramatic fashion.

“So you need help figuring out how to break up with her?” Duncan usually managed to break things off amicably, unlike Anton who left a host of broken hearts and promises of revenge behind him.

Leo shook his head. He took a deep breath.

“That’s the last thing I want to do,” he said, sitting back on the couch. Duncan set his glass down on the bar and crossed his arms.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’m stepping down,” Leo said simply. He looked up at Duncan with a calm, peaceful expression, as if he hadn’t just released a bomb that would totally change both of their lives.

“I’m sorry, what?” Duncan replied, sitting down on a nearby barstool. His legs no longer seemed to want to support him. “I don’t think you know what you just said.”

“I know exactly what I said,” replied his older brother, sighing. “I can’t live my life without her. I don’t want to be king.”

“Leo, you can still be king without a queen,” argued Duncan. “And of course you want to be king, you’ve been practicing your coronation walk since you were ten.”

“I want something else now,” he said angrily. “That’s enough for me.”

Duncan remained unable to speak for several minutes, too numb to allow the shock to begin creeping in. Leo stood up and started pacing the room.

“I’ve already spoken to father, and he’s agreed to hold off on stepping down for a few more years until you’ve been properly brought up to speed,” he said. Duncan suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

Leo had been learning everything for the past ten years, since he left school—albeit part time while he worked at the bank. How was Duncan supposed to learn everything in two or three years? Now the prospect of endless tea parties and boring charity galas sounded wonderful, compared with the actual work and responsibilities that he was completely unprepared for.

“This isn’t fair,” Duncan said, finding his voice. To his ears, he sounded like a whining child, instead of the angry adult he was. “You’re being selfish.”

“I wish I had a choice,” said Leo.

“Of course you have a choice!” Duncan protested. “Find someone else!”

“No, you have choices, Duncan,” Leo retorted with venom. “You’ve had endless choices all these years, and we’ve let you fritter away your time, aimless and without purpose. It’s time for you to grow up.”

Duncan was struck dumb for the second time that evening. He hadn’t come here to fight with his brother.

“I’ve chosen to let those wiser than me direct my actions,” Duncan finally said, having thought carefully about his word choices. Leo rolled his eyes, more of a Helena habit.

“Look,” said Leo, sitting down again and sighing. “I’m sorry. I’ve pictured my life as king for as long as I can remember. But in that picture, the woman of my dreams was always standing next to me. Annabelle is that woman, Duncan, and if she can’t stand next to me, then I can’t do it.”

Duncan could see on Leo’s face that his feelings were beyond his control. He thought about what this would mean for him. He wouldn’t have to pick one charity or cause to support; he would support all of them. There was no active military, and parliament took care of the actual running of the country. The king’s advisors would tell him what he needed to do, as would his family.

“I can see that this might not be so bad,” Duncan admitted, hesitantly. “You’ll help me get ready, too, right?”

His big brother smiled, relieved that the idea was starting to sink in.

“Of course,” he reassured him. “And you’re at least in a better spot than I am with Alix—she can rule with you.”

He had pushed thoughts of her aside while grappling with Leo’s news, and now a wave of relief washed over him. Leo had pictured himself ruling with a strong woman next to him, and now Duncan began to do the same.

“She’d be an amazing queen,” said Leo, trying to sell him even more on the idea of his being king.

“She would,” agreed Duncan, trying not to let the sadness creep into his voice. “She’s leaving soon, though, to intern in refugee camps,” he explained. “This is just a casual thing for her.”

Leo raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve seen the way you are with her,” he said. “It’s not casual for you, is it?”

Duncan looked thoughtful, but said nothing. He had been sad at the thought of her leaving, but figured that he’d find someone else before long, as she’d predicted. Now, faced with a completely different life than the one he’d always pictured for himself, the thought of Alix at his side both reassured and excited him.

“You love her?” Leo asked.

“Yes.” Duncan was surprised at how quickly he replied. He hadn’t let himself consider how deep his feelings for her went until now. But the more he thought about it, he couldn’t imagine anyone else in her place.

“Well, you’ll just have to figure out a way to get her to stay then, won’t you?” suggested his brother.

“Will you help me?” asked Duncan.

“Of course,” said Leo. “With what you’re doing for me, it’s the least I can do.”