And then it happened. I started to cry. I’m not sure why exactly. A combination of relief and sadness and confusion, and so much else that I’d been struggling to hold in. I was happy and relieved but sad and frightened, and a milion other things al at once.

“Wendy, don’t cry.” Tove put his arm around me to comfort me, the first time he’d realy touched me since we’d been married. “I didn’t want to make you sad.”

“No, I’m not sad.” I shook my head and wiped at my eyes.

“I’m overwhelmed. And you’re right. We should get an annulment.” I nodded and stopped crying almost as soon as I started. “Sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Tove asked, eyeing me up.

“Yes, I am.” I smiled weakly at him. “It’s probably the best thing for us both.”

“Yeah, I hope so,” Tove nodded. “We’re friends, and I’l always have your back, but we don’t need to be married for that.”

“True,” I agreed. “But I want to wait until after this is al over with the Vittra. In case something happens to me, I want you to be King.”

“Are you sure you want me to be King?” Tove asked. “I’m going to go crazy someday.”

“But until then, you’re about the only person I trust that has any power,” I said. “Wila would be a good ruler someday, but I don’t think she’s quite there yet. She can take over for you, if you need her to.”

“You realy think something’s going to happen to you?” Tove asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I need to know that the kingdom wil be in good hands, no matter what.”

“Alright,” he said. “You have my word. We’l stay married until after the Vittra are defeated, and if something happens to you, I wil rule the kingdom to the best of my ability.”

“Thank you,” I smiled at him.

“Good.” Tove dropped his arm and stared straight ahead.

“Now that that’s out of the way, I suppose we should get ready. We have the Chancelor’s funeral at eleven.”

“I haven’t prepared my speech yet,” I sighed and Tove stood up. “What should I say about him?”

“Wel, if you plan to say anything nice, you’re going to have to lie,” Tove muttered as he walked over to his closet.

“You shouldn’t speak il of the dead.”

“You didn’t hear what he wanted to do to you,” Tove said, talking loudly to be heard from the closet. “That man was a menace to our society.”