And yet, politically, there was no doubt that Kai was the best option in Queen Levana’s eyes. The prince from the United Kingdom was the youngest of three siblings and may never become king. Kai, on the other hand, would be coronated next week.
“What if she refuses anyone else?” said Queen Camilla, lifting an eyebrow that had seen too many youth surgeries over the years. When no one responded to the question, she continued. “I don’t mean to raise undue alarm, but have you considered that her reason for coming to Earth might be to secure this alliance through force? Perhaps she intends to brainwash the young prince into marrying her.”
Kai’s stomach flipped. He could see his unease mirrored in the faces of the other diplomats. “Could she do that?” he asked.
When no one was quick to answer, he turned to Torin.
It took far, far too long for Torin to shake his head, looking frighteningly uncertain. “No,” he said. “Perhaps, in theory, but no. In order to keep up the ruse, she could never leave your side. As soon as you were no longer under her influence, you could prove that the marriage wasn’t legitimate. She wouldn’t risk that.”
“You mean we hope she wouldn’t risk it,” said Kai, not feeling very comforted.
“What about Levana’s daughter, Princess Winter?” said President Vargas. “Has there been any discussion of her?”
“Stepdaughter,” said Torin. “And what should we discuss in regards to the Lunar princess?”
“Why can’t we form a marriage alliance with her?” said Queen Camilla. “She can’t be any worse than Levana.”
Torin folded his hands atop the table. “Princess Winter was of another mother and her father was a mere palace guard. She has no royal blood.”
“But Luna might still honor a marriage alliance through her,” said Kai. “Wouldn’t they?”
Torin sighed, looking like he wished Kai had kept his mouth shut. “Politically, perhaps, but it does not change the fact that Queen Levana is in the difficult position of needing to marry and produce an heir who will continue the bloodline. I do not think she will agree to marry off her stepdaughter so long as she requires a suitable marriage arrangement.”
“And there is no hope,” said the African prime minister, “that the Lunars will ever accept Princess Winter as a queen?”
“Only if you can convince them to give up their superstitions,” said Torin, “and we all know how deeply those are in-grained in their culture. Otherwise they will always insist on an heir of the royal bloodline.”
“And what if Levana never has an heir? What will they do then?”
Kai slid his gaze to his adviser and raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not sure,” Torin answered. “I’m sure the royal family has plenty of distant cousins who would be eager to stake their claim to the throne.”
“So if Levana must marry,” said the South American representative, “and she will marry only a Commonwealth emperor, and the Commonwealth emperor refuses to marry her, what then? We are at a stalemate.”
“Perhaps,” said Governor-General Williams, “she will make good on her threats.”
Torin shook his head. “If her desire were to start a war, she’s had plenty of opportunities.”
“It seems clear,” shot back the governor-general, “that her desire is to be empress. But we don’t know what she has planned if you won’t—”
“Actually, we do have an idea,” said President Vargas, his voice heavy. “I’m afraid we no longer need to speculate if Levana intends to start a war against Earth. Our sources lead me to believe that war is not only likely but imminent.”
An uneasy rustle shifted through the room.
“If our theories are correct,” said President Vargas, “Levana is planning to move against Earth within the next six months.”
Kai leaned forward, fidgeting with the collar of his shirt. “What theories?”
“It seems Queen Levana is building an army.”
Confusion swept through the room.
“Certainly the moon has had an army for some time,” said Prime Minister Bromstad. “It is hardly news, nor is it controversial. We cannot request that they forgo the keeping of an army entirely, much as we might like to.”
“This is not the moon’s normal army—soldiers and thaumaturges,” said President Vargas, “nor is it like any army we keep on Earth. Here are some photographs that our orbiting operatives were able to obtain.”