The Agent's Frustrated Prince

Prince Arthur Evergreen Drago stood numb outside Westminster Abby. The weight of duty had settled around his shoulders like a heavy blanket. His dark suit jacket felt more like an anchor today than simply fabric. His title was still prince; according to a law passed a few years ago, Arthur couldn’t be officially named and crowned king until he and his twin sister, Catherine Anastasia ‘Anya’ Evergreen-Drago, turned twenty-one. Their Tad (Father), King Andros of England, had died ten days ago after being diagnosed with cancer. It had been a quick death after diagnosis, quicker than either he or Anya had hoped. They wanted more time with him, but Stepmonster kept them away. By the time they reached him, he had slipped into a coma. Uncle Aaron had rearranged everything on their jam-packed schedules in those last few days so they could stay with their father. Arthur stood between his dark-blond sister and Great Uncle Aaron Black (Lord Black to everyone who wasn’t family). Anya wore a knee-length black dress with black tights. They were both old enough that she was wearing chunk heels instead of flats. She also wore a black pillbox hat, which royal women wore in the modern-day instead of crowns outside official dinner parties. Great Uncle Aaron was wearing one of his military uniforms, having never officially retired when he transitioned to being Tad’s Lord Security and guardian. He just couldn’t be sent overseas with his men on active duty. He had several medals pinned to his chest. Most of the medals had been given to him by Tad, but some were from their grandmother, Queen Eliza of England, a woman not even Tad would have remembered. The three were waiting for a coffin draped in the royal standard to be placed on a cannon carriage adapted for Queen Victoria of Scotland’s funeral. One of the treaties between England and Scotland in the last hundred years allowed the English Royal Family to use this cannon carriage. It was part of their shared history of the World believing that the Scottish Royal Family and the English Royal Family were the same… Once the coffin was settled on the cart, the navy cadets started pulling the cart. Still numb, Arthur, the king-in-waiting, started moving with Anya and Uncle Aaron. Three others were walking behind them. Auncle Dylan decided to dress in a tasteful three-piece black suit, and they were behind their father, Great Uncle Aaron. Damian, who was dressed in a military uniform, was behind Arthur. Lord Liam Wales, who Tad referred to as Uncle Liam, was dressed in a three-piece suit but had his medals pinned to the left side of his chest. He had been retired from active duty for some time. He was behind Anya. All of them were doing their best not to show any emotion. Two Rolls Royce slowly followed behind them. The first car carried Aunt Melanie, Hennain (Great Grandmother), and Hen-daid (Great Grandfather). They refused to be in the same enclosed space as the Murrian women, especially when they refused to follow any funeral protocol regarding clothes. The second car carried the Murrian women: Kendra or ‘Stepmonster’, as Anya and Arthur refused to call her mother, Stepmonster’s dreadful mother, and her horrible sister, Karen. The bright colours they chose to wear to a very public funeral that was being shown all over the world would be the one thing that would be talked about for days. Arthur didn’t like thinking about those horrid women. Morning colours were part of royal protocol. Even when travelling, he had to have a set of black clothes back just in case something like a ruling monarch died while being away from home. This was something that happened to Queen Elizabeth II of Scotland when her father died. It was adopted into the English protocols for Grandmother Eliza, as she also was nowhere near home when King George VI of Scotland died and didn’t have black clothing with her. Arthur was pulled out of his thoughts as they came to a stop at Hyde Park. It was time to transfer the coffin from the cannon carriage to a specialised hearse with clear back windows. Damian had brushed against him slightly. “Wh—…” “Are you alright?” Damian asked quietly, “You’re like on auto-pilot.” Arthur shook his head, “Just numb, and I might have taken something to keep my powers from acting up.” “Did Catherine take something, too?” Arthur blinked as the world blurred as he started walking to a different car, “Maybe, I don’t think she’s flamed at anyone recently. Her firefighter guard had to go home for something that he couldn’t be on hand to douse her with water. Why?” “Because I’m not singed in any way,” Damian replied dryly. Arthur resisted the urge to smack his forehead. Damian opened the backdoor to the waiting Rolls Royce that he would share with Uncle Aaron, Aunt Melanie, and his great-grandparents. Arthur paused as Damian stayed on the other side of the door. “Are you going to join us?” Damian’s bloodshot eyes widened, “Are you sure? I didn’t think I was invited. I’m just the stepson.” “Who we like better than your mother!” Aunt Melanie called from somewhere inside the car. “Melanie!” Uncle Aaron hissed, “Not now.” Damian grimaced, “It would be better to travel with them. I’ll meet you at Windsor. This time should be for you and your immediate family.” Arthur nodded reluctantly before sliding into the car with some family members. Damian closed the door as Arthur looked around, “Where’s Anya and Auncle Dylan?” Aunt Melanie and Uncle Aaron look at each other. Arthur missed Hen-daid shuttering as Hennain pulled him close. The windows in the back could darken when needed. “There’s not enough space,” she assured, “They’re with Matheo and Lili.” Arthur let himself relax in Hennain’s arms. He felt safe to let tears roll down his cheeks. He felt it was alright to do so.