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This is a most extraordinary event; she could hear a TV news co excitedly The royal family of Niroli is one of the richest in the world They live according to their own set of rules Of course the current King of Niroli is Giorgio However, there have been rumours for sorandson Prince Marco Noe have learned that Prince Marco has said that there is so he wants to tell his people It can only e this will be for the island There are already es too quickly, and that these could stir up unrest’

Whilst the commentator talked over the last notes of the Nirolian national anthem Emily focused feverishly on Marco's face This could be the last time she would ever see him

‘

People of Niroli: he said in Italian Tears stung Elish subtitles at the bottoth of purpose in Marcos voice as he went on What I have to tell you today causes reat sadness Great joy because when I leave you I shall bethe most important comh the next generation Great sadness, because, in order to do

that, I must abdicate my responsibility to you, the people of Niroli—'

Eh the listening crowd Her own thoughts were in tur? He was Nirolis future king and nothing could or should change thatShe had listened to his passionate diatribes against his grandfather and she had known his fierce longing to do so

Marco was still speaking, so she moved closer to the screen

It is my belief that Niroli and its people need a ruler with a different mindset from my own a ruler who can combine the best of the old ith a new path into the twenty-first century I a Giorgio needs an heir to step into his shoes whoood in our traditions Niroli also needs a new king who can take it forward into the future With the best will in the world I cannot be that king:

A low erto the TV co they wanted Touessed

‘Do not think, though,you for I am not I ae has taught me how ieneration and generation, between a ruler and his people My love for my child fills me and humbles me and reinforces in me my love for the people of Niroli It is out of this love—both fordown from the succession line to the throne, but never think that I a you I intend to set up a charity which will make available funds to help those citizens of Niroli who arepeople to be educated and to travel abroad, to broaden their horizons and then bring back to Niroli the gift of what they have learned so that they may share it It is my passionate belief that this island needs a better syste to reach their full potential I can do this best frooes with it At the sarandfather and whoever he chooses to take the throne after him

I ask for your blessing, people of Niroli and your understanding that sometimes it is more i

'Excuse aze blurred with her tears E her Marco had left the balcony The youngimpatient Reluctantly she nodded her head and headed for the exit

It wasn't a long walk froh for Emily to mentally question what Marco had done He had told his people that he was giving up the throne because of his child—her child Why? Marco was arrogant and proud, a perfectionist; did he—or his grandfather—fear the existence of a child as not perfect e the power of the Nirolian royal family?

Had his grandfather pressured Marco into stepping down, or had his own resolve spurred his abdication? Either way she had no wish to be a party to depriving Niroli of its future king, and nor did she want her son growing up carrying the burden and the blame for his fathers decision to deny hier to take on