She Discovers Their Secret, She Chooses Their World novel · Chapter 23 of 24
Chapter 23: Her Chair
The vote took less than a minute.
The oldest man called the roll, one name at a time, and each of the ten answered in a clear voice.
"For the heir."
"For the heir."
"For the heir."
The host did not wait to hear the count.
He stood, and his chair scraped, and he walked down the whole length of his own dining room with his back very straight.
Nobody stopped him.
At the door he turned and looked at me, and his eyes were cold.
"You have no idea what you're taking on, girl."
"Then I'll learn," I said.
Marco's men followed him out.
I never saw the host again, and I did not ask.
The next night the table met in our own dining room, under the old crest, and I took the oak chair at its head.
It was too big for me.
My feet did not reach the floor, so I crossed my ankles and sat up very straight.
The ten old men stood around the table in their dark suits, and when I nodded they sat.
"The chair names two," said the oldest. "It is the law. The heir names the men beside her, and the table hears the names."
"I know."
"Who stands at your right hand?"
I looked at Sergio, in the place behind my chair.
"Sergio Giordano," I said. "He held this seat for twelve years without ever sitting in it as his own. He was the first to kneel and last to stand. He is my hand."
Sergio bowed his head.
"And at your left?"
"Marco Volkov," I said. "He broke an arm for me, and he stopped when I told him to stop."
Marco's jaw tightened.
"He is my second," I said.
Marco said nothing, but I felt it from where I sat.
"There is one more matter," I said.
The old men waited.
"No man at this table will touch me without my word. If any of you wants to know why, ask the host."
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