"We need to do this quickly," Anna said, wringing her hands as Lars and Willem cleared a space in the room, setting a thick leather bound book on a small tattered table. "Jorien is going to address the people soon and Arnaud's mercenaries are going to attack the protestors once he finishes."

Harald smirked, moving around his wife to take his place in front of the table. "Would you care if our daughter wasn't out there?"

Maia fought the urge to cringe at Harald's snide remark and the heavy suffocating tension permeating the air. She looked up at Mateo who held an equally annoyed expression for his step mother. She could only imagine what kind of turmoil was tearing at his heart knowing the woman who treated him like her own son was the cause of his mother's death.

"We don't have time for you two to bicker," Mateo grumbled, letting go of Maia's hand to kneel before the table. "We can deal with your treason once this is over."

"Agreed," Harald said, opening the book and clearing his throat. "I, King Harald Hendrik de Koning, son of King Andries de Koning, hereby abdicate the throne and relinquish my rights and powers as King of Oost den Burg to Prince Hendrik Mateo de Koning."

"I, Prince Hendrik Mateo de Koning, accept the rights and powers bestowed upon me from my father, Harald Hendrik de Koning, and affirm my place as...as..." Mateo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Maia's heart clenched at Mateo's hands shaking as if he feared to speak his next words. She slid her hand to his shoulder and leaned down to his ear. "Don't be afraid," she whispered, kissing his cheek. "We'll figure it out together."

Mateo slid his hand over hers and nodded as he let out another breath. "I affirm my place as King Hendrik Mateo de Koning of Oost den Burg."

"I, Queen Anna Hocevar de Koning, hereby –"

"Don't you fucking dare, mother," Adrie said, standing in the entrance to the tunnel with Gerrit, Demetri and Levi holding boxes of clothes and supplies. "You have no right to be the witness of my brother's kingship."

"Adrie, wh-what are you doing here?" Anna said with her face paling in shock. "How did you know?"

"Never mind that," she said, sweeping across the floor with a commanding air that Maia had never seen from Mateo's meek sister. "As a true member of this family, I will witness this."

A smile tugged across Harald and Mateo's faces as Adrie nudged her mother to the side. "I, Princess Adrie Viola de Koning, hereby witness and affirm the abdication of my father Harald Hendrik de Koning," she said, holding out her hand to Mateo. "Rise, King Hendrik Mateo de Koning and place your name among the kings before you."

Mateo stood and threaded his fingers through Maia's as he stepped forward and wrote his name on the cream pages of the book beneath his father's.

"Long live King Hendrik. Long may you reign, my son," Harald said, pressing a fist to his chest as he gave him a deep bow followed by Adrie, Anna, their guards and their friends.

Maia let go of his hand to follow suit, but Mateo slipped his fingers under her chin and shook his head. "Never bow to me, liefje. You're my equal. You command the same respect as I do."

A blush burned over Maia's cheeks and she had a hard time taking her eyes off Mateo as turned to Lars. "Tell the guards they are no longer taking orders from Prince Jorien and the King will be addressing the people," he said before telling Willem to send a group of soldiers to find Bas' family and to take him to a holding cell and lock his step-mother in her chambers.

She wasn't sure if it was his new title or the way he fell into his new role with such ease, but damn, it was irrationally and highly inappropriately turning her on.

"Of course, Your Majesty," they said, giving him another bow.

"Wait! Please, Harald! Let me explain," Anna said, reaching for her husband as Willem led her away. "I never wanted things to end like this."

"Father, you don't need to be here for this if you want to go with Anna," Mateo said, nodding to the door.

"No." Harald shook his head. "I'm right where I should be, standing in solidarity with you."

"Where we all should've been," Adrie said, placing her hand on Mateo's arm. "I'm sorry this happened and I'm sorry I didn't stand beside you when Jorien used Saskia to drive you away from us."

"It's okay, Adrie. You're here now," Mateo said, smiling at his sister. "But after this is over, I'd like you to tell us how you knew about mother."

Adrie nodded. "Levi and I would be happy too."

Mateo looked down at Maia and brought her hand to his lips. "And if you're ready, I think it's time we reveal ourselves."

Maia squeezed his hand. "I'm ready."

Demetri cleared his throat. "Not looking like that you are," he said, patting the chair beside him. "You said I could make it happen, Your Highness."

Mateo chuckled. "Yes I did and I'm sure the guards will spare us some time," he said, gesturing for Maia to take a seat. "After you, mijn koningin."

"This is your moment, Prince Jorien," Bram said, grasping his shoulders as they stood in the foyer of the palace. "Speak with conviction like we rehearsed and Prince Hendrik's death will become the reason the people will follow you."

Jorien took a deep breath and nodded. "I know,' he said, turning to Gesina. "Are you sure you don't want to stand beside me?"

She shook her head and looked around him to the window at the horde of people pulling at the gates, the media waiting by the podium on the steps and the guards poised with their guns trained on the crowd. "No, I want to stay inside," she said, looking up at him as she slid her hands to his cheeks. "But I know you're going to be great." She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "I love you, Jori."

"I love you too, Gesi," he said, kissing her forehead. "I promise things will be better after this."

"I know they will." Gesina smiled. "Now show them who the rightful king should be."

He kissed her cheek. "As you wish."

"Excellent, Hugo. Wait for my signal," Saskia said, tapping her phone and slipping it into her pocket. "Everyone is in position. Now it's your turn, Prince Jorien."

Jorien nodded, straightening his shoulders as he turned to the door, clutching his notecards in his hand. "Ruben, open the doors."

Ruben frowned, touching the black earpiece in his ear before his eyes grew wide as he stepped away from the door. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I can't do that."

Jorien scoffed. "And why the hell not not?"

A smug smile curled over Ruben's lips as he clasped his hands behind his back "Because the King will be addressing the people."

"My father isn't fit to address the nation," Jorien scowled. "Who gave you those orders?"

"I did."

Jorien's heart thumped in fear and sweat beaded on his forehead at the sound of that voice as he slowly turned around and his face paled at the guards aiming their guns at Saskia and Bram while his brother stood in the foyer dressed in a navy suit and the ornate orange and gold sash of the king crossed over his chest with Maia standing beside him looking regal in a matching caped navy blue dress and the golden sash of late Queen Viola crossed over her chest.

"You...you should be dead," Jorien said, taking a shaky step back.

"And you should be bowing to your King," their father said with a smug grin on his face.

"Oh God." Gesina whimpered as she bowed her head. "Please, please forgive us, Your Majesty."

"No," Jorien said, curling his hands into a fist. "You can't take this from me!" He roared, lunging for his brother.

Mateo grit his teeth, pushing Maia behind him before he swung his fist and landed a blow to Jorien's face. "I didn't want to take this from you," he seethed, holding Jorien by the collar as tears mixed with the blood rolling down Jorien's nose. "You brought this on yourself and you will be held accountable for your crimes."

"You don't know what you've done," Jorien murmured as Lars zip tied his wrists behind his back. "Haro won't stop because you're king."

"We'll see about that," Mateo said, nodding to Lars. "Take them away."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Lars said, signaling to the guards to follow him.

"My father will come for me!" Saskia yelled as she struggled against the guard leading her away.

"Gesi, I'm sorry," Jorien said with his heart sinking at the tears rolling down her cheeks as they were escorted away from the foyer. "I'm so sorry."

"We never should've done this," she cried.

"The council won't stand for this," Bram grumbled. "He won't be king for long."

"Keep talking, Councillor," Lars said, pushing him along. "You're already going to be stripped of your title and tried for treason, but go on, tell us your plans to remove the King."

"Keep your mouth shut, Bram," Jorien hissed. "I'd like to protect the integrity of my wife and my children."

"That's the smartest thing you've said all day," Lars said, chuckling. "You should've been thinking about them before you planned this ridiculous coup."

"I was." Jorien snarled before he hung his head in shame. "I just never thought Hendrik was going to live."

A loud roaring cheer erupted outside the palace and Jorien's heart clenched at the joyous sound. "Before I lock you up, let me show you something," Lars said, tugging Jorien into a sitting room with a view of the steps of the palace where Hendrik and Maia stood at the podium with his father Adrie and Eline standing behind them.

The gates were opened and the people crowded around the guards maintaining a barrier between the royal family. Hendrik raised his hand and the cheering crowd went silent as they waited on baited breath for him to speak.

Tears pricked the corners of Jorien's eyes as he gazed upon the moment he always wanted.

"That is a man who never wanted to be king, but stepped into his birthright to save his country from a tyrant," Lars said. "The tyrant that you became and now you'll always wonder what could've been if you weren't so afraid of King Hendrik taking the crown from you."

A sob choked from Jorien's throat as he looked away from his brother and the people praising him. "Take me away. I don't want to see this."

"As you wish."

What he wished for was that his plan worked, but his moment of glory was gone and the only thing he could hope for to get him out of this was Arnaud Haro keeping good on his promise.

A/N: Yasss!!! I was swooning when Mateo told Maia not to bow to him and grinning from ear to ear when Jorien realised his brother wasn't dead and my heart was full when Mateo punched his brother in the face! I'm glad Lars took Jorien to see how the people reacted to Mateo, but there's still some danger in the air with whatever promise Arnaud has made to Jorien...

All will be sorted soon because there are two chapters left of A Muse Her...🥰