Aneira crept into the Queen’s private study. It wasn’t forbidden, especially to them as the heir to the throne, but it felt private. Cold. Aneira couldn’t help but shiver as they shut the door behind them. The whole room seemed frozen in time. A single desk at the end of the room with shelves of untouched and dusty books.

The ghostly queen hovered over the desk forlornly. Aneira approached cautiously, rubbing her cold hands together for some warmth.

“Why am I here?” Aneira asked, stopping before the desk.

“That’s a good question. Why are you here?” The queen looked at Aneira through the glassy eyes. “I have had people of all kinds searching for you from the moment I learned of you and only now you appear? Why are you here?”

“I didn’t know, my father never told me about you.” Aneira said, “I only learned when Lady Callafon arrived and discovered the evidence.”

“You never went through my brother-in-law's things? Your father’s things?” The queen asked, her voice echoing around the study.

“I couldn’t.” Aneira whimpered. Tears building in the corners of their eyes. “It’s my fault he’s gone. My fault they're both gone.”

“Is that so?”

Aneira nodded tearfully.

“I’m the one that found the river, I led Roskva onto the water. And that’s why they never came back.” Aneira couldn’t hold it together as the dam broke and tears came flooding down. The ghostly queen glided across the floor, coming to Aneira’s side and brushing their cheek. Wiping away a tear. The queen gasped softly as phantom tears touched the corners of her eyes.

“I can touch you.” She whispered. Aneira nodded, finding a cold comfort in the queen’s actions. “I haven’t touched anyone in so long. You're as cold as the dead.” Aneira nodded again. They didn’t know what to say.

“Tell me about you, about your sister. Was your father happy?” The queen asked, the ghostly features softening and drawing into longing.

“Yes.” Aneira said, fresh tears falling. “He was wonderful to us. We cared for our little farm together. I still hear his laughter in the rafters of the barn. I still see the lingering visions of him and my mother dancing in the sitting room. They’d sing and dance, like porcelain on a music box. Roskva and I would try to dance too but we’d always step on each other’s feet or fall over ourselves.” Aneira laughed despite themself. Such lovely memories cooped up for so long came pouring out like a river breaking a dam.

“I believe there are still some handkerchiefs in my desk. Top drawer on the right.” the queen stepped aside. Aneira opened the desk drawer and found the soft paper handkerchiefs folded up. Only lightly dusty. Aneira took one from the middle and shook it out to remove the dust.

“Please make yourself comfortable. This is your study now, after all.” The queen folded her hands together and smiled. “I have heard of your work in the city. Having the streets routinely cleaned, daily delivered and rotated produce. I was especially impressed with that task force to rid the city of slow fever. Genius.”

“No one should have to suffer. Not if they don’t have to.” Aneira said, wiping the tears from their face. Gathering their seriousness again. “But I don’t plan on staying.”

“You don’t?” The Queen asked surprised. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t rule a kingdom, this is exactly why I can’t!” Aneira said. “I’m a danger to everyone, even if that wasn’t the case. It’s clear I’m not wanted.”

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“Who says that?”

“My sister, your son. Do I need a comprehensive list?” Aneira asked. They wiped their eyes with the thin tissue handkerchief. “No. It’s better if I return home.”

“I wish this to be your home.” The Queen said. “I wish to see my family living together in harmony. Doing things I never had the chance to after my family was taken from me.”

“I apologize.” Aneira said, then after a pause; “What did happen to your first husband? My uncle?”

“He sought the one who took his mother and brother from us. He never returned.” The Queen said, shaking her head. “I fear he never met your family, though I also fear that he did.” Aneira nodded.

“You don’t begrudge my mother for the chance they-?” Aneira asked. The Queen shook her head, blurring her phantom features.

“I have no more life to spend in anger.” She said.

“Can I ask how you died?” Aneira asked carefully. “You seem young, and in perfect physical condition. Most dead I meet show their demise.”

“I fell ill.” The Queen said. She held her hands over her heart. “I sent out the search parties for you and your family. And I fell ill. So sick I couldn’t leave my bed.” Aneira watched the Queen carefully. Seeing there was more than she let on.

“Someone killed you.” Aneira said finally. The Queen shook her head.

“No. No. He would never. We loved each other, and we had for many many years. We had a son that we wanted the world for.” The Queen said, her visage trembling as she flickered between the worlds.

“Was he okay with you letting me into the palace? Letting me take over as the true heir of the kingdom?” Aneira asked. Feeling the room grow icy cold. The mirror's surface fogged up, the windows crackled as little cracks appeared in the edges. The ghosts shaking became more unstable as the Queen’s emotions grew more out of control. The physical objects in the room started shaking. Lifting into the air and orbiting the queen.

“Your majesty, please calm down!” Aneira said but their voice didn’t make a sound outside their own head. The mirror shattered and a phantom wind picked up and rushed around the room. Aneira felt the tempest in their own chest. Making their ears ring. Aneira dropped down and covered their head to avoid being hit by the flying debris.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you!” Aneira apologized but the paranormal activity reached its full maelstrom. With a scream of pain, the mirrors and windows shattered and everything stilled. The flying objects crashed to the ground. Aneira breathed heavily and uncovered their head to look around the room. The Queen’s ghost was gone, leaving only the mess behind. Aneira got to their feet and stood the chair upright. They took a breath and fell into the chair in exhaustion. A headache roared in their temples. They slumped down in the chair, hoping the Queen’s ghost would return and not be too upset with them.

After a brief rest, Aneira got up and began cleaning up the study. Somewhere in the back of their mind they knew they could call for a maid to do the job but the room seemed too sacred for others to be in it. Touching it. Rearranging it.

Besides that, the study now belonged to them. The Queen had said so. Aneira felt it was their responsibility to set it right again. They picked up every paper. Separating the blank ones from the outdated reports and letters. Looking over a few to see who the Queen had been on good terms with. Once the easily picked up items were replaced back where they belonged, Aneira turned their attention to the shards of glass from the broken mirror.

They inspected the doors, hoping to find a broom closet inside the study. They did find a private washroom, but no broom closet. Aneira shifted uncomfortably as they looked toward the door, thinking about going out in search of a broom.

“Hide!” A ghostly child hissed. Aneira turned but didn’t hesitate further. Jumping into the private washroom and closing the door but leaving a crack to see from. The washroom had no windows and no further places to hide. In the study. The ghostly child put their finger to their lips as they pointed to the windows. A second later, the window shattered. Aneira held their breath and flattened themself against the wall. Watching out the crack in the door and waiting.

A person dressed all in black walked into view. Holding a small crossbow. Aneira felt their heart stop. Their mind going straight to Roskva. The person knelt by the door, seemingly unaware they were being watched from the washroom. The person unlocked the study door and snuck out of the study. Leaving Aneira completely frozen in place in the washroom.

With a sudden gasp, Aneira stumbled out of the washroom.

“He hunts for you.” the ghost child spoke. Startling Aneira further.

“What about Roskva? Is she safe?” Aneira dropped to their knees to look at the child’s pale face.

“I don’t know,” The child said, equally scared. Aneira stumbled up onto their feet and looked out of the study’s door. But they didn’t see anyone in the hall. Heart pounding, they ran out to find Roskva.