“Thank you all for listening. Please work together on this problem.” Aneira concluded. “You are excused.” The physicians of the city nodded with a combined; ‘yes your majesty’. Aneira turned to Roskva who sat on their right hand.

“This is wonderful, Aneira.” Roskva smiled. She stood up and watched the physician’s leave. “But what about my party?”

“Yes. We need to get your dress made.” Aneira said, tapping their finger on the table. “Page,” a messenger appeared with paper at the ready.

“Wonderful, find the coordinator and see what plans she has in mind for the gala.” Aneira said, then puzzled, they turned to Roskva. “What’s the difference between a party and a gala?”

“I’m not sure,” Roskva shrugged.

“Huh, remind me to ask Lady Callafon later.” Aneira said and then turned back to the page. “Tell her we’ll meet her at the grand hall.”

“Yes your majesty,” The page bowed and exited the meeting room.

“Meanwhile we need to work on the infrastructure and preservation for better food for the city.” Aneira said, staring hard at the table as they tried to think of something.

“I think it’s wonderful you’re taking the health and safety of our people so seriously.” Roskva said, folding her hands together. “I think it’s going to make Lord Starkon at ease.”

“Lord?” Aneira asked with a scoff.

“He is the son of the Queen. Historically, our aunt. That makes him something, doesn’t it?” Roskva asked.

“Our cousin, once removed.” Aneira said with a noticeable lack of emotion. But they took a minute to rethink it. “But you’re right. Lord might be correct but I’m not entirely sure. I’ll get one of the historians to explain it to me and we can give him whichever title he’s owed.”

“Thank you! I knew you’d see reason.” Roskva nodded proudly. “You’re going to make a great King.”

“Don’t remind me.” Aneira sighed. Then looked back at Roskva. “What about you? Don’t you want to be a Queen?”

“I’m pretty okay with princess at the moment.” Roskva laughed. “You seem to have this together way better than I could ever manage.”

“I guess we should head down to the hall before the coordinator wanders off on another tirade about flowers again.” Aneira said. Roskva giggled and ran to the door. Only to be surprised by another page. He bowed to Roskva and ran into the meeting room and bowed to Aneira.

“Message for you, your majesty.” The page said breathlessly. Aneira nodded and he took out his paper to read it. “The people are assembled outside. They want to know what you plan to do about the real problem of the kingdom.”

“The real problem?” Aneira asked.

“Yes, your majesty. The undead situation.” The page clarified.

“Oh, that.” Aneira said.

“Are the people upset?” Roskva asked.

“Not yet, but they are a bit riled up.” The page said, Roskva looked up at Aneira worriedly.

“We should get out there.” She said, Aneira nodded. “We better hurry!” Aneira and Roskva sped through the halls to the front steps of the palace where the crowd had gathered. Stopped by guards keeping a line between the not quite angry mob and the palace.

“Your majesty!” A voice in the crowd directed the mobs attention from the guards to Aneira and their sister.

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“Everyone calm down!” Aneira commanded. “I have been made aware of the undead and I am working on a solution!”

“We need a solution now!” cried a voice from the crowd.

“I am open to any and all suggestions.” Aneira said earnestly. “Everyone who has a suggestion please form a line to the right and a page will take it down for me.” A few people detached from the quieting crowd to form a line where a page was ready to take down the ideas.

“What about the river!” Called another voice.

“What about it?” Aneira asked, feeling that cold creeping up behind them.

“The river is causing this! We should do something about it!”

“Fair enough, please form a line and have the page take down your ideas and I will review them.” Aneira said.

“You’re doing great,” Roskva whispered. It was meant to be encouraging but Aneira could only feel the dread. Aneira took a breath to steady themself and attempt to draw it all to a close before they fell to pieces.

“I understand you are all unsettled by the current uncertainty of the changing of the crown. There is a lot of worry in the unknown. But I ask that you all give it a chance.” Aneira announced. “I may not know how to be your ruler. But I promise, we’ll do our best to do right by you. The people of this kingdom.” The mob quieted, looking around at each other.

“The undead are a problem now!” Shouted a voice from the crowd.

“Can it!” The shopkeeper from earlier shouted, he looked at Aneira. “They’ve done more for us in a single afternoon than any monarch we’ve had since the good Queen herself!” The crowd murmured in agreement.

“Long live the new King!” Cried a familiar voice. Aneira spied Bellaire on the side of the crowd. Her cry spurred on a chant from the crowd.

“Long Live the New King!” The mob chanted. Aneira felt their face flush.

“You are a natural.” Roskva whispered. Aneira only whimpered in response. This wasn’t going the way they expected it to. This was going all wrong.

“Th-thank you for your patience!” Aneira called. Turning and retreating hastily back into the palace. Leaving Roskva stunned on the step.

“I’ll be happy to answer any more questions!” She called to the crowd. Aneira retreated into the first empty room they could find and hid inside it. Breathing heavily as their world spun around them. They weren’t supposed to be here this long! They were supposed to be back at their home by now and Roskva was to be made Queen.

Aneira focused on their breathing. A new challenge but they could get through it. Just until Roskva’s birthday. Then they could leave.

“Your majesty?” A tentative knock came on the door. “If we may?”

“Yes, I’m coming.” Aneira said, with a final steadying sigh, they opened the door.

“Your majesty, I have some questions regarding the guestlist.” The event coordinator said. Holding up papers. “I’ve sent the Princess off to pick out decorations and colors. The former prince has elected to accompany her.”

“I see.” Aneira said, narrowing their eyes as Lady Callafon jogged over. “I hope you had a good time.”

“I did. It was nice to see you taking so well to royalty.” Bellaire smiled smugly. Aneira scowled but turned back to the coordinator.

“Let’s take this conversation to the study.” Aneira said and led the way to the study where they sat behind a desk and listened to the coordinator go over the guest list. Filled with nearby nobles and royals of different provinces and baronies. Not that any of the names made real sense to Aneira though they figured Roskva would need to meet the important players of the kingdom.

“I believe the nobility is fine but may I also suggest some of the neighbors from our farmland. Roskva and I grew up with them and I believe she would love to have a few familiar faces as well.” Aneira suggested.

“Absolutely, I can have those invites sent out.” The coordinator said. “I just need names or-”

“Aneira!” Roskva called as she burst into the study. “Aneira! The tailor is here for us to try on our gala dresses! There’s also artists for hair and make-up trials!”

“I just have to finish up the guest list,” Aneira said. “I want our neighbors to be added. But it is your gala, so why don’t you tell our coordinator about who you’d like to invite?”

“Ooh!” Roskva skipped farther into the study, Starkon following behind. “Gosh. Can I just say everyone?”

“You could, but there is only so much room in the ballroom and dining hall.” Starkon said. “And I’m fairly sure that list is rather long as it is.”

“We have also the courtyard and other halls we could turn into hosting areas for guests.” Aneira said. “The palace is large and we have room for everyone Roskva wants at her party. It’s hers after all.” Starkon smiled in a way that made Aneira uncomfortable.

“Yes, your majesty.” He said with a bow. Roskva listed off her neighbors heedless of Aneira’s annoyance.

“That’s all I can think of right this second.” Roskva said after she paused in her list. “I’ll get back to you if I can think of more.”

“Perfect, I’ll get these invites sent out.” The event coordinator said and she departed.

“Now the tailor and trials, right?” Roskva asked, turning to Aneira.

“I guess so.” Aneira said. Standing up from the desk. “Let’s go.”