Chronicle 33
Elara sat alone in the bedroom that Peace had assigned her
in Ercolanum.
The room was luxurious by almost any standard.
A king-sized bed.
A carved wardrobe.
Fresh flowers arranged on a small table.
Heavy curtains drawn across the balcony doors.
A fireplace quietly crackling against the cool evening.
She hated it.
Not because there was anything wrong with the room.
Because tomorrow, people expected her to look as though she
belonged in it.
She stood before the mirror in her nightdress, slowly
removing the last of the jewellery she had worn during the hearing.
One earring.
Then the other.
She placed them carefully into a velvet-lined box.
Tomorrow.
The word had echoed in everyone's mouths since Judge Caron
had delivered his ruling.
Tomorrow, the provisional administration would formally
recognize her.
Tomorrow, Peace would begin transferring authority.
Tomorrow, Princess Elara would become-
She closed her eyes.
Queen Elara.
The title settled in her stomach like a stone.
She looked back at her reflection.
She didn't see a queen.
She saw a tired young woman with dark circles beneath her
eyes.
Someone who had cried too often over the last year.
Someone who had spent more time inside courtrooms than
throne rooms.
Someone whose entire family had died.
Someone whose kingdom no longer really existed.
...
She sat down on the edge of the bed.
As a little girl...
She had loved this game.
Whenever tutors became boring or court ceremonies dragged on
too long, she would imagine herself wearing the crown.
Not because she expected to inherit it.
Her brothers had always stood ahead of her.
Everyone knew that.
The succession had never been hers.
Still...
Children dreamed.
Sometimes she imagined sitting upon the throne while
ambassadors bowed before her.
Sometimes she imagined presiding over great festivals.
Sometimes she imagined travelling through the countryside
with cheering crowds throwing flowers.
Sometimes...
She imagined fixing everything.
She remembered watching Havin dismiss petitioners without
listening.
Watching him ridicule frightened ministers.
Watching him sign decrees that made ordinary people poorer
while pretending they should be grateful.
She remembered sitting in the gallery, too young to speak,
silently thinking...
If I were Queen...
I wouldn't do that.
I'd listen.
I'd help them.
I'd make everyone love the Crown again.
Those dreams had survived childhood.
Even when she knew they would never happen.
There had always been a tiny part of her that wondered...
What if?
...
Now the impossible had happened.
She had the crown.
Or she would tomorrow.
…and she wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.
She laughed quietly.
It sounded almost bitter.
"Isn't that ironic..."
Outside, traffic murmured through the streets of Ercolanum.
A modern city.
Peaceful.
Prosperous.
The exact opposite of Aetheria.
She imagined tomorrow's ceremony.
Television cameras.
Diplomats.
Military bands.
Flags.
Music.
Speeches.
The ancient regalia of House Havin displayed beneath bright
lights.
The pageantry every child associated with royalty.
The sort of ceremony that belonged in fairy tales.
How could she stand beneath golden banners while villages in
Aetheria still lacked electricity?
How could she smile for photographs while people sifted
through rubble looking for relatives?
How could she wear diamonds when entire towns had no roofs?
The thought made her stomach churn.
The crown suddenly felt less like a privilege...
...and more like an insult.
A knock sounded from the bathroom door.
Then Eldred emerged, drying his hands on a towel.
He immediately noticed her expression.
"You've been staring at that mirror for ten
minutes."
"I know."
"You planning on fighting it?"
She managed the faintest smile.
"I don't think I'd win."
Eldred tossed the towel over a chair before sitting beside
her.
Neither spoke for a while.
Eventually he asked quietly,
"What's wrong?"
Elara looked down at her hands.
"I don't understand myself."
He waited.
"I've wanted this since I was a little girl."
She laughed once.
"A ridiculous little fantasy."
"I used to imagine wearing the crown."
"I used to imagine what kind of Queen I'd be."
"I imagined changing everything."
Her voice softened.
"I wanted tomorrow more than almost anything."
She looked up.
"So why do I dread it?"
Silence settled between them.
She rubbed her forehead.
"It makes no sense."
"I finally have the opportunity I've dreamed about my
whole life..."
"...and all I want to do is run away from it."
Eldred remained quiet.
She appreciated that.
Too many people rushed to answer.
Eldred usually listened first.
"I don't want the ceremony."
She shook her head.
"I don't want the crown."
"I don't want everyone pretending everything is
wonderful."
She looked toward the window.
"My kingdom is broken."
"My people are starving."
"My cities hate me."
"My family destroyed the country."
Her voice cracked.
"…and tomorrow I'm supposed to stand there while an
orchestra plays?"
She laughed again.
This time there was no humour in it.
"It feels obscene."
Eldred finally spoke.
"I don't think anyone expects you to enjoy it."
"No?"
"No."
He leaned back slightly.
"I think everyone expects you to endure it."
That wasn't the answer she expected.
She frowned.
"I don't know if I even want to."
Another silence.
Then the words she'd been afraid to say finally escaped.
"What if I didn't become Queen?"
Eldred turned toward her.
"What if I simply... handed everything to Peace?"
She spread her hands helplessly.
"A permanent Mandate."
"They govern."
"I disappear."
"I find somewhere quiet."
"I live an ordinary life."
The picture formed so easily in her mind.
No speeches.
No security.
No hatred.
No throne.
Just...
Peace.
"I could finally stop apologizing for my father's
crimes."
She swallowed.
"Maybe Aetheria would even be better off."
She expected Eldred to reject the idea immediately.
He didn't.
Instead, he asked,
"Would that make you happy?"
She opened her mouth.
Stopped.
Thought.
"...I don't know."
"Would it let you sleep at night?"
"I don't know."
He nodded slowly.
"I believe you."
She looked at him.
"I mean it."
"I think retiring probably does sound attractive."
"It sounds attractive to me, too."
That surprised her.
"It does?"
He smiled weakly.
"I've spent enough time around politics to know why
people leave it."
She almost smiled back.
Then the smile disappeared just as quickly.
"…but..."
He nodded.
"…but."
She knew there had to be one.
"You also have an opportunity."
She sighed.
"I know."
"No."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"You have the opportunity."
She remained silent.
"You've spent your whole life saying someone should do
things differently."
"You finally get the chance."
She stared at the floor.
"…and if the people don't let me?"
The question came out almost as a whisper.
"They hate me."
"They wanted me executed."
"They think I'm my father."
"What if every decision I make is rejected simply
because it came from me?"
"What if they never forgive me?"
Eldred answered quietly.
"They might not."
The honesty hurt.
"They might never forgive the House of Zorab."
"They might never forgive your father."
"They might never forgive your brothers."
He paused.
"...but that doesn't necessarily mean they can't
forgive Elara."
She looked unconvinced.
"They've barely met Elara."
"They've met Princess Elara."
"They've met King Havin's daughter."
"They've met a prisoner."
"They've met a symbol."
He smiled gently.
"They haven't really met their Queen yet."
Elara looked back toward the mirror.
The young woman staring back still looked frightened.
Still looked uncertain.
Still looked exhausted.
Not regal.
Not majestic.
Not inspiring.
Just...
Human.
"I don't know if I can save Aetheria."
Eldred followed her gaze.
"I don't know either."
The answer almost made her laugh.
"…but I know one thing."
She waited.
"If you walk away because you're afraid you'll
fail..."
"...then your father wins one final time."
The room fell quiet again.
The fire crackled softly.
Tomorrow.
For the first time that evening...
It no longer sounded exciting.
It no longer sounded glamorous.
It no longer sounded like the fulfilment of a childhood
fantasy.
It sounded like work.
Impossible work.
Work she wasn't certain she wanted.
Work she wasn't certain she could do.
Yet somewhere beneath all of that...
There remained the frightened little girl who had once sat
quietly in the royal gallery, watching injustice unfold, thinking:
If only someone would change this.
Tomorrow...
That "someone" would be her.
Elara did not sleep.
Not properly.
She drifted in and out.
A few minutes here.
Perhaps half an hour there.
Every time sleep finally began to take hold...
...tomorrow returned.
Except eventually...
Tomorrow became today.
Elara opened her eyes.
The bedroom remained dark.
Eldred slept beside her.
For a few moments, she simply stared at the ceiling.
Today.
Her stomach tightened.
Today she would become Queen of Aetheria.
People would bow to her.
Officials would swear allegiance to her.
Cameras would record her.
Her words would become policy.
Her decisions would affect thousands of lives.
People who hated her.
People who feared her.
People who blamed her family for everything that had
happened.
Elara closed her eyes.
Sleep was impossible now.
She carefully slipped from beneath the blankets.
Eldred shifted slightly.
Elara froze.
Waited.
His breathing settled again.
Good.
At least one of them deserved some sleep.
She quietly crossed the bedroom and entered the bathroom.
Closed the door.
Turned on the light.
Bright white light immediately filled the room.
Elara squinted.
Then looked toward the mirror.
...and froze.
For several seconds...
She simply stared.
Not at her face.
Lower.
Her eyes moved across her body.
Across the scars.
Some had faded.
Others had not.
Some were little more than pale lines now.
Others remained impossible to ignore.
Her fingers moved toward one.
Touched it.
Immediately-
She remembered.
Pain.
Her hand moved toward another.
More pain.
Another.
Fear.
Another.
Humiliation.
Another.
Hands.
Voices.
Laughter.
Elara pulled her hand away.
Her breathing quickened.
She looked at herself again.
Really looked.
She didn't see Queen Elara.
She didn't see the woman who would stand before Aetheria in
a few hours.
She saw pale skin.
Thin shoulders.
Scars.
Damage.
She saw someone vulnerable.
Someone hurt.
Someone broken.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"No..."
The word barely escaped.
She tried standing straighter.
Tried lifting her chin.
Tried imagining the crown.
It didn't work.
She still looked small.
Sickly.
Weak.
Nothing like the queens from the paintings she had grown up
admiring.
Nothing like the rulers from history.
Nothing like someone who could rebuild a kingdom.
Elara gripped the edge of the sink.
"How am I supposed to do this?"
Her reflection offered no answer.
"Look at me."
Her voice cracked.
"I'm supposed to govern a kingdom?"
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Then another.
"I can't even..."
She stopped.
The words disappeared beneath a sob.
Elara covered her mouth.
It did nothing.
Another sob escaped.
Then another.
Soon she wasn't trying to remain quiet anymore.
She wept.
Loudly.
Painfully.
Everything she had managed to hold together the night
before...
...fell apart.
She bent forward against the sink.
Her shoulders shook.
"I can't do this..."
The words came between sobs.
"I can't..."
...
The bathroom door opened.
Elara didn't hear it.
Not at first.
Eldred stood in the doorway.
His hair was a mess.
His eyes barely awake.
Concern immediately replaced exhaustion.
He had heard her crying.
He had expected to find something wrong.
He had.
Yet he didn't rush toward her.
He didn't immediately speak.
Instead...
He looked.
Elara eventually noticed him in the mirror.
She turned.
Her eyes red.
Her cheeks wet.
Her breathing uneven.
Eldred was staring at her.
...and smiling.
Elara stared back.
"What?"
Eldred said nothing.
"What are you smiling at?"
Still nothing.
Elara looked down at herself.
The scars suddenly felt even more visible.
She instinctively tried covering herself.
"Don't."
Eldred's voice was gentle.
Elara stopped.
"Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like..."
She struggled.
Then anger briefly pushed through the grief.
"Like there's something beautiful here."
Eldred's smile faded.
Not because he disagreed.
Because he understood.
Elara looked toward the mirror again.
"I feel like I've been carved up."
Her fingers touched another scar.
"Like some discarded piece of meat."
Eldred's expression tightened.
Elara shook her head.
"Every time I look at them..."
"...I remember."
Her voice became smaller.
"They make me feel worthless."
Another tear.
"They make me feel weak."
That was when Eldred moved.
Slowly.
He crossed the bathroom.
Stopped beside her.
Placed one hand gently upon her shoulder.
Then shook his head.
"No."
Elara looked at him.
"No?"
"No."
His hand remained on her shoulder.
"Your scars don't make you worthless."
Elara looked away.
"They don't make you weak."
"Eldred-"
"They don't."
The certainty in his voice stopped her.
He looked toward the mirror.
Toward her reflection.
Toward every mark she wished would disappear.
"Every one of those scars means somebody hurt
you."
Elara swallowed.
"Every one means something happened that should never
have happened."
His eyes returned to hers.
"...but you're still here."
Silence.
"That's what I see."
Elara stared at him.
"I don't see weakness."
"I see proof."
"Proof of what?"
"That they couldn't destroy you."
The words landed harder than she expected.
Eldred continued.
"Every scar is proof that somebody knocked you
down..."
"...and you got back up."
"Somebody hurt you..."
"...and you're still standing."
"Somebody tried to break you..."
His hand squeezed her shoulder.
"...and they failed."
Elara's eyes filled again.
"They don't feel like that."
"I know."
"They feel ugly."
"I know."
"They make me feel broken."
"I know."
Elara shook her head.
"Then why do we keep having this conversation?"
Eldred blinked.
She turned toward him.
"How many times are you going to have to tell me
this?"
Her voice rose again.
"If I'm strong..."
She pointed toward herself.
"...why don't I feel strong?"
Eldred was quiet.
Only for a moment.
"Because strength isn't linear."
Elara frowned.
"Neither is recovery."
He leaned against the counter beside her.
"You're going to have good days."
"You're going to have terrible days."
"You're going to have days when you look at yourself
and think you've finally moved past everything."
"...and then something happens."
"A memory."
"A nightmare."
"A courtroom."
"A crown."
Elara looked down.
"...and suddenly you're back here."
He gestured gently toward the mirror.
"Thinking none of your progress mattered."
Eldred shook his head.
"It mattered."
"It still matters."
Elara listened.
"Your mind does strange things when you're
frightened."
"It tries to protect you."
"Sometimes that means filling your head with every
reason something could go wrong."
"Every reason you might fail."
"Every reason you shouldn't even try."
He smiled faintly.
"It's trying to protect you from disappointment."
"Unfortunately..."
"...it's terrible at being encouraging."
A tiny laugh escaped Elara.
Barely.
Eldred smiled.
"There."
"What?"
"That."
Elara wiped her eyes.
"I cried for ten minutes and you congratulate me for
laughing once?"
"Absolutely."
That earned him another.
Small.
...but real.
Eldred's expression softened again.
"Life isn't going to stop challenging you because
you've already suffered enough."
"I wish it would."
"So do I."
He sighed.
"It has terrible timing."
Elara nodded.
"Today especially."
"Today especially."
Eldred turned toward her.
"When something new happens..."
"...it's easy to look at it and say..."
He raised both hands.
"'That's it.'"
"'This is too much.'"
"'I'm tapping out.'"
Elara smiled weakly.
"That's basically what I told you last night."
"I know."
He smiled.
"I was there."
She rolled her eyes.
Then Eldred became serious again.
"...but that's when you remind yourself..."
He pointed toward the mirror.
"...you've said that before."
Elara looked at her reflection.
"You've thought something was too much before."
"You've thought you couldn't survive something
before."
"You've thought you'd never recover before."
His voice softened.
"...and you did."
Elara swallowed.
"So when your mind says..."
"'I can't do this'..."
"...you answer..."
"'I've thought that before.'"
A pause.
"'I overcame it before.'"
Another.
"'I'll overcome it again.'"
Elara stared at herself.
The scars remained.
Nothing had changed.
...and somehow everything had.
Eldred stepped closer.
"Elara."
She looked at him.
"You are the strongest woman I've ever met."
Her face immediately tightened.
"Don't exaggerate."
"I'm not."
"Eldred."
"I'm serious."
"No hyperbole."
He shook his head.
"None."
His eyes remained fixed upon hers.
"I watched you survive things that terrified me just
watching them happen."
"I've watched you wake up after nightmares and still
get out of bed."
"I watched you sit across from investigators and tell
them what happened."
"I watched you walk into that courtroom."
"I watched you face people who wanted to blame you for
crimes you didn't commit."
He paused.
"...and today I'm going to watch you become
Queen."
Elara's lips trembled.
Eldred smiled.
"Not because you're fearless."
"You're obviously terrified."
She laughed through her tears.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
His smile widened.
"You're strong because you're terrified..."
"...and you're still going."
That did it.
Elara stepped forward.
Wrapped both arms around him.
Hard.
Eldred grunted softly from the force.
Then immediately wrapped his arms around her.
Neither spoke.
They simply held each other.
Elara pressed her chin against his shoulder.
Eldred did the same and caressed the back of her head.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Neither seemed particularly interested in letting go.
Eventually Elara spoke.
Her voice muffled against him.
"Why don't you get tired of this?"
Eldred looked down.
"Of what?"
"This."
She pulled back just enough to see him.
"Having the same conversations."
"Putting me back together."
"Reminding me of things you've already told me."
Eldred thought about it.
Then shrugged.
"Because you keep trying."
Elara stared at him.
"Every time you get knocked down..."
"...eventually you try to get back up."
His hand moved gently along her back.
"So every time you try..."
"...it makes me that much more determined to
help."
Elara's eyes softened.
"When you're down..."
"I help you back up."
"When your mind forgets..."
"I remind you."
"When you can't see what I see..."
He smiled.
"...I tell you."
Elara tightened her arms around him again.
Eldred returned the embrace.
Then his smile became slightly mischievous.
"Besides..."
Elara immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
"These conversations give me another excuse to hug the
most beautiful woman in the world."
Elara stared at him.
Then laughed.
A real laugh this time.
"Eldred."
"What?"
"That was terrible."
"It worked."
She shook her head.
Then squeezed him even tighter.
"Well..."
Her smile returned.
"...I suppose I can't complain."
"No?"
"No."
She rested her head against him again.
"Because I get to hug the most beautiful man in the
world."
Eldred blinked.
Then smiled.
"I think we may both be biased."
"Probably."
Neither cared.
For another moment...
They simply held each other.
The bathroom light remained bright.
The mirror remained exactly where it had been.
The scars remained exactly where they had been.
Nothing had vanished.
Nothing had magically healed.
Elara was still frightened.
Aetheria was still broken.
Her people still distrusted her.
In a few hours...
She would still have to walk outside.
Face the cameras.
Face the officials.
Face the kingdom.
...and become Queen.
...but when Elara finally looked toward the mirror again...
She didn't see someone untouched.
She didn't see someone invulnerable.
She didn't see the perfect Queen from the paintings of her
childhood.
She saw someone who had been hurt.
Someone who still hurt.
Someone who would probably hurt again.
...and someone who was still standing.
For this morning...
That would have to be strong enough.
The beginning of Elara's reign took place in a small office.
She wasn't entirely sure what she had expected.
A throne room, perhaps.
Trumpets.
Flags.
A long procession of officials dressed in ceremonial
clothing.
Something.
Instead...
There was a desk.
Three chairs.
A Unity flag.
A framed photograph of Ercolanum hanging slightly crooked on
the wall.
...and a Unity representative organizing papers into several
neat piles.
Elara stared at the desk.
"This is it?"
The representative looked up.
"This is it."
Elara glanced toward Eldred.
He smiled.
"Disappointed?"
"No."
She thought about it.
"Maybe."
Eldred laughed.
Elara sat down.
The Unity representative placed a document before her.
The document itself was far more impressive than the room.
Heavy paper.
Official seals.
Several pages of legal language establishing that Elara of
Aetheria acknowledged Judge Caron's ruling, accepted recognition as the lawful
sovereign of Aetheria and agreed to the transitional arrangements established
between her government, Unity and Peace.
Elara stared at the signature line.
Her name had already been printed beneath it.
ELARA OF AETHERIA
Underneath that—
QUEEN OF AETHERIA
Her stomach fluttered.
There it was.
Not Princess.
Not claimant.
Not witness.
Not survivor.
Queen.
The Unity representative pointed toward the line.
"Whenever you're ready."
Elara reached for the pen.
Then noticed Eldred standing several feet away with his
phone held horizontally.
She frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"Recording."
"I can see that."
"You should post it."
Elara stared.
"Post me signing a document?"
"You're becoming Queen."
"I think people know."
"They'll still want to see it."
Elara looked toward the two photographers standing nearby.
One had an official camera.
The other appeared to be taking photographs specifically
designed for social media.
Elara sighed.
"This isn't how I imagined becoming Queen."
Eldred smiled behind the phone.
"How did you imagine it?"
"More trumpets."
That made one of the photographers laugh.
Elara looked back down.
The signature line waited.
For a moment...
Her hand trembled.
She thought about the bathroom.
The mirror.
The scars.
I've thought this before.
She inhaled.
I've overcome it before.
The pen touched the paper.
I'll overcome it again.
Elara signed.
The camera shutters immediately began clicking.
Eldred kept recording.
Elara finished the final flourish and lifted the pen.
The Unity representative inspected the signature.
Then smiled.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Elara froze.
Her Majesty.
She looked toward Eldred.
He lowered the phone.
Then grinned.
"Your Majesty."
Elara pointed the pen at him.
"Don't start."
The photographers laughed.
The Unity representative gathered the remaining papers.
"That concludes everything we require."
Elara blinked.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
She stared at him.
"I'm Queen now?"
"Legally speaking?"
"Yes."
Elara looked toward Eldred.
"That was surprisingly easy."
"Give it time."
She laughed.
...
There were photographs afterward.
Of course there were photographs afterward.
Elara stood beside Eldred holding the signed document.
One photograph.
Then another.
She held it slightly higher.
Another.
Elara smiled.
Eldred smiled.
Another.
The entire thing felt strangely silly.
Yet she found herself enjoying it.
After everything that had happened...
Maybe she was allowed one happy photograph.
"Closer together, please."
Eldred stepped closer.
Elara immediately leaned into him.
The photographer took several more pictures.
Elara looked toward Eldred.
Eldred looked toward Elara.
Neither said anything.
They didn't need to.
Elara leaned forward.
...and kissed him.
The camera clicked.
Neither noticed until they separated.
The photographer lowered the camera.
A smile appeared.
"Oh, that's good."
Elara laughed.
"What?"
The photographer turned the display toward them.
Elara and Eldred crowded together.
There it was.
The kiss.
Perfectly timed.
Elara holding the document against her side.
Eldred's hand around her waist.
Both completely ignoring the camera.
Elara stared at it.
"Oh."
Eldred smiled.
"That's the one."
Elara looked at him.
"That's absolutely the one."
The photographer laughed.
Elara immediately pointed toward the camera.
"I want that."
"You'll receive all the photographs."
"No."
Elara pointed again.
"That one."
Eldred laughed.
"Apparently that's a royal command now."
Elara's eyes widened.
"Oh."
She looked toward the photographer.
"Sorry."
The photographer laughed.
"I'll make sure you get it."
Elara smiled.
"Thank you."
...
Eldred sent her his video before they had even left the
building.
Elara watched the first few seconds while walking toward the
entrance.
"You filmed the entire thing?"
"Yes."
"Even me complaining about the lack of trumpets?"
"Especially that."
Elara glared at him.
"I'm editing that out."
"Coward."
The doors opened.
The world outside immediately reminded Elara that something
had changed.
Peace Officers surrounded them.
Not aggressively.
Not dramatically.
Simply...
Everywhere.
Two ahead.
Several behind.
Others positioned near the vehicles and along the sidewalk.
Elara stopped.
She counted.
Then counted again.
"Eldred."
"Yes?"
"Did we always have this many?"
"No."
"I didn't think so."
One of the Officers opened the vehicle door.
Elara stared at the small security formation surrounding
her.
Then sighed.
"I suppose I'd better get used to this."
Eldred smiled.
"Probably."
Elara climbed inside.
"I'm the Queen now."
She paused.
"...that's going to take some getting used to."
...
Breakfast was considerably less historic.
Elara preferred it that way.
She and Eldred sat together at a small restaurant while
Peace Officers occupied strategically selected tables nearby.
Nobody bothered them.
Mostly.
There were looks.
Whispers.
Phones.
Elara noticed every one.
She tried not to.
Breakfast helped.
Coffee helped more.
For several minutes they simply ate.
Then Elara placed her fork down.
"So."
Eldred immediately became suspicious.
"So?"
"What do I do now?"
He looked confused.
"About what?"
"Aetheria."
Eldred stared at her.
Elara spread her hands.
"I'm Queen."
"Yes."
"I have a kingdom."
"Technically."
"I don't have a government."
"Technically you do."
"I don't have a staff."
"You have me."
Elara pointed toward him.
"I have Eldred."
"Exactly."
"My entire royal administration consists of
Eldred."
"A very capable administration."
She laughed.
"Do you know how to run a kingdom?"
"No."
"Excellent."
Elara picked up her coffee.
"We're off to a wonderful start."
Eldred smiled.
Elara took a drink.
Then her expression became serious again.
"We don't even have vehicles."
Eldred frowned.
"The royal vehicles were burned."
"Oh."
"During the Fall."
"Right."
Elara stared into her coffee.
"I have a home."
She considered that.
"Sort of."
"The palace?"
"What's left of it."
The palace still stood.
Parts of it.
Other parts required extensive reconstruction.
Some sections were unsafe.
Others had been looted.
The home Elara had once known existed now mostly as rooms
connected by scaffolding, boarded windows and memories.
She sighed.
"I don't know where I'm supposed to work."
"I don't know who works for me."
"I don't know whether the Army will listen to me."
That thought bothered her more.
What remained of the Aetherian Army had survived the Fall in
fragments.
Units.
Officers.
Soldiers.
People who had served Havin.
People who had abandoned Havin.
People whose loyalties remained unclear.
Elara rubbed her forehead.
"I don't even know if they'll accept me."
Eldred remained quiet.
"Forget the Army."
Elara looked around the restaurant.
"I don't know if anyone will accept me."
That was the real problem.
The legal question had been answered.
Judge Caron had ruled.
Unity had recognized her.
A signature now sat on an official document.
Legally...
She was Queen.
Politically?
Socially?
Emotionally?
Aetheria had yet to answer.
Elara stared through the window.
People moved along the streets of Ercolanum.
Cars.
Buses.
Workers.
Students.
Ordinary life continuing around them.
Then...
Something clicked.
Elara slowly lowered her coffee.
"Eldred."
He recognized the tone.
"What?"
"What if we don't go back yet?"
"To Aetheria?"
"Yes."
She leaned forward.
"What if we bring Aetheria here?"
Eldred frowned.
"Explain."
Elara's thoughts were moving faster now.
"We hold a summit."
"A summit?"
"Here."
She gestured around them.
"In Ercolanum."
Eldred listened.
"We invite everyone important."
"Who?"
"Everyone."
Elara immediately began counting.
"Remaining government officials."
"Army commanders."
"Local leaders."
"Representatives from Curgarden."
"Religious leaders."
"Businesspeople."
"Relief organizations."
"Community representatives."
"Anyone with enough influence that rebuilding Aetheria
without them would be impossible."
Her excitement grew.
"Bring them somewhere neutral."
"Somewhere safe."
"Somewhere nobody has an army standing behind
them."
Eldred smiled slightly.
Elara barely noticed.
"We put everyone in the same building."
"We talk."
"We argue."
"We figure out what Aetheria is supposed to
become."
She sat back.
The idea felt...
Right.
For the first time since Judge Caron's ruling, she wasn't
thinking about what Queen Elara was supposed to do.
She was thinking about what she wanted to do.
"I don't want to walk into Aetheris and announce that
everything is going back to the way it was."
Eldred nodded.
"It can't."
"It shouldn't."
Elara's voice strengthened.
"If I'm going to rule them..."
She paused.
Then corrected herself.
"If I'm going to govern with them..."
Eldred noticed the distinction.
Elara continued.
"...then I should probably ask them what they actually
want."
A smile slowly appeared.
"This could work."
"It could."
"We could figure out the government."
"The Army."
"Reconstruction."
"Curgarden."
"The monarchy."
That last one made her hesitate.
Even now.
"The monarchy."
Eldred repeated.
Elara nodded.
"Everything."
Then another thought struck.
Her excitement disappeared.
"Oh."
"What?"
Elara looked around.
"We're in Rome."
Eldred waited.
"I can't just organize an international political
summit in Ercolanum."
"Probably not without asking."
"Exactly."
Elara sank slightly into her chair.
"So I need Roman approval."
"Probably."
She sighed.
"Wonderful."
Her fingers drummed against the table.
"Who do I even ask?"
Eldred took another drink.
Elara thought.
Foreign ministry?
Unity?
Peace?
Some Roman provincial authority?
Then the most ridiculous possibility entered her mind.
She looked toward Eldred.
Almost sheepishly.
"I can't just call the Roman Emperor and ask..."
She paused.
"...can I?"
Eldred stared at her.
Elara waited.
Then his eyebrows rose.
"Elara."
"What?"
"You're the Queen of Aetheria."
Silence.
Elara blinked.
Eldred gestured toward her.
"Of course you can call the Emperor."
Elara stared at him.
The thought genuinely had not occurred to her.
"Oh."
Eldred laughed.
Elara looked down at herself.
No crown.
No royal robes.
No entourage of ministers.
Just Elara.
Sitting in a restaurant.
Eating breakfast.
With Eldred.
Her phone rested beside her plate.
She slowly picked it up.
"So..."
She looked at the screen.
"...how does a Queen get the Emperor's number?"
Eldred laughed.
"I assume you ask somebody."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Elara glared.
"Very helpful."
"I told you."
He pointed toward himself.
"Your entire royal administration is Eldred."
Elara laughed.
Then looked back at her phone.
Somewhere in Rome...
There was an Emperor.
Yesterday, calling him would have sounded absurd.
Presumptuous.
Almost comical.
Today...
Elara stared at the signed document photograph on her phone.
QUEEN OF AETHERIA.
She smiled.
Civilian Elara was apparently going to require some time to
catch up.
Elara stared at her phone.
Eldred continued eating.
For perhaps thirty seconds, neither spoke.
Then Elara picked up the phone.
Eldred noticed.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling the Emperor."
He stopped chewing.
"Directly?"
"I suppose."
Elara opened the browser.
Typed.
Palatine Hill reception desk.
Several results appeared.
She selected the official Roman government listing.
A telephone number appeared.
Elara stared at it.
Then at Eldred.
"This feels wrong."
"It probably is."
"Helpful."
"Always."
She pressed the number.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then-
"Palatine Hill, Imperial Administration."
The man answering sounded professional.
Technically.
Underneath the professionalism was the unmistakable voice of
someone who had already dealt with far too much nonsense before breakfast.
"How may I direct your call?"
Elara straightened instinctively.
"This is Queen Elara of Aetheria."
Silence.
Eldred stopped eating entirely.
Elara continued.
"I would like to speak directly with Petraeus, Emperor
of Rome."
Another silence.
Then-
"Yes."
Elara blinked.
"What?"
"Yes."
Her eyes widened.
She covered the bottom of the phone.
"He said yes."
Eldred raised an eyebrow.
Elara returned the phone to her ear.
"It's that easy?"
"No."
The receptionist's answer came immediately.
All remaining professionalism disappeared.
Elara frowned.
"...No?"
"No."
A chair squeaked somewhere on the other end.
The man sighed.
"You're the sixth person this morning who has called
claiming you're Elara, Queen of Aetheria."
Elara stared straight ahead.
Eldred's lips pressed together.
Very tightly.
He was trying not to laugh.
"Oh."
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
"That's quite all right."
The tone suggested it was not entirely all right.
Elara hesitated.
"...It really is me."
The receptionist paused.
"Maybe you are."
Elara blinked.
"I am."
"Perhaps."
"I signed the documents this morning."
"Wonderful."
"I have photographs."
"I'm sure you do."
Elara frowned.
"I could send them."
"Please don't."
Eldred lowered his head toward his breakfast.
His shoulders were beginning to shake.
Elara glared at him.
He immediately pretended to be extremely interested in his
toast.
Elara returned her attention to the call.
"So what am I supposed to do?"
Another sigh.
Then movement.
The sound of wheels.
The receptionist appeared to be rolling his chair somewhere.
"One moment."
Paper rustled.
Something peeled away from something else.
Then-
"Right."
His voice changed slightly.
He was reading now.
"If the Queen of Aetheria wishes to communicate
directly with His Imperial Majesty Petraeus..."
Elara waited.
"...she must first communicate the request through her
Minister of Foreign Affairs."
Elara nodded.
Then remembered he couldn't see her.
"Okay."
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs contacts the Office of
the Magister Officiorum."
Elara frowned.
"The what?"
"The Magister Officiorum."
"...I don't speak Latin."
A pause.
"The Master of Offices."
"Oh."
Eldred looked over.
Elara mouthed-
Master of Offices.
Eldred nodded as though that explained absolutely
everything.
The receptionist continued.
"The Foreign Affairs Minister leaves a formal
communication with the Master of Offices."
"Then what?"
"The Master of Offices delivers the communication
through the Imperial Secretariat."
"Then what?"
"His Imperial Majesty reviews the request."
"...and then?"
"He decides whether he wishes to respond."
Elara stared at the wall.
"...That's a lot of work."
The receptionist stopped reading.
"Your Majesty-"
The title made Elara sit slightly straighter.
"The Roman Empire cannot simply connect anyone who
telephones reception to the Emperor."
"Right."
"We have to know who we're speaking to."
"Of course."
"Especially today."
Elara winced.
"Because of all the fake Elaras."
"Precisely."
She glanced toward Eldred.
He was no longer pretending.
He was openly smiling now.
Elara kicked his shoe lightly beneath the table.
His smile widened.
Then she remembered something.
"There's a problem."
The receptionist sighed.
"Of course there is."
"I don't have a Foreign Affairs Minister."
Silence.
Elara hurried to explain.
"My government mostly collapsed."
"I am aware."
"I only became Queen this morning."
"I am also aware."
"I currently have one person on my staff."
She looked at Eldred.
"Eldred."
Eldred raised his coffee cup in acknowledgement.
"...but I haven't appointed him Foreign Affairs
Minister."
The receptionist was quiet for several seconds.
Then his chair rolled again.
More paper.
He appeared to be checking whether there was another set of
instructions.
"Right."
He found something.
"Then you need to speak with Unity."
"Unity."
"Yes."
"You register your Foreign Affairs Minister with
Unity."
Elara listened carefully now.
"Once Unity has the appointment on file, the Roman
government receives the diplomatic notification."
"So then Eldred can call the Master of Offices?"
"If Eldred is your Foreign Affairs Minister."
Elara looked at him.
He shrugged.
Apparently he was.
The receptionist continued.
"The Master of Offices will not discuss sovereign
business with someone merely claiming to be a minister."
"That makes sense."
"Good."
A pause.
"That is the end of the instructions."
Elara almost laughed.
"You literally have these taped to your desk?"
"Since eight-fifteen this morning."
That did it.
Eldred laughed.
Elara covered her mouth.
Even she couldn't stop herself.
The receptionist did not laugh.
"I have another call waiting."
"Of course."
"I suspect it's another Queen Elara."
Elara smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
"Have a pleasant morning, Your Majesty."
"You too."
The call ended.
Elara slowly lowered the phone.
Silence.
Then Eldred spoke.
"I've got to get registered."
Elara looked at him.
"Apparently."
He took another bite.
Elara stared at him for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Right now, you're my everything."
Eldred stopped.
Elara realized what she had said approximately one second
too late.
His eyebrows rose.
"Already was."
Elara's face turned red.
"That is not what I meant."
"I know."
"You know exactly what I meant."
"I do."
"Good."
He smiled.
She pointed at him.
"Don't."
"I'm not doing anything."
"Your face is doing something."
"My face?"
"Yes."
"What is my face doing?"
"Being smug."
"I don't know how to stop that."
Elara shook her head.
Yet she couldn't stop smiling.
...
They finished breakfast.
Eventually.
The conversation moved between serious questions about
Aetheria...
...and Eldred repeatedly referring to himself as the entire
Royal Government.
By the time they stood to leave, Elara had almost forgotten
the security detail surrounding them.
Almost.
She headed toward the restaurant entrance.
A Peace Officer immediately stepped in front of her.
"One moment, Your Majesty."
Elara stopped.
"What?"
The Officer touched his earpiece.
Others began moving.
Two went outside first.
Another approached the vehicle.
Several more shifted position around the restaurant
entrance.
Elara watched.
Then looked at Eldred.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No."
The Officer shook his head.
"We just need everyone in position."
Elara stared through the glass doors.
At the Officers outside.
At the Officers inside.
At the vehicle.
At the people already looking toward her.
She sighed.
"Right."
Queen.
Key witness.
Security risk.
Apparently leaving a restaurant now required choreography.
The Officer listened to his earpiece.
Then nodded.
"All right."
He stepped aside.
Elara started toward the door.
Another Officer opened it.
She paused.
Looked back toward Eldred.
"This is going to get annoying, isn't it?"
"Probably."
Elara sighed.
Then stepped outside.
Peace Officers immediately formed around them.
Not touching.
Not crowding.
Just there.
Constantly.
Eldred walked beside her.
Elara looked toward him.
"So."
"So?"
"We go back to Unity."
"We register you."
"As Foreign Affairs Minister."
"For now."
Eldred smiled.
"For now?"
Elara looked at the enormous security detail moving with
them.
Then at the Roman city around her.
Then back at Eldred.
"I have a feeling we're going to need more than one
employee."
Eldred considered this.
"Probably."
Elara nodded.
One problem at a time.
First-
Unity.
Then-
The Master of Offices.
Then-
The Emperor.
Then-
Hopefully...
Aetheria.
The Unity building looked considerably less intimidating
from across the street.
Elara had already been inside once that morning.
She had signed the document.
She had smiled for photographs.
She had officially become Queen.
She knew where she was going.
There was absolutely no reason to be nervous.
Her hand tightened around Eldred's anyway.
He noticed immediately.
He always noticed.
They approached the entrance surrounded by Peace Officers.
Elara never let go of Eldred's hand.
Not while crossing the street.
Not while walking up the steps.
Not when they reached the large glass doors.
Eldred gently squeezed back.
Elara looked toward him.
He said nothing.
Neither did she.
He could feel everything he needed to know through her
fingers.
The uncertainty.
The anxiety.
The strange feeling that every door she walked through today
somehow represented another step into a life she wasn't sure she understood.
One of the Peace Officers opened the door.
Elara and Eldred entered.
Several Officers followed.
A few remained outside.
They had barely crossed the lobby when a Unity official
stepped forward.
"Excuse me."
Elara stopped.
The official looked between her and Eldred.
"May I see your credentials?"
Elara blinked.
"My credentials?"
"Yes."
She looked down at herself.
Then back at him.
"I'm Queen Elara."
The official nodded politely.
"Yes, ma'am."
Elara waited.
The official waited.
"...Queen Elara of Aetheria."
"I understand."
Another pause.
Elara frowned.
"I was here this morning."
"That's entirely possible."
"I signed the recognition document."
"Very good."
Elara stared at him.
He stared back.
Then-
Oh.
The receptionist.
You're the sixth person this morning who has called
claiming you're Elara, Queen of Aetheria.
Elara's shoulders dropped.
"Right."
Eldred smiled.
Elara looked at him.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
The Unity official remained professionally silent.
Elara sighed.
"Of course you need proof."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Elara reached into her purse.
"I have it."
She moved aside to allow several other people through.
Her hand disappeared into the purse.
Then deeper.
She moved something.
Moved something else.
Her phone.
Makeup.
Wallet.
Keys.
A small packet of tissues.
Something she couldn't immediately identify.
No document.
Elara frowned.
"One moment."
Eldred waited.
Elara searched again.
Nothing.
Her heart began beating faster.
"No."
Eldred looked toward her.
"What?"
"I can't find it."
"The document?"
"The document."
"The document you signed two hours ago?"
"Yes, Eldred."
"The document proving you're Queen?"
She glared at him.
"Yes, Eldred."
"Just establishing the stakes."
"This is not helping."
She searched faster.
The Unity official watched.
The Peace Officers watched.
Eldred watched.
Elara's breathing quickened.
"I had it."
"I know."
"I know I had it."
"You did."
"They gave it to me."
"I remember."
"I didn't lose the document proving I'm Queen."
Eldred wisely said nothing.
Elara looked at him.
"Check your pockets."
"My pockets?"
"Yes."
"Why would it be in my pockets?"
"I don't know."
"You were holding it."
"I was holding your hand."
"You were holding lots of things."
Eldred began checking.
Jacket pocket.
Nothing.
Other pocket.
Phone.
Trouser pocket.
Wallet.
Other pocket.
Nothing.
Elara returned to her purse.
"This is ridiculous."
A familiar voice came from behind them.
"If necessary, I can verify her identity."
Elara turned.
Esme stood among the Peace Officers.
Her blue hair was tied into the same double pigtails Elara
had come to recognize immediately.
The Unity official looked toward her.
Esme did not pay attention to the Unity official.
A familiar voice came from behind them.
"If necessary, I can verify her identity."
Elara turned.
She kept her focus on Elara instead, her expression steady
and reassuring in a way that cut through the rising tension in the room.
"I’ve got you," she added quietly.
Then, a beat later, Esme gave a small shrug as if it were
the simplest thing in the world.
Her attention stayed on Elara and Eldred rather than the
official, her voice softening in a way that was meant only for them.
"If it comes to it," said Esme to Elara and
Eldred, "I can confirm Elara's identity. I've been in your security detail
for weeks now and I was at the document signing ceremony."
Her gaze flicked briefly to Elara, steady and grounding.
"You’re fine," she added quietly, as if the real
concern was never the paperwork at all.
"It would be easier, Elara, if you found your
identification document," she added, glancing briefly toward Elara’s
purse, "but if we need to, the Peace Officers can absolutely confirm who
you are."
Elara let out a small breath, some of the tension easing
from her shoulders.
"That’s right."
She searched again.
"I’ve got you," she added quietly.
Esme patted Elara on the back.
Elara let out a small breath, some of the tension easing
from her shoulders.
"That’s right."
She searched again.
Eldred crouched slightly.
"Did you check the side pocket?"
"What side pocket?"
He pointed.
Elara stopped.
There was a zipper on the side of the purse.
She stared at it.
Slowly...
She opened it.
Folded paper.
Elara closed her eyes.
"Oh, thank God."
She pulled it out.
The document.
She unfolded it.
There was her signature.
There was the Unity certification.
There was the seal.
There were the words-
QUEEN OF AETHERIA.
Elara handed it over.
The official examined it carefully.
Checked the seal.
Checked something on his terminal.
Then looked at Elara.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Elara smiled.
"You're welcome."
He stepped aside.
"You may proceed."
Elara exhaled.
She took Eldred's hand again.
"Come on."
They took approximately two steps.
"Sir."
They stopped.
Eldred turned.
The official was looking at him now.
"Your credentials?"
Eldred blinked.
Elara looked between them.
"He's with me."
"I understand."
"He's Eldred."
"I understand."
Elara waited.
Again.
The official waited.
Again.
Elara's eyes narrowed.
"Are we doing this again?"
"A little."
Esme covered a smile.
The official remained serious.
"Mr. Eldred is not currently registered as an official
representative of the Aetherian government."
Elara looked at Eldred.
Eldred looked at Elara.
"That's why we're here."
The official nodded.
"I understand."
"I'm going to register him."
"That's fine."
"So he needs to come inside."
"Government administrative areas require
authorization."
Elara stared at him.
"...but he needs to enter the government administrative
area so I can give him authorization."
The official hesitated.
Elara pointed toward Eldred.
"I am literally here to make him my Foreign Affairs
Minister."
Eldred glanced toward her.
"That's official now?"
Elara turned.
"Apparently."
"Good to know."
She looked back at the official.
"He is my Foreign Affairs Minister."
"At present, according to our records, he isn't."
Elara opened her mouth.
Stopped.
Closed it.
The receptionist's voice returned to her head.
Get your Foreign Affairs Minister on file.
This was apparently what on file meant.
Elara sighed.
"I vouch for him."
The official looked uncomfortable.
"I understand."
Esme stepped forward again.
"So do I."
The official looked toward her.
Esme gestured toward Eldred.
"He's been under Peace protection alongside Queen
Elara."
"He's a key witness in an active Responsibility
proceeding."
"I've personally accompanied both of them."
The official considered this.
Elara squeezed Eldred's hand.
"He doesn't leave my side."
That came out more emotionally than she intended.
The official noticed.
So did Esme.
So did Eldred.
Elara didn't care.
"I need him with me."
The official looked toward the reception desk.
Then toward Elara's verified document.
Then toward Esme's Peace credentials.
Finally...
He sighed.
"One moment."
He walked behind the desk.
Opened a drawer.
Removed a plastic card attached to a lanyard.
He returned.
The card read-
VISITOR
The official handed it to Eldred.
Eldred took it.
"Thank you."
"I'm technically not supposed to do this."
Elara blinked.
"You're not?"
"My supervisor has been very clear about access to the
government agency areas."
He looked toward Elara.
"...but you've been verified."
Then toward Esme.
"...and Peace has vouched for him."
Esme nodded.
The official looked back toward Eldred.
"You remain with Queen Elara at all times."
Eldred smiled.
"I don't think that's going to be a problem."
Elara's cheeks warmed slightly.
The official continued.
"You do not enter any restricted area without
her."
"Understood."
"You return the visitor card when you leave."
"Understood."
The official stepped aside.
Elara smiled.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, Your Majesty."
She started walking.
Then stopped.
Turned around.
"...and I promise I'm going to register him."
The official nodded.
"Please do."
Elara continued.
Eldred followed.
Esme and the Peace Officers moved with them.
They passed through the security doors.
Eldred looked down at the visitor card hanging from his
neck.
Then toward Elara.
"So."
Elara looked at him.
"So?"
"I'm your Foreign Affairs Minister."
"Apparently."
"...but I'm also a visitor."
"For the next few minutes."
Eldred nodded thoughtfully.
"Impressive government."
Elara laughed.
"We've been in office for about three hours."
"Already issuing credentials."
"Progress."
They continued down the corridor.
Elara still held his hand.
She had never released it.
Not through the document search.
Not through the argument.
Not through the security checkpoint.
Eldred gently squeezed her fingers again.
Elara looked at him.
"Still nervous?"
She considered lying.
Then didn't.
"Yes."
"How nervous?"
Elara looked down at their joined hands.
"You can tell."
"I can."
She squeezed tighter.
Eldred smiled.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Elara nodded.
"I know."
Ahead of them stretched a corridor filled with offices.
Diplomatic recognition.
Government registration.
International relations.
Things Elara had never needed to understand before.
Yesterday she had been Princess Elara.
A witness.
A survivor.
Someone whose future depended upon decisions made by other
people.
Today...
People were asking her for documentation.
People were waiting for her appointments.
Somewhere beyond those doors was an office where she could
take Eldred-
A man who currently possessed nothing more impressive than a
temporary VISITOR card-
...and make him a recognized representative of the Kingdom
of Aetheria.
Elara looked toward him.
"Ready?"
Eldred looked at the visitor card.
Then at her.
"For my entire political career to begin because you
want to telephone someone?"
Elara smiled.
"Yes."
He squeezed her hand.
"Absolutely."
Together...
With several Peace Officers following closely behind...
They continued into Unity.
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