"Because every child deserves access to the best possible medical care, regardless of where they live or what their family can afford."
I was definitely in political territory now.Queen Isabelle had specifically warned me to avoid policy statements.But the audience was nodding along, and some of the doctors in the front row looked genuinely moved.
"Healthcare shouldn't be a privilege reserved for the wealthy.It should be a right guaranteed to every citizen of this beautiful country."
Oh God.I'd just made a political statement about universal healthcare at a charity luncheon.In a country I'd been in for approximately forty-eight hours.
"Which is why I'm also pleased to announce that we'll be expanding the hospital's outreach programs to ensure that every child in the outer islands has access to regular checkups and preventive care."
Another promise I had no authority to make.Another program I'd just invented on the spot.
The applause was enthusiastic, but I could see movement in the audience now.People standing up.Heated discussions.Elena was making frantic cutting motions across her throat.
Time to wrap this disaster up.
"Thank you for your dedication to Solmaria's children.Together, we can build a healthier future for everyone."
I stepped away from the podium to mixed applause and animated discussion.Elena met me at the stage exit looking like she'd aged ten years in fifteen minutes.
"What was that?"
"Improvisation.You told me not to, and I did it anyway."
"You just committed millions of euros in healthcare spending without consulting anyone.You announced programs that don't exist and would require legislative approval to implement."
"On the bright side, everyone seemed to like the part about helping children?"
"That's not the point."
"I know."I took a breath, trying to steady myself."Someone switched my speech, Elena.This wasn't incompetence.Someone set me up to fail."
She paused, something shifting in her expression."You think it was intentional?"
"I think it's a hell of a coincidence that my first public appearance got sabotaged by a document mix-up that's never happened before in palace history."
We made it through the reception line somehow, with me shaking hands and accepting congratulations from people who seemed genuinely excited about the programs I'd accidentally invented.Several doctors thanked me for understanding the challenges of treating children from remote islands.A few politicians looked less pleased, probably because I'd just promised government resources without their input.
The worst part was that everything I'd said made sense.These programs should exist.The hospital should have better funding.Children shouldn't go without medical care because they lived on remote islands.
I just had no idea how to actually make any of it happen.
"Queen Isabelle would like to see you immediately upon your return to the palace," Elena said as we climbed into the car.
"Of course she would."
The drive back felt like a parade route to my own execution.I'd managed to turn a simple charity luncheon into an international incident, committed millions of euros in spending I didn't have authorization for, and probably created a political crisis by improvising healthcare policy.
Archie was waiting in the palace foyer when we arrived, and my stomach did a complicated flip at the sight of him.He was wearing that concerned expression that made him look more like Peter the riding instructor than Prince Archibald the Formal, and I wasn't sure if I wanted comfort from him or if I wanted to handle this disaster on my own.
"I heard," he said, falling into step beside me as we headed toward his mother's study."Fifty percent funding increase?"
"It seemed like the right amount at the time.I was going for impressive but not insane."
"You may have overshot."
"Thank you, that's very helpful feedback for a speech I can't un-give."
He caught my arm, stopping me in the corridor."Betty.Are you okay?"
