The genuine concern in his voice made something in my chest loosen."Not really.Someone switched my speech.Someone is actively trying to make me look incompetent, and I just played right into their hands by improvising badly."
"You didn't improvise badly.You improvised...enthusiastically."
"Is that prince-speak for 'you made promises you can't keep'?"
"It's prince-speak for 'you said things that people actually wanted to hear, even if the execution was chaotic.'"He released my arm but stayed close."The healthcare programs you described?They're good ideas.They're things that should exist.You just announced them without going through proper channels."
"So I'm not completely incompetent, just procedurally challenged?"
"Something like that."
We reached Queen Isabelle's study, and Archie paused outside the door.
"She's going to be angry," he said."But she's also pragmatic.If there's a way to turn this into something positive, she'll find it."
"And if there isn't?"
"Then I'll make sure she knows about the speech substitution.Someone set you up, Betty.That's not your fault."
It was the first time since everything had gone sideways that someone had unequivocally taken my side.I wanted to hug him for it, which was confusing given that I was still supposed to be angry about the whole identity deception thing.
"Thank you," I said instead.
"Thank me after you survive the meeting."
Queen Isabelle's private study was exactly as intimidating as I'd expected: dark wood, leather-bound books, and furniture that had been specifically chosen to make visitors feel insignificant.She was seated behind her desk like a judge about to deliver sentencing.
"Princess Bettina.Please, sit."
I took the chair across from her.Archie remained standing behind me.Moral support or witness protection?Hard to tell.
"Your first public appearance was certainly memorable," Queen Isabelle began.
"Your Majesty, I can explain."
"I'm sure you can.The question is whether your explanation will involve taking responsibility or making excuses about circumstances beyond your control."
Heat flared in my chest."If by circumstances beyond my control you mean someone swapping my prepared remarks for agricultural policy documents, then yes, I'd say that's relevant."
"Even assuming that's true, a competent royal should be prepared to handle unexpected situations with grace.You announced major policy initiatives without consultation or authorization."
"I announced increased support for children's healthcare.I'm sorry if caring about sick kids is controversial."
"The controversy isn't your support for children's healthcare.The controversy is your assumption that you have the authority to make unilateral spending decisions on behalf of the Crown."
She was right, and I hated that she was right.I had overstepped, regardless of the circumstances that led to it.
"You're correct, Your Majesty."The words came out stiff but sincere."I should have limited myself to general expressions of support rather than specific commitments."
"Yes, you should have.The question now is how we manage the situation you've created."
"Can we actually implement the programs?"I asked."The ones I mentioned?Are they actually good ideas?"
Queen Isabelle studied me with those pale eyes that missed nothing."That's beside the point."
"No, it's not.If these programs would genuinely help Solmarian children, then maybe we should be looking at how to make them happen rather than how to walk them back."
"You've been in this country for two days.You know nothing about our healthcare system, our budget constraints, or our political processes."
