Taking a deep breath, I started, “My people are very grateful for the amount of support we have received. Corlixir now has a small village’s worth of houses, market stalls, surgeries, and even a school. We will never be able to thank Drothmore enough.”
My heart glowed while I thought of my teachers and the village elders back in Corlixir – how happy they’d lookedwhen I’d last seen them. It’d been the day Lukas had told me he was rebuilding my kingdom. The day he’d whisked me away to Corlixir, proposed in the midst of that pretty grassy clearing, and then… The glow in my heart faded. Visions of a certain faery prince glamoured as a black cat flooded my mind.
No. Shuddering, I took another breath.Focus, Naria.
“I understand that there may be concerns about what rebuilding Corlixir will mean for the other four kingdoms, but I would like to reassure you that my people pose no threat and are already working on multiple projects that will benefit the realm.” My racing breath settled. “For example, King Lukas has generously provided the funding for us to resume our research into a process that will allow us to control a patient’s sleep.” Excitement buzzed in my voice. “If we can get this right, patients will be able to sleep through complex surgeries with no pain or trauma! And then there’s our research into new dental practices too. Soon we won’t have to—”
“What are your thoughts on people leaving other kingdoms to make new homes in Corlixir?” The Hallshire Queen’s voice sliced through mine like a carving knife.
I blinked. “Well that’s—”
“Those areourpeople you’re stealing,” she carried on. “Why, just the other day I had a Duke announcing he would be leaving Hallshire with his family to see if he could help with one of those silly research projects. One ofmydukes!” She scoffed.
My eyes narrowed. “I’m sure my people would see no issue with citizens of other kingdoms crossing over into ours – as long as they have a passion for healing, they should fit in quite nicely.”
“Yes but what gives you the right to rule them, silly girl?” Marigold seethed.
Disapproving murmurs rippled through the audience before Queen Cora’s voice silenced them. “If you cannot show respect to our visiting princess, then you will be asked to leave,” she warned the Hallshire Queen.
“I’m only saying what we’re all thinking,” Marigold shot back.
“No one is thinking that.” Lukas’s low tone settled the nerves that were building in my stomach. “Naria has proven many times to both myself and others that she is a capable representative of her people. And you are a fool to treat her with anything other than the utmost respect.”
Quiet clapping and sounds of approval echoed through the audience as I loosened my grip on my skirts. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever truly feel like a real princess, let alone a queen, but with both Ryntook and Drothmore on my side, this seemed like a nice place to start.
“Thank you, Your Majesties.” I nodded, standing a little taller. “As I was saying, we are already making good progress with our research and while we may still be small in numbers, we are thriving. And—”
“What have you actually done in the past month to lead your people?” the Hallshire Queen cut in again.
“Marigold…” Queen Cora warned.
“It is a perfectly valid question.” Marigold shrugged, before smiling cruelly. “After all, I’ve heard reports that you’ve barely visited your kingdom since its construction, and that’s not to mention the issue of your title,” she purred. “Why, dear, are you still a mere princess when you’ve surely stolen enoughcitizens from the other four kingdoms to warrant you calling yourself a queen?”
My throat tightened. Seconds passed that felt like minutes while confused murmurs rippled through the hall.
“Naria has been very diligent with responding to letters from her people while remaining in Drothmore,” Lukas answered for me. “She does not need to be in Corlixir all the time. Many of us barely leave our palaces and yet we are still able to deal with issues in far villages.”
Guilt gnawed at the back of my mind. Only a few days ago he’d suggested I spend more time in Corlixir. ‘Just at least a few visits a month,’ he’d suggested, and I’d made some weak excuse about why I’d rather stay in Drothmore. Like a coward.
“And in regards to her not officially claiming her crown,” Lukas continued, “Naria has expressed to me that she’d rather wait until all of her people are housed and have enough resources to sustain themselves before she officially ascends to the throne.”
“But that could take years,” Marigold huffed. “How can anyone respect the little fool if she—
My furious response slipped out before I could stop myself. “I’ve never needed to call myself a queen to gain their respect before. I find that basic manners are usually enough.” Chest heaving, I glared at the dark-eyed queen. But deep down, my fury wasn’t for her – it was forhim.
I hadn’t even married Prince Arenn, but it was almost as if he’d already stolen my kingdom from me. How could I be crowned queen of a kingdom I was too scared to return home to?
“What about you then,Your Majesty?” Marigold finallyshifted her heavy gaze from me and pinned it on Lukas. “Is it true that you’ve been assisting young Naria here with rebuilding her kingdom, even at the detriment of your own?”
“There has been no detriment,” he shot back. “Naria has been handling most of Corlixir’s affairs by herself.”
I winced. That was a lie. I’d been trying my best to handle things, but really, I was clueless. I was happy to be a voice for my people, but when it came to actually running Corlixir, Lukas had been in charge of pretty much everything. And while it might not be jeopardising his own kingdom just yet, I hadn’t failed to notice the dark circles under his eyes.
“So my sources were incorrect when they claimed you had been working late into the nights to manage affairs for both Drothmore and Corlixir?” Marigold went on.
“Very much so,” Lukas lied again as my heart sank.
“And what about the report of Princess Naria being spotted in a tavern?”
