Chapter 12

Aymeri had just finished sealing the official letter signifying the union of Treoles and Bréīn. She insisted that Drystan make the announcement to his people himself by going back to his kingdom and talking to them in a public announcement, but the man was as stubborn as a mule. Instead, he insisted they write a joint statement, bound by Treoles' seal. Within the few hours it had taken them to write it, she learned some important information about her new friend.

He wasn't one to make false promises, and always felt the need to prove the promises he made were real. He believed in telling the people of Bréīn the truth rather than lying to them. So, for the moment, they knew he was staying in Treoles to help a friend in need, even though they could not be made aware of the situation at hand. She also learned that he liked to word his letters informally so that anyone who opened it would be able to read it with ease, due to the range of literacy his people had. It was something he was working on before Queen Dimia declared herself Empress and cut off trade to his land. His father only saw the importance in building their military, not their education. Drystan believed there needed to be a balance, and he was trying to restore it.

The most important lesson she learned from him, though, was about diplomacy. Until then, she hadthought little of all the details of ruling a kingdom. But now that she learned the meaning of diplomacy, she wanted to try her handat it, especially with alliances. Just as Drystan proved he could be authoritative, friendly, and still have command of his kingdom, Aymeri believed it could work for her, too.

As she read through the scroll of laws in front of her, she noticed the kingdom could use a little change. That was likely what her mother had been doing her entire reign. So many of the laws were outdated, with punishments akin to mutilations for simple crimes such as thievery of food without asking why someone might do such a thing. She never wanted to punish someone for stealing food when they were hungry. It seemed to be her duty to ensure that all her subjects were fed, housed, and comfortable. She imagined her mother would not have kept these laws but struggled to find any other ones written. Where are they?

"I don't want my people to fear me. I want them to respect me." There was a fine line where fear and respect were concerned. If her people feared her, they'd never want to be in her presence. Mutiny would always be an option. And under the current laws in the scroll she was reading from, it would be the only option.

"There's only one way to do that. The people of the kingdom need to know that you'll go to great lengths to protect them and see that they are taken care of. But they also need to know that you'll go to great lengths for justice. Sentencing the person responsible for your mother's death is the perfect way to gain respect. When your people respect you, they will riot in the streets for any injustices that have happened to you."

Everything Drystan told her made sense. Earning her people's respect would only happen through acts that benefited them and showed them who she was as a person.

Finding out who was responsible for their beloved queen's death was the first step.

"What has happened in this castle has nothing to do with your subjects," he continued, "and everything to do with the people who surrounded your mother. Whoever hurt her was planted here to do so. You said so yourself that everyone loved her and respected her. How, then, were people who didn't share those sentiments allowed inside this castle?"

The king had a point. Ser Parzival dismissed several people from their roles because they admitted to poisoning her mother. But why? That was the one thing she couldn't understand.

"Was your mother hiding something from us all?" The question came just as Aymeri had the same thought. Before her mother's death, she would have never thought she was keeping secrets from her. But after everything she was learning about her, it seemed she had many.

Drystan took a deep breath and whispered, "Maybe she wasn't the dutiful queen we all believed her to be?"

It was impossible. Her mother would have never hurt someone intentionally. Aymeri didn't believe that someone had a vendetta against her, or that she was still carrying out these ancient laws.

Just as she was going to say so, the sound of footsteps approaching the study stopped her. Quizzically, she looked over at Drystan, wondering who would be there so late at night. Her heart hammered in her chest in anxious anticipation of who was going to walk through the door. When the key entered the lock, her breath hitched then her body relaxed. There was only one other person who had keys to the study.

Ser Parzival entered quietly with a lamp in hand and a torch to light the candelabras, which she had already lit. "P-P-Princess…" he stammered. "I…I didn't expect to find you here…"

Aymeri smiled. "I didn't expect to find you here either, Ser Parzival. But I'm glad you are. What were you hoping to do tonight?"

He blew out his torch and set the lamp on the floor next to Aymeri's. "I know you have limited information about the current affairs of the kingdom, so I was going to start compiling the documents you would need in order to start training."

She was glad she took the initiative to read the laws of her kingdom. Hopefully, it showed Ser Parzival that she was ready to take her place on the throne, and that she fully understood what would be expected of her. "Looks like we had the same idea, Ser Parzival. Would you like to join us? I was just going over the laws of Treoles. A very peculiar and seemingly ancient document, if you ask me."

"Well, uh, sure. Yes. Yes. I could do that."

As she watched him take the seat next to Drystan, she couldn't help but notice he seemed different. If it was nervousness or confusion at finding her there, she wasn't sure.

He crossed one leg over the other, leaning back in the seat. "You say the document seems ancient, Princess? May I ask why that is?"

Aymeri leaned forward, folding her hands on top of the scroll. "These laws are outdated. Why would anyone be mutilated for stealing food? Food is a basic necessity, is it not? Do they not have a right to eat?"

The question seemed to catch him off guard as he glanced sideways at Drystan, then back at her before shifting in his seat. "They do, Princess, but the farmers work hard to produce that food to sell it in markets to the villages in the rest of the kingdom. How can they survive if thieves are stealing from the carts?"

"I may not know how to run a kingdom, but Mother hired the best tutors for me. If people are stealing food, does that not mean they are hungry?"

"Well, yes, I suppose that could be one reason they are stealing."

"Tell me, Ser Parzival. How many in our kingdom are going without food on a daily basis?"

He unfolded his hands then folded them again before shifting in his seat and placing both feet on the floor. He licked his lips and took a breath. "I don't know that number off the top of my head, Princess. But I imagine there are quite a few hundred."

"Then that is quite a few hundred issues our kingdom has. We have a vast farm on our castle grounds. Why isn't it being used to feed those who are hungry?"

"Because it is meant to feed the people living in the castle, Princess. It is not meant for outsiders."

"Ser Parzival, the people outside the castle doors are not outsiders. They are our people . They live in our kingdom . The ruler of a kingdom is responsible for their well-being, yes?"

"I suppose you're right, yes."

"And as a royal advisor, aren't these the things you should be suggesting to the ruler? Or did your suggestions fall on deaf ears?"

"These were not suggestions I made, princess. Your mother didn't concern herself in matters beyond the castle walls. Her only duty was to protect those who lived inside them."

While that sentiment was honorable, it was not believable. If that were the case, Drystan would not be sitting next to her, and Jorlyn would not be creeping around the castle to keep her safe. Instead, she would be completely and utterly alone, without even a friend to lean on.

"These matters concern me , Ser Parzival, and I would like to see some changes made. I assume that would be something you and I discuss with other people in the castle?"

"That is correct, Princess. Your mother's royal council would have to be present, and all laws and matters discussed with them."

"And do I need their permission to make any changes in how the kingdom is run?"

Ser Parzival hesitated for a moment, then responded. "None at all, Princess." He smiled. "I am glad you are taking an interest in such matters. I'm surprised you understand so much, when your mother didn't get a chance to teach you."

Does everyone assume I am unintelligent just because my mother didn't explicitly teach me how to run the kingdom? Do they assume I don't know how to ask questions, or how to find answers to questions that go unanswered?

Her heart pulsated in her ears as she was overcome with emotion she was not sure she could control. The last time she had felt such emotion, her hands glowed and burned as if they were on fire. She wasn't ready to tell her royal advisor about the incident yet. She needed to do everything in her power to keep it from happening again.

"I can read, Ser Parzival. I know you are aware of that, so pardon my frustration, but I believe you are all underestimating me."

She took a deep breath, trying to reign in the aggravation before it took over her.

"I may not know how to run a kingdom after such a beloved queen has held her reign for so long, and after her sudden death. But I do understand the protocols that should be followed, such as abiding by laws, celebrating holidays with splendor, welcoming the people into the castle to voice their concerns, and the like. Afterall, my tutor did teach me the history of Treoles and how the Maudlin family ruled with kindness and openness, and in turn, received admiration and loyalty."

A smirk appeared on the old man's face, and she was alighted that she had made him proud. Together, she knew that they could make Treoles more powerful and beloved than it already was. But first, she needed to officially present herself as Queen of Treoles. Sadness settled into her chest and stomach as she thought about the title she inherited, but she knew her mother was watching over her and would be proud of the strength she exuded.

I will find whoever ordered those people to murder you, Mother. They will all rue the day.