— CHAPTER TEN —

  Heartbeat

  As befitting the normal palace schedule, the next week we had a meeting of the Lords' Council. And as befitting the normal palace status, Lord Cassius was already pacing his usual path across the carpet when I arrived.

  "Ah, Your Majesty." he said, stopping mid-stride. "We were about to send for you."

  I nodded to the aides and officials gathered around the long table. Commander Tiberius stood at attention by the wall, his face as impassive as ever. The only oddity was the empty chair where Lady Marigold usually sat.

  "How is Lady Marigold faring?" I asked, taking my place at the head of the table.

  "Her condition remains stable." Cassius said. "The physicians believe rest is the best medicine for now."

  The meeting began as it always did. Lord Cassius resumed his pacing, occasionally pausing to gesture at documents his aides would present. They placed a stack of papers before me - tax budgets, trade reports, and policy proposals. And as Marigold wasn't there, I had the freedom to look them over on my own.

  I flipped through the documents, trying not to appear too interested in any particular section. The revenue projections from the eastern ports were nearly double what the secret report had shown. The agricultural yields from the southwestern provinces were listed as record-breaking, yet those photographs...

  "Lord Cassius," I said, "how is your strategy progressing? The one you proposed last cycle regarding our trade competition with Sekr."

  Cassius stopped mid-step, his jaw tightening. "It is proceeding nicely, Your Majesty. The renovations to the eastern ports will take time, but we are on schedule."

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "And the costs? I notice the budget allocation has increased significantly."

  He cleared his throat. "Materials have become more expensive, Your Majesty. We have had to look to Roosendrecht for the necessary quantities of quality timber and stone, and the import costs are significant."

  "Do we not have enough from our own mines?" I asked. "I've... heard rumors of some unrest in the southwestern region."

  The room went still. One of the aides dropped his pen, the sound of it clattering against the table unnaturally loud in the silence.

  "Your Majesty?" Cassius asked, his voice tightening.

  "Unrest." I repeated. "In the southwest."

  Cassius's expression smoothed over, a mask sliding into place. "Ah, that. A minor dispute between some villages over redirecting the waters of a river for the farms. An isolated incident, dealt with swiftly by the provincial governor."

  "When was this?" I looked at the agricultural report again.

  "Some weeks ago. Hardly worth mentioning."

  "Then why wasn't I informed?" I asked.

  Cassius blinked, then smiled thinly. "Your Majesty, it was an insignificant matter best handled by the local authorities. If it had required your attention, you would have been informed immediately."

  "I see. But shouldn't I have been told that there was a problem at all, regardless of its significance?"

  "Your Majesty-" Cassius began, his tone suddenly patronizing.

  "I am the Queen." I reminded him. "These are my people. If they are suffering, I should like to know."

  Cassius's pacing resumed, more agitated now. "You rule an entire kingdom. There are hundreds of villages and towns out there with domestic issues. Would you have us trouble you with every minor squabble? Every drought? Every flooded field?"

  "If people are dying-"

  "No one died!" he snapped, then quickly composed himself. "Your Majesty, your job is to hold the pieces together. To be the face of Magnolia to the world. To sign the documents we prepare and to host delegations. The minutiae of governance - these petty local concerns - this is why you have advisors and officers. This is why you have us. The lower concerns are delegated to those with the freedom to focus upon them."

  For a moment, I considered pressing further. What would happen if I demanded to know what really occurred in the southwest? If I insisted on seeing uncensored reports?

  "I understand." I said at last, forcing a smile. "I apologize for the interruption. Please continue with the budget proposal."

  The relief in the room was palpable. Cassius nodded to one of his aides, who hurriedly continued the presentation. I sat back in my chair, letting the words wash over me without really hearing them.

  The meeting concluded with the usual formalities. As I rose to leave, Lord Cassius bowed deeply.

  "We are always working for the good of Magnolia, Your Majesty." he said. "Trust in that, if nothing else."

  I nodded and left, retreating to the high tower.