Quinlan Elysiar, liege lord of Vraven for all of twenty minutes, had already found the best chair in the royal study and claimed it.
The study belonged to Alexios. The desk had passed to new management that afternoon.
Queen Felicity Valorian sat behind it, crown riding just above her eyebrows, and read every line of every decree before allowing it anywhere near her inkwell.
Her father stood at her shoulder with his sleeves rolled, demoted from king to royal advisor before dinner and wearing it well.
"This one still cites the toll schedule we tore up." Felicity tapped the offending page. "Why is it in my pile?"
"Because its author hoped Your Majesty would not read it," said Alexios.
"Hmph." She struck the clause and initialed the margin, hard.
The budding empire's half of the paperwork was proceeding differently.
"Sign here," said Jasmine.
Quinlan signed.
"And here. Initials at the bottom. Neatly, please, my love."
