Regina // The 100

047

Being in a position of power was a little unsettling, as everyone depended on me. I walked through the tower with the king beside me, knowing that we were in this together. Trusting each other would only make it easier, and we were aware of that.

"Heda," Roan said to me quietly as we walked through the tower. "I don't know if you've noticed, but we have people questioning your reign."

"I've noticed," I said. "My father and Octavia showed concerns about a newly appointed ambassador."

"And?"

"I sent them to try to figure out what his motives were."

"Heda, it was said that the Flame was lost, so they don't think you really ascended. And when you recited the lineage, many people don't even believe that was the real lineage."

"Because no one knows the lineage," I told him. "No one except the Commanders. There is nothing I can do for those who don't believe in me," I said. "I destroyed the City of Light, and I used the Flame to do it. You know that."

I opened the door to the throne room for the first time since I destroyed Alie, and Echo was already there. "Welcome to your throne room, Heda," she said. "Now that the lift has been repaired, I've doubled the guard on doors on every floor."

I turned to look at her. "That won't be needed," I told her. "Unless you're expecting trouble."

Echo stayed silent while she thought about her answer. "As the first Skaikru Commander, I can imagine the enemies you have and the number of people that will want your head."

"Drop the act," I said. "I know damn well you're only serving me because King Roan ordered you to."

She was silent once again. I sat upon my throne, leaning back to take in the throne room and the people that stood in front of me. "But I do respect you, Echo. You have great loyalty, you just need to know where your loyalties belong. And I really hope that will be to me and to Lexa's coalition."

"If I may, why do you insist on ruling as Lexa did when you know that's what got her killed?" Echo asked me.

I didn't get the chance to answer because the door to the throne room opened, and Kane and Octavia walked in. "Forgive the intrusion, Commander," Kane said, and I rolled my eyes, pushing myself off the throne.

"When you became Chancellor, I didn't refer to you as Chancellor. I ask that you, as my father, refrain from calling me Commander," I said to him.

Kane smiled and chuckled slightly. "Alright, Jules. Can we speak?"

"You can wait like the other ambassadors," Roan told him.

"Gon osir we(Leave us)," I told Roan and Echo. "Please."

The Grounders that stood at the door walked out along with Echo and Roan, leaving me alone with Kane and Octavia. The two of them approached me. "We were right to be concerned about Trishanakru," Kane said. "Rafel is gonna challenge you for control."

"Bold move for a new ambassador," I muttered. I had anticipated facing a challenge at some point, but I was taken aback when it came from a newly appointed ambassador. "So? Let him come."

"Jules, there are still people here who don't believe you're a real Commander. There was no ascension ceremony, and there is no Flamekeeper," Octavia warned, but I knew that wasn't what scared Kane. He didn't want me to go into solo combat.

"The law says you could pick someone to fight in your place," Kane told me.

"No," I said. "I can fight for myself. And I want these people to respect me, so I can't hide behind the law."