The Mearsmaine Chronicles 1 - The Return of the Queen

Chapter 12 - "Does that mean I'm in charge?! Oh boy..."

'Only one more question, Elizabeth!' Lawrence told Lizz, who was resting her head on the regent's desk, a bored expression on her face.

'Can I go after that?' The girl asked, looking at her uncle, hoping for a positive answer.

'Yes, you may go after this one, if you answer it correctly.' The regent condescended with a sigh. Elizabeth hadn't yet answered correctly any answer: the girl was a disaster at ruling, since her idea of it was basically just do whatever she thought was correct for everyone and, mainly, for her. Lawrence would have worried a lot more about the matter if he didn't know that the girl was exactly like her father: Ezra used to drive their father mad when he was trying to teach him how to rule, how to do the Kingdom's accounts, how to maintain good relationships with the most noble family and, most of all, how to distinguish the nobles' from one another. At this point, Elizabeth seemed to have the same impression as the previous King: they were all the same.

'Where are the Kingdom's savings kept?' Lawrence asked the Queen. He had decided for an easy question because he himself was already tired of trying to teach her anything. He really felt like it was bad luck that he was the only one teaching her a subject that the girl hated. Next time, I'll let my son come in... One of them has to learn something! The regent thought as he watched his niece open her mouth to answer the question.

'Oh, that's a very difficult one.' Elizabeth said, sarcastically. Did her uncle really think that she was that dumb? 'I could be tempted to say they are kept in my walk-in closet. However, I will tell you that the Kingdom's saving are usually kept in the Royal Banc, although there are some in a secret room of the castle. The location of such room I must not reveal.' The Queen answered, smiling to her uncle, who was amused by the ironic way the girl used to give him the answer. 'I suppose I can go now?'

Lawrence let go of a grin and nodded. Elizabeth got up in a jump and, waving her uncle goodbye, she left the room, meeting the very grumpy Nathaniel outside of it: the boy hadn't yet given up following her. 

Still inside his office, the regent sighed, leaning on his chair. These kids are going to drive me nuts. He thought, having in mind the Queen, her bodyguard, his son and his son's boyfriend and Anyïa, who had, some days ago, come to him with the idea that she and Nathaniel must marry as soon as possible and that he should offer him her hand, so that the boy didn't have to ask for it. Lawrence rolled his eyes, remembering the scene: he had to tell his daughter that, from his point of view (and everyone else's), Nate didn't like her the way she liked him... Although Lawrence doubted that she even actually liked him, believing instead that Nathaniel's charms made the girl unable to keep her distance from him. The regent sighed. Teenagers... He thought, even if the only teenager was his daughter, since the other ones were supposed to be grown ups.

Lawrence was still engaged in his thoughts when Margaret entered his office, her purple dress dragging itself behind her while she walked towards the desk and her blond straight hair hanging loose on one of her shoulders. The regent's wife smiled, sitting on the chair where Elizabeth had sat a while ago.

'You look tired, my dear.' The elvish woman told her husband.

The red haired elf smiled to his wife, grabbing her hand over the desk. 'I do feel a bit tired. I believe that's the price you have to pay for ruling a whole Kingdom.' The regent answered.

Margaret smiled at him, squeezing his hand. 'I had an idea the other day. I believe it would do you good.' She said, knowing that her husband wouldn't agree with her idea. At least, not at first. 'I believe you need to take some days off, darling. You've been looking exhausted. I think we could go somewhere, without the kids, just to relax for a bit.' The blond woman advised.