Your first day of court.

As the sun comes up, your old wet nurse, Sarah knocks on the door. Greeting her with a hug, you chat and share a few of your worries as she helps you into a dress of black and gold silk.

"There. You look like a proper Queen, Your Majesty." Sarah smiles, the skin around her eyes wrinkling in a natural way for a woman of her years.

"Let's hope I can act the part as well as look it." You frown.

"I have no doubt you'll be a just and fair Queen." Sarah reassures you with a hand on your shoulder. "You're King Bryce's girl, and I don't care what they said he did, he was a good man."

With a jolt, you remember your dream.

"Sarah, what do you mean?" You ask urgently. With a troubled look, the servant realises she's said too much.

"Hush, girl. You have more important things to be doing than talking with one such as I." With that, Sarah shoos you out of your chambers so she can go about tidying them.

-

The Throne Room is still packed as you enter it. As the first Queen Regnant in over forty years, your coronation had quite the turnout. Even now, many hangers-on remained, wanting to witness the Queen's first day in court. As you approach the throne, you're sure you hear someone hiss to a friend you can't possibly do a worse job than your father.

Not entirely in-keeping with tradition (but when had she ever?) your mother stands beside your throne, waiting to greet you as you ascend the steps to it.

"Your Majesty." Your mother greets you, handing you the crown she's worn for the past two decades. "I trust you slept well?"

Her words send shivers down your spine as you take your seat, but you can't exactly betray such emotions in court.

Following on from this, your mother introduces your three advisers. There's Count Erwin, still clinging to life, still holding the kingdom's purse-strings tight as Chancellor. Sir Jonathan, a bold knight of about thirty years. Your mother made him her Marshal after Sir Garret's disastrous hunting accident.

And of course, there was Lady Lillian, the newly-appointed Court Mage. It was good to see her again, in the flesh. You lock eyes with the beautiful blonde as she curtsies to her Queen. You look away, feeling guilty after having such an explicit dream about her last night.

Right now, she looks especially fetching in a low-cut dress of white and blue fabrics.

You thank your advisers for their service so far, as well as what you hope is years of loyal assistance to come.

As they sit down, and discussion of noteworthy issues begins, you will yourself to focus. You want to be the best Queen you can be for Ithera.