Page 189 of Night's Fall
QueenCalisa’smouth formed a mew, but she said nothing.
Aleece turned to me. “Daysgone by, our ancestors filled their chests with gold, silver, copper, you name it, taxed from the people.Thenagain, we used it to build roads and schools and whatever.Wewere also the first to fly and put ourselves in danger when some idiot, usually fromSky’sEdge, did something stupid.Andit was all on our heads to make laws and carry out punishments and stuff, which had to be a royal pain.”Shesmiled again. “Punintended.”
I smiled back at her.
She carried on, “Butsome bright bulb in our past invested in real estate and stuff like that, which made buckets.Nowall of us and the entirePalacerun on residuals and interest.Wedon’t cost the citizens of theFalla single shilling.”
I had no idea that was the case.
Actually, it never occurred to me to wonder where their money came from.
But seriously, those investments must have been stellar for the residuals and interest to fund this setup.
“Still,” she continued, “part of whyTimotheeandErrollanguish in the polls, notwithstanding their penchants for acting like twits…”
The queen made a genteel sound of disapproval.
Aleece ignored it and carried on.
“Is that they’re considered wastrels.It’shalf what they get up to when they’re out living it up, getting drunk and femaleizing, and half the fact that they’re constantly out getting drunk and femaleizing.”Sheturned to her mother. “Peoplework,Mom.Mostpeople work hard.Andthey respect other people who do.”
“They respect me, andIdon’twork,”QueenCalisaretorted.
Aleece scoffed. “Youwork harder than any of us, it’s just that the estate pays you an allowance instead of some boss giving you a salary.Imean, how many appearances do you have scheduled this week?”
The queen didn’t answer her daughter.
She said to me, “It’sa fulfilling way to spend your time,Laura.Andthere is much good you can do without putting much effort into doing it.Likehow you’ll benefit that designer by wearing his gown.Itmight even change his life.”
“Keep your job if you love doing it,Laura,”Aleeceencouraged. “We’vegot it covered on our end.”
“I’m actually a little worried about this,”Iadmitted. “I’mnot super outgoing.Ihave friends andIlike going out, it’s just that, like your brother”—Ismiled atAleece—“Iprefer quiet time at home, and there are timesIcan be shy.”
QueenCalisaseemed to be considering this, butAleeceimmediately replied, “Thendo you.Ipromise, your ratings will stay high if you do.”
I was feeling a tad bit alarmed at all the ratings talk.
“Is this, uh…ratings thinga, well…big deal for you all?”Iasked.
Aleece shot a pointed look at her mother.
QueenCalisaanswered, “Asmy daughter explained, our dragons do not fly, and we no longer bear the entire brunt of the governance of this land.Butwe do have votes in theCenter, and we must understand how our citizens wish us to cast them, something you can learn by being out among them.Though, you can learn more by conducting polls.Also, we continue to reign at the pleasure of the people.Ifthat pleasure should wane…”
She let that trail.
Aleece picked it up. “Thenwe’d just be a super-rich family that lives in a palace and owns all sorts of stuff.ButMomandDad, me,TimandRolwouldn’t have anything to do.”
No less alarmed.
I mean, my mate was the firstTrueHeirin two centuries.
Was something upIdidn’t know about?
“Is there somethingI’vebeen missing?Isthere some threat to the monarchy?”Iasked.
Aleece shook her head, but said, “Thereare anti-monarchists, for sure.Folkswho don’t think we’ve got the right to representNight’sFallin theCenterand think we embody a dead, antiquated system that needs to be cast aside.Butthere have always been those kinds of beings.Thatsaid, they’re right.Thereis no real purpose for us.Except, likeMomsaid, we do good.Weopen hospitals and shine light on issues and make beings feel special, just because they shook our hands.Itdoesn’t seem to have much meaning, but it does.”
“We represent this realm, and its values,”QueenCalisaput in. “ThinkhowSky’sEdgeis perceived.Thevast majority who live in theEdgeare probably very lovely people.Buttheir current king is a deviant and a tyrant.Sothe beings who live there are colored by his brush.”
