Over the next couple of days, I pull myself together just enough to help organise my mothers funeral. It was decided that it would be held here in Inveress because the palace is still getting rebuilt after the attack so it is not suitable to move back into just yet.

I have been spending any free time that I have with Jasper and Max, trying to distract my mind from what is really going on. We spend our hours strolling through the grounds, talking about ways that we can possibly get the cure distributed to everyone who needs it. Max also mentions the idea of creating vaccination that prevents people from catching the disease in the first place. It is definitely something to think about.

I try and think about other things I should do as Queen other than just the major things like the cure, but nothing comes to mind yet. Maybe I need to get my mothers funeral out of the way before I truly feel like a queen.

The day of the funeral finally arrives along with men carrying big heavy cameras. Apparently it is a tradition for the funeral to be broadcasted to everyone in the country so they can mourn over her death. Personally, I do not think that many people will get upset over it, most will probably be jumping for joy. There are people scurrying around carrying vases upon vases of flowers, red roses, my mothers favourites.

My original plan was to stay in my room and let everyone else deal with all the arrangement but that soon changed. There I was, sat in front of my mirror attempting to get ready when I heard shouting from outside my door. I ventured out to see what was happening to see Louis arguing with one of the catering boys. After that, I soon found out that was one problem out of many.

The caterers had misread how many meals we actually wanted so we ended up being about ten short. People started turning when they were not suppose to and he florist has brought a mixture of red and white roses when I had specifically asked for only red. For the entire morning, I was running around after people, putting everything in place, making sure it is just right.

Finally at noon I am able to sneak away into my room again and get ready. I keep my hair simple by keeping it straight, along with minimal make up. My dress has been made specially for today. It has a zipper on the back and is skintight with a cape attached to it. It needed to be something that was appropriate but also makes a statement because it is the first outfit that I wear in public as the new queen... even though it is not technically official yet.

Standing in front of my floor length mirror, I take a deep breath in. This is it... the end.

"Your majesty, it is time." I hear Louis knock on the door and tell me.

"Thank you." I get up and make my way towards the door, slowly turning the handle with my shaking hands.

I am greeted with Jasper and Max standing there, both looking very smart in their black suits and shirts.

"We thought you might like some company." Jasper says to me.

"Thank you, I do not think I will be able to do this by myself."

"You don't have to. We will be here every step of the way." Max then says to me.

I smile at the two of them and then begin walking once again. The funeral is being held outside and luckily the weather is nice for us, there is a warm breeze blowing and the sun is high in the sky. Birds are tweeting in the trees with no cares in the world. How I wish I was them right now.

Already, most of the seats have been filled with people, some I recognise, some I do not.

"We'll see you after the ceremony." Jasper whispers in my ear, giving my hand a scream before he and Max take their seats in he back.

I walk down the middle of the aisle by myself, keeping my head focused in front of me, ignoring the stares from everyone else. My seat is at the front, next to Crystal and her father. It is the first time that I have seen them because of how busy I have been since I have come back.

My uncle smiles at me, a pity smile more than anything else whereas Crystal looks at me with a cold expression on her face. Understandable after everything that I made her do for me. I do not have time to dwell in this though because not long after I have taken my seat, the ceremony begins.

Six men carry the coffin down the aisle until it is placed on the alter, in front of everyone. The cameras are all and the priest says some words of how she is one of the best leaders the country has ever since, along with one of the best mothers. It takes everything I have not to scoff at those comments and instead look genuinely sad.

Once the ceremony is over, I rush out of the place, avoiding the small talk I would otherwise have to make with the guests. The cameras can follow them around. As for me, I have other things to tend with.

Creeping away from the crowds, I sneak into my mothers office, which technically is mine now. I wait near the phone for a call that I am expecting, hoping that nobody interrupts me while I am in here.

Minutes tick by and nothing happens causing me to jump every time that I hear footsteps near the door. I get up and start pacing back and forth instead but all that does is increase my anxiety. Eventually, after fifteen minutes of waiting, the phone rings.

"I told you to call fifteen minutes ago." I say down the speaker.

"I must have lost track of time although I am surprised that you want to talk to meet at all." The voice on the other end says to me, sending chills down my spine.

"Let's not play games Crow. You are still the leader of the A Group, I assume?" I ask him, getting straight to the point.

There is a pause on the other end of the phone before I hear a low chuckle. "If that's what you want to call it then I guess I am. However my reputation has fallen dramatically since the attacks. If only you had come forward sooner..."

"Although I do no want to do this, I know you are the spokesperson for what the people want. I suggest a meeting between just the two of us so I can truly understand what the people want." I tell him.

"And why would you do that?" He asks coldly on the other end.

"To avoid recreating the events of the last few weeks. To make sure that people feel like they are being listened to. To make people feel safe. Are they another reasons for you Crow?" I snap down the phone at him.

"Hmm you really are different from your mother... Yes, I'll do it but it has to be on my terms."

"No, it will be on my terms. I think you are forgetting who is in charge here, I am the queen after all-"

"- Acting queen. Nothing is official yet is it? Not until your coronation but fine, all on your terms. When do you propose we do this meeting then?" Crow then asks me.

"As soon as the palace reopens. Thanks to your men, we are having trouble moving in."

"They did a job well done then." It takes a lot not to just hang up on the spot then.

"Just come to the meeting when I give you the details. You will arrive exactly when I tell you too otherwise I will cancel everything. This is your only chance." I say before hanging up on him.

I sit back in my chair, not quite believing what I have just done.

***
The rest of the funeral passed in a blur and before I know it, people are now planning for my coronation. That will not be happening for another few months yet though.

Luckily for me, I was able to move back into the palace only a few days later and I forgot how much I actually missed this place. It is where I grew up, where all my memories are, the good and the bad.

One of the first things I did when I got back here was give Jasper and Max a tour. I do not think that either of them could believe what they were seeing because of how big the place is. The second thing I did was arrange a meeting with Crow.

I told some advisors about the meeting and they all looked apprehensive. I have been asked countless questions about 'am I making the right decision' and 'how do I know that I can trust him?' Well I do not trust him, which is why we will not be completely alone in that meeting room.

I will have guards positioned outside the door and in the room just in case he tries to get
away with any funny business. As for who will be around the meeting table, then that will be strictly between him and me.

Which is why I am now currently pacing back and forth down the corridor, waiting on news on his arrival. Both Jasper and Max have tried to talk me out of doing this, believing that there are other ways for me to do my business.

"I will be fine and there will be people there who will intervene if they need to. It is all safe." I kept trying to tell them but they did not listen.

I walk into the meeting room about five minutes before Crow is due to arrive. I take my place at the head of the table, a place that feels very unfamiliar to me. My mother always sat here, not me.

There is one guard in the room with me already who keeps his eye on the door and I keep mine on the clock which hangs on the wall in front of me. The minutes tick closer to the time that Crow should be here and I can feel the butterflies swarming around in my stomach.

The doors flung open and in strolls Crow, escorted by a couple of guards.

"Sit." I point to one of the seats around the table and watch him settle into it. It feels good to be the one to have all the power in this situation.

"I thought that you would cancel this. After all, I definitely don't deserve this."

"I am not doing this for you Crow. There are millions of people out there who all need my help. They are he ones that I am doing all this for. You are just the only contact that I have to talk these things through." I snap at him, unable to control my emotions.

"Good... good. So what do you want?"

"I think I am the one who is suppose to ask that, do you not think Crow?" I smile coldly back at him.

"Fine. I do have a list of demands, including making the cure available to everyone. The whole country knows that your mother has been hiding it from a lot of people simply because she didn't care."

On the outside I try to act indifferent, as if this was something that I had not thought about. He does not need to know that it is at the top of my priority list.

"I will make a note of that." I scribble on some piece of paper to keep up the pretence. "Anything else?"

"Well... err... people want better jobs I guess. Away from The Island, there are not as many opportunities. You've seen all the homeless for yourself."

"I have and that has also been noted."

"We also need a voice," now this gets my attention. "Having the mayors does nothing. They often don't listen to us, they pretend everything will be fine unless something is going to attack them. We need the real people to have their voices expressed."

"How do you propose we do this?" I ask, genuinely interested in this.

"I'm not entirely sure myself but at the very least you could have electives from each zone to speak up. Something along those lines."

"Thank you. I will certainly look into that. You have actually been helpful here Crow." I bring out the cold smile once again. "You can arrest him now." I say to the guard in the room as I get up to leave.

"WHAT! YOU CAN'T DO THAT?" He screams at me.

"Of course I can! You constructed attacks on thousands of people, abducted a princess and gave the orders to have the queen killed. I think I have enough evidence to arrest you." I tell him while I walk out of the room.

I make my way out of the room, smiling at the screams coming from Crow. Now for my final task of the day, my first official livestream to the public.

I have make up artists who add some finishing touches before I take my seat on the throne. It always made a dramatic background for my mother when she did these type of things.

"Princess, what are you doing?" I hear Jasper ask, who comes running into the room, shortly followed by Max.

"You will find out soon enough." I reassure him.

Jasper just gives me a worried look in return but I do not have much time to think about that. A camera is being pointed at my face with the man behind it counting down to five with his fingers, signing when we go live.

"Good afternoon people of Strongway. I am your acting Queen Alexandria, with a message to my people.'

'First of all, I am sorry for all the disturbances over the last few week. I know lives have been lost and that is all my fault but I hope I can help change that. From this moment on, the attacks on the rebels from the palace is going to stop. That is not how we are going to create peace in our country. Hopefully, in return, the rebels will stop their attacks on innocent civilians.'

'I also want to thank you all for you condolences regarding my mothers death. No one was expecting it, least of all I so your words have been a great comfort to me.'

'My final note is that my coronation will be held two months from today, on the first of November. As expected, it will be televised so you can all watch at home if you wish. I cannot wait to serve my country as queen although I do wish it was on happier terms. That is all for today. Thank you." I finish and walk over towards Max and Jasper who both pull me into a hug.

"You're already making stuff happen and you're not even queen yet!" Max congratulates me.

"Well let's hope that I can make this work." I say to the two of them, leaving the camera crew behind.

A/N: it's #RoyalWednesday once again and I hope everyone is doing well! We're so close to the end of this book!!! I can't quite believe it.

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