The dancing in the streets to honor Queen Blythe lasted an entire week. People poured into the capital from all over the country to pave the roads with flowers and let their voices guide the queen's spirit. Estefania wore robes of yellow and orange and joined her people to praise the sun for the glorious life of the queen. 

Nathaniel danced beside her. He thumped the drums and rang the bells alongside her people in tribute. She knew that he wasn't going anywhere. He loved her. 

As Queen Blythe's festival entered its seventh day, Estefania found herself surrounded by advisors and servants, all striving to orchestrate the largest coordination the kingdom had experienced in years. The lords and viziers had voted to have her crowning the night her grandmother's ashes were released to the earth. 

It took almost the whole day to dress for the ceremony at sunset. The servants refused to involve Avangelique's magic in the process, so they spent the time by hand adjusting the rites painted on her skin and plaiting her hair under the gorgeous beaded headdress. 

Right before the ceremony, she finally spotted Nathaniel. He was dressed in white robes, like all the others who'd come to see the crowing of the new queen. His golden hair was brushed back, and he beamed at her. 

"You look beautiful," he said. 

"I feel like if I move a fraction of an inch, this entire headdress will come crumbling down," she gestured to the heavy gold beads that hung across her forehead studded with one diamond in the middle and the gauzy purple material that hung down her back with dozens of strings of onyx and pearls. "And they're going to stack the crown on top of this."

"I trust you," he said. "And I promise you won't be the first queen in history to spill her crown down the steps of the palace."

"I can use magic if that'll make it better," Avangelique appeared at the entrance of the room. 

The younger princess had her hair braided in an upward twist. She wore a dress that was a cross between Sahar's robes and Cyra's heavy-skirted dresses. Her wings were out and fluttered behind her as she walked. Estefania thought she looked every bit the fairy empress despite her age. 

"Bastien is ready on the platform with the ashes," her sister said. "And the Cyrans and the representatives from Nene are here, ready to witness the crowning."

Estefania held her head up high. After all, it was time. She was finally here in Sahar. This was her wish. She'd saved her family. It was all she ever wanted and more.

She followed Avangelique out to the steps of the palace. The cheers and shouts were deafening. There, the nobles and lords all waited for her, along with her people. Fletcher stood at the corner with Lorenzo at his side. Elowen and the delegation from Nene also stood at full attention, waiting. Nathaniel took a place beside his brothers, and Estefania spotted Solomon at the edge of the steps, closer to the crowd of Saharite citizens that had spilled into the city to see their new queen. 

Bastien and her father stepped forward. Bastien held the urn with their grandmother's ashes up before the crowd. He nodded at his sister and then removed the cap. Both father and son tossed the ashes to the wind, spreading the queen to rest and allowing her to return to her people.  

There was no organizer for an event like this. Estefania asked about the ceremony's guide and was advised to let it flow naturally. She waited with bated breath until the last of the ashes faded on the breeze. 

"The queen is dead. Long live the queen. I, Prince Hadrian de Sahar, vizier of the Province of Namu, bow to Estefania, Queen of Sahar," her father announced and then bowed face down before her and didn't rise. 

A group of the nobles behind him bowed. One by one, each province bowed to its new queen: Bine, Rao, Enn, Tijj, Yen, Kelle, Dalinos, and Rejii. The people from each province bowed with their lords and nobles and stayed with their faces to the ground until only a few remained standing. 

"I, Louie de Nene, Earl of the Independent City-State of Nene," the earl said, "recognize and bow to Estefania, Queen of Sahar."

Elowen's company bowed, though they kept their faces from touching the ground by only bowing from the waist. Estefania didn't mind. Nene would be an excellent ally when they needed it. 

Next came the Cyrans. "I, Fletcher de Cyra, King of The Kingdom of Cyra, recognize and bow to Estefania, Queen of Sahar."

Her former betrothed and his company bowed at the waist in reverence. It felt good to see Cyra bend and recognize her sovereignty. She was free of Fletcher as a future husband, but not as an ally. Nathaniel bowed at his brother's side, and she knew he was in agreement with his brother. 

Only her siblings stood now. Bastien clasped his fist to his heart and swore his oath to bow on behalf of all the people of Sahar. She wasn't sure he was going to stay anyhow. Bastien was in love with Wryn, but he wasn't sure where that was going to take him. 

Avangelique stood proudly as Bastien bowed. Her little sister was more than a queen. She was an empress with no empire. She wouldn't bend a knee to Sahar.

"I, Avangelique de Sahar, the Fairy Empress, morning daystar of the Isle of Wishes, crown you Estefania Queen of Sahar on this day with my blessing," her sister said. "May your crops grow and prosper as you rule your people with wisdom and grace."

The mark on her forehead glowed, and a crown formed on top of her headdress, making her head even heavier. Estefania turned all her focus into staying completely still as her people rose in reverence to see their crowned queen. She managed a sidelong glance at Avangelique, and her sister waved her wrist. 

The crown became instantly lighter. Estefania smiled, not just for her sister, but for all her people. Here she was, a queen ready to serve her own people. She was ready to help her kingdom and heal its lands. 

"Rise," Estefania spoke to the crowds. "A new dawn is rising in Sahar, and I vow to make our kingdom shine once again."

The people cheered, and even some of the nobles clapped in reverence. Fletcher gave her a slight nod, as if he respected what she was doing. She had to remember he was a king now, even if his own crowning before his people had had less fanfare. 

She needed to have a better relationship with Cyra than her grandmother had. It was her duty as queen to set alliances right. It would take her time to win over her own court, but she'd already helped Fletcher, and that alliance was at least strong for now. 

Estefania wasn't sure if she wanted a marriage alliance. Nathaniel stood beside her, and she loved him for his loyalty. However, convincing her people and nobility to accept a Cyran in a position of power in Sahar would be challenging. She still remembered when she'd first entered their court and saw them as nothing but monsters. All but Nathaniel, anyhow. 

She feared her people might see her making Nathaniel her consort as a betrayal. Her grandmother had never married, so she would never let any man claim the crown. She hoped she wouldn't have to follow that example because she wouldn't imagine that being queen alone would be easy. It would likely just turn her jaded and bitter like her grandmother. 

She allowed Nathaniel to lead her to the party in the city square. The people gazed at her with awe and reverence as she passed. They'd accepted her when she'd danced in the streets in honor of her grandmother. Children brought her presents, and women complimented her beauty. Several men had even professed their undying love for her on the spot. She'd had to turn them down, but she felt like she belonged here. Sahar was her home. 

She spotted Bastien pulling Wryn to dance to the beat of fast drums and triumphant horns. The poor girl looked overwhelmed, but there was more color in her skin, and she didn't take her eyes off the man who'd rescued her. Bastien laughed when she stepped on his feet, and he held her close as the horns slowed their pulse down to a waltzing melody. 

"I've been talking to Fletcher today," Nathaniel said. 

That brought Estefania back to reality. "Oh?"

"We were discussing the Dukedom of Ryne," he said. "We have our marquess back. Caitryn... I mean, Wryn could inherit the province under my mother's stewardship. She would step down as dowager duchess and allow Wryn to take over the land as duchess."

"Is she ready for that?" Estefania frowned. "And what about you, Nathaniel?"

"I don't need a dukedom if I have you," he said. "I could renounce my titles and move to Sahar. Wryn could take my place, and your brother might even gain my title if he married her. It would be like we swapped places. A new marquis and a new prince."

 She looked at him and took his face in her hands. "You would give up your people and your title for me?"

"In a heartbeat, Estefania," he kissed her. "I belong to you, wholly, my love."

Her heart lit up with happiness. The moment she met him, she knew there was something different about the marquis. Not any man would cross the desert at the command of his king. He was special, and now she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. 

"Are you sure?" Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. 

He wiped the wetness from her eyes with the pad of his thumb. "I made my decision the moment you didn't run from me at the ball. It took all my willpower not to turn fuzzy when we danced."

She thought of that moment. He was her anchor in that ball when it felt like everything around her was spinning. She'd wanted to be with him forever because he made her feel safe. 

"I love you," she said, and she pressed her lips against his again. 

Her fingers drew around him and dug into his hair. He held her tight, and she could feel his heart against her breasts. She didn't care if there was an audience or if the entire kingdom knew she was kissing Nathaniel. Estefania could do this forever.

He spun her out to dance, and they moved to the music until they were breathless and laughing. It probably wasn't very queenly, but she didn't care. Everything was perfect as long as Nathaniel stayed by her side. 

They made their way back to the palace, where it grew dark and the music slowed. Nathaniel made his way to the guest room, and Estefania was led by the servants into the royal suite. It was still strange to have taken over her grandmother's questers, but she had to remember that she was the queen. 

Avangelique waited outside Estefania's room. She hadn't seen much of her sister today. Estefania vaguely remembered seeing Avangelique talking to Fletcher after the crowning, but she hadn't seen her sister since. 

"I can't stay here," Avangelique said. "This isn't my home."

"Of course it is," Estefania said. 

Avangelique shook her head. "I need to restore the fairy isle, and it's going to take time. I can't afford distractions, and Louraline thinks I should cut access to the kingdom of the fairies until I can get the mess Mona made straightened out."

"So you're going to leave?" Estefania asked. "What about Sahar? Or Cyra? You grew up there. Even if you don't want to stay here, I'm sure Fletcher would let you stay."

Her sister looked pained. "Cyra would be more of a distraction. Fletcher is like my brother. And Lorenzo..."

Estefania understood. Avangelique was young, but she'd seen the bond her little sister had with the younger Cyran prince. He'd wanted to burn the jungle on the fairy isle if it had given him a way to save Avangelique. She was only now learning to cherish that kind of love and devotion from Nathaniel. 

"When are you leaving?" She asked her sister. 

Avangelique stiffened. "Tonight. I wanted to explain to you where I was going in hopes that you could give my condolences to the others. I talked to Bastien, and he encouraged me to find my own path."

"Of course," Estefania reached out and hugged her sister. "You have a hard path, but it is one that I have full faith you will discover in due time."

"I leave you with my blessings, queen of Sahar," Avangelique broke out of the hug. "Your land will prosper. I've already restored Mona's cursed wishes on the land of Sahar. You'll have no reason to rely solely on Cyra. That is all I can do to make your reign easier. I am supposed to be impartial as a fairy, after all."

Estefania smiled at her sister. Avangelique had done more than she could ever hope for. It was time for her sister to embark on her own journey. She knew Avangelique's presence would enhance and empower the fairies. It was only a matter of time.

"This isn't a goodbye," Avangelique said. "Tell Lorenzo that, please."

Then her sister vanished in a flash of rainbow light so bright that Estefania had to avert her eyes. The fairy empress was gone. Estefania was queen, and she was ready to lead Sahar to a new age. 

She walked into her chambers with hope in her heart. For the first time in sixteen years, wishes would be heard. Avangelique would make sure they were fulfilled. The young empress had saved Sahar, and Estefania would never be able to repay her for all she'd done.