‘Lady Reyna,’ Damien said softly. ‘We have to go.’

Reyna nodded, taking a final sip of the water bottle in her hand. They were in a waiting room in the Mayor House in City Three, with Reyna’s meeting with city governors starting in a few minutes. She was nervous and had to force herself to move towards the door. One step, two-step, she counted, reluctantly pushing forward. The anxiety settled in her hands and feet, leaving the rest of her detached and numb.

The conference room was too big in her opinion. A few people were hovering around, talking amongst themselves. Damien led her to the seat at the head of the table and Reyna settled in, throwing an awkward smile towards the hulky, broad-shouldered man who looked her way.

‘Damien,’ she whispered when the man looked away. ‘It’s as I thought, I really don’t remember anyone here.’

‘Don’t worry, you don’t have to directly address anyone,’ he whispered back. ‘Only the mayor, I’ll tell you who he is.’

In fact, Damien didn’t need to tell her. The mayor walked in surrounded by fanfare, a tall white hat on his head, and a matching shawl wrapped around his shoulder. The men around him dispersed to their seats, and he made his way to Reyna. ‘Afternoon, Your Majesty,’ he said, tipping his hat slightly, a smirk on his face. Reyna nodded in response, keeping her face devoid of any reaction.

The mayor started with pleasantries, and other people took over the briefing. They talked about the progress to the barrier, and the general running of the city. Reyna nodded along to them, Damien on her side scowling and scribbling occasionally. As the head wizard finished off his report, the mayor spoke up. ‘There have been some concerns that were brought up to me by the industry and builders union,’ he said, addressing Reyna. ‘They wonder if you’re breaking open the royal treasury to pay for everyone affected, why are they not eligible for tax cuts? Businesses are entities affected by disasters just the same, and require aid.’

Reyna frowned. ‘The royal family’s assets are being used to pay for medical aid and rebuilding of homes to help with the aftermath,’ she said, speaking for the first time. ‘That has been decided.’

‘People’s businesses have suffered-‘

‘They will have to find a way. It’s not unlimited wealth. For now, the main priority is keeping people alive.’

The mayor pursued his lips and said nothing for the rest of the meeting. Ministers gave their reports, invited her to check out their progress, and it was over.

Ten minutes later, Reyna was in her guestroom. It wasn’t anything like her suite back at the castle, but it was comfortable enough, with a soft plush bed that she was sitting on, and a large window that let in the afternoon sun. She had summoned her dragon again and was petting her with her left hand, her right hand resting on a cushion.

‘Tomorrow we will go check out the barrier,’ she told the dragon. ‘It is rather boring being a queen. For most things, the kingdom runs itself.’

‘You don’t make an effort,’ the dragon with a hot huff.

‘I!!- What advice do you want me to give the ministers and the farmers? They know their job best. I can’t help them there.’ She rested her chin on the dragon’s head. ‘Maybe I should look for a proper successor before I leave.’

‘You’ll have to start now, it won’t be long before the barriers are fixed.’

‘Hmm.’ She gazed absentmindedly outside the window, where some of the city view was visible, mostly a sea of brown wood houses, and in the distant, the towering green forest, its presence looming over the city.

There was a knock and the characteristic turning of a doorknob without waiting for a reply.

Damien took a step inside but stopped in his tracks, looking curiously at her lap. ‘Ah, Damien, this is Bandi, my familiar,’ she said. ‘I guess you’ve never had a chance to meet her before now.’

Damien looked at her wildly, then back at Bandi. ‘I thought it was a stuffed animal!’ He said, letting out a breath. ‘That’s a real dragon?’

Reyna laughed. ‘Well- not quiet. Familiars are made of magical aura and take on whatever form the user gives them… When I bound Bandi, I was very young and fascinated with dragons, so… Here we are. Don’t be so scared!’ She tapped twice on Bandi’s head, and the dragon vanished in a blink.

‘I thought dragons would be bigger,’ Damien said.

‘They are. I think. From what I’ve read. But Bandi doesn’t have the aura to take up such a big form.’

He shook his head exasperatedly and took a seat on the edge of the bed. ‘I came to tell you about political gossip and here you are, playing with a mini dragon.’

‘What gossip?’

Damien had a rare, cheeky smile on his face. ‘Rumour has it you’re shaping up to be a rather unpopular queen.’

‘Ha! Is the mayor upset? They won’t let this tax cut thing go, will they?’

He shook his head. ‘Never. Even when all this is over. When you step down- although… I wish you would stay on for longer. You’re doing a good job.’

‘Despite the gossip?’

‘I think these nobles and politicians need someone who can say no to them and stand their ground like you can,’ he answered sincerely.

‘That’s because I don’t care what they think,’ she said.

‘Which makes you great,’ he said simply.

‘But-' she grew flustered, her cheeks warming up. ‘I have no idea how to run things, I’d be lost without you.’

‘Well, I’m not going anywhere am I?’ he gave a reassuring smile.

Reyna searched for a comeback to regain the upper hand. ‘I don’t even know that much about you. You always keep at a distance.’ Her brave admission surprised both of them, and Damien blinked.

‘There’s not much to know about me,’ he said. ‘Nothing interesting.’

‘I find you interesting,’ she blurted out. When he continued looking at her with his usual intense gaze, she added, ‘I wish you would open up more. I don’t really… have a lot of friends here apart from you.’

‘Oh,’ he said, some sort of realisation dawning on him. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realise it must’ve been difficult for you.’

‘No- you don’t have to pity me or anything! Do it because you want to.’

‘I do want to,’ he said, confusedly. ‘Part of my job is keeping you company.’

‘I don’t want you to do it as part of your job…’ she faltered and repeated herself. ‘Do it because you want you.’

‘I do want to?’ he said. ‘I’m your knight because I chose to be.’

There was an awkward silence between them, and then they both burst out laughing at the same time. Reyna shook her head at the absurdity and tucked in her knees to her chest.

‘Is there something wrong with your arm?’ Damien asked as the laughter they shared died down. ‘You haven’t moved it from the pillow.’

He was gesturing towards her right hand, which had continued resting on the cushion beside her.

‘Oh, um.’ She debated whether to tell him. ‘I broke my wrist last year in the forest, and sometimes it hurts when the weather is cold. It’ll be okay.’

‘Do you want me to wrap a bandage around it?’

Reyna tried to insist it was fine, but Damien went outside and instructed someone to bring him a first aid kit. He came back a few minutes later carrying a white box.

Damien took out a cotton bandage and gently picked up her hand. Reyna’s breath caught in her throat as he began tenderly wrapping the bandage around her wrist, dark wavy locks falling over his eyes when he bent forward, focused intently on what he was doing.

He ran a thumb over her wrist and looked up at her. ‘The journey affected you,’ he said quietly. ‘This injury… and you seem more flushed than usual. Please don’t come down with a fever.’

That just made her blush more. ‘I won’t,’ she whispered back.

He smiled, and for some reason pulled her hand closer to his face, closer to his lips, and spoke even more quietly. ‘Don’t worry. You have this day to rest. Tomorrow we have to go to see the barrier… and I’ll be by your side.’