Page 56 of Microburst

Good woman. Really, I respected her and all of them for running with the chance they had now.

15

Sagan

“This is Yolanda Gurren, and she is now the Governor of Wauneka Castle and all the De la Rosa castles,” I announced at the impromptu meeting I called that breakfast was brought to. It was with the managing staff of the castle and those with leadership roles, Fraser, Maple, Myriam, Velle, and Treena.

So yes, Benson and Raquel were there and the shock on their faces and others was intense, but I ignored it and went on.

“As we all know, I don’t have a mate and thus, the role Queen Amelia had is also on my shoulders. Except peoplelistenedto her. So that’s doubly problematic, and I have the role of King Rhys and it’s ridiculously hindering. And people don’t like having someone from another country or species telling them what to do.

“The excuses and pushback are endless and constantly make me look the fool.” I snorted when I felt the tension in the room rise. I sat back and stared at several of them. “You’re all angry. You’re angry that yourbossis saying she’s not happy with your job performance instead of seeing there’s a problem.”

“The problem is they won’t switch gears to see you as their boss,” Fraser muttered, realizing things weren’t better like he’d thought.

“Yes, and everyone brushes it off as my grief or past issues or that they didn’t like me before so I’m holding a grudge—anylistof dismissive excuses,” I explained. I gestured to Yolanda. “Except now she will be all of your boss acting in the role Queen Amelia did until I find a mate. She is the clean slate and outside view of all of this.”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but we’ve been working very hard to make changes and adjust as we should,” Raquel said carefully. “I worry that a woman you barely know isn’t the answer and would destabilize the way the castle runs.”

“That’s actually the point,” Treena chuckled. “You all work together so well that you’re always working togetheragainstSagan and it’s rather disgusting.” She held up her hand to her guards when a few went on alert. “This would not be allowed in our castle. Our staff aren’t so prideful and understand… A lot. They are amazing and I never worry about them. Ever.”

“You told me that when you first arrived and I was upset we were having private conversations in front of your guards.” I glanced between her guards. “But I’ve never heard any of you gossip or say anything about that day.”

“They won’t,” Treena said firmly. “Discretion is part of thejob.” She narrowed her eyes at Raquel. “Not something to work on abit, but to understand that people aren’t robots. The fact you dismissed—Sagan’s point was valid and you keep making the same mistakes then acting shocked when others jump on you.”

“And not just her,” I sighed, deciding if we were going to have this out, to really have it out. I looked at the stable manager. “You tell a story over and over again about how I hurt a horse when I was younger, and you’ve told it so often the media reported it.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “It wasn’t me. It was my cousin. I’ve told you that, but—I was at school.”

“I apologize you’re upset, but I know what happened, Your Majesty,” he replied with an even tone. “You were young and—”

“This is seriously ridiculous and I don’t know how you put up with it,” Treena said, not hiding her disgust. “Father would have already replaced many of them.”

“I would love to. I can’t because of what I’ve already said.” I shared a look with her but then smiled at Yolanda. “But you can. You can be the fresh eyes and outside opinion that will audit the situation and free me from the fault. Someone from the respected Gurren family who has stayed out of royal family matters came to help and saw the mess? I’m off the hook.”

“I’m sorry, that sounds like you’re saying you would actually have fired people in this room already, Your Majesty,” the head groundskeeper said cautiously.

I met his gaze. “I’ve been pretty clear that I would have fired several of you already, but I can’t because of how people would react. Inside and outside of the castle.” I chuckled when he seemed confused. “You used to intentionally squirt me with the hose when I was on break or turn the sprinklers on when I was anywhere in the gardens.

“Don’t even try to deny it. You are a horrible liar. You bullied the Heir of Thovudin because you liked Elira. Then, after it all came out, you basicallyforgave mefor the past and getting rid of her because you now understood she was horrible. Oh, and now you’re on the team, but everything will be as you want just like my parents had. Done and done.”

I felt better when all of the wolves growled, not hiding how they felt about it all.

“Your Majesty, anyone who bullies a child cannot be trusted not to bully other children in the future,” Yolanda worried. “I know it’s not anytime soon, but you will have children—gods willing—and this man cannot be trusted then.”

“I fully agree,” I chuckled darkly, keeping his gaze, clucking my tongue when his eyes filled with rage. “What did you think would happen? Oh, right, that my parents would have a son eventually and that I would be out. That’s not the law. Firstborn is heir in Thovudin.”

He opened his mouth, but I ignored him and went on.

“And people would brush offlittle thingslike bullying me as a child when all of it is leaked to the press or just gossiped about endlessly because no one on staff in this castle keeps their mouth shut besides Pearl.” I gestured to Yolanda. “She will now make it happen. Cutting hours. Docking pay. Whatever punishments like ajobhas when you do not do it properly.”

“Yes, and we have those rules in place at the Gurren compound, so I know exactly how to implement them,” Yolanda said, firmly giving Raquel a disgusted look. “It’s not complicated to expect adult staff to behave like adults, especially when they work for the leader of a nation—the most powerful nation in the world. Others will in a heartbeat.”

I wanted to hand her a mic to drop and also tell her that my dragons were giving her a standing ovation inside of me.

Seriously, they were.

I moved things right along and focused on Myriam, Velle, and Treena. “And here is our help. It’s being announced however Darren will handle it, but he took over the Gurren family and the embargo against the royal family is over. Myfamilyis here to help our agenda to better Thovudin. It will take some more work initially getting them acclimated and ready—”

“But we can trust them,” Treena sighed and looked lighter. “Fabulous. And on the note of people we can trust, Princess Makeda will be landing tonight. She finallyuntangledherself after talking with Princess Maple and that the request was truly from you.”