Page 163 of Sky’s Edge

Belatedly, I realized none of the members of staff had introduced themselves, like they were full beings with lives outside their jobs, and instead they behaved like they were just bots scurrying around doing someone’s bidding.

And I felt guilty because I hadn’t asked.

I did not request her name (for now), nor did I share I was not (yet) aristocracy or royalty, so she didn’t have to refer to me as “milady.”

“Thank you, she can come in,” I said, rising from the desk.

Mira came in, appearing rushed but not distracted.

“Hello, Mira,” I greeted when the staff member closed the door behind her.

“Ms. Truelock.”

I went to the couch, Hurley following me, and gestured to it while saying, “Catla, please. I believe we’re going to have a relationship where we needn’t stand on ceremony.”

She gave me a quizzical look before we both sat on the couch, Hurley settling on his belly beside my feet.

“What can I do for you?” I asked.

“The king has shared you’re going to be here for an extended period of time.”

I nodded my confirmation of this fact.

“Well then,” she continued, “as that’s the case, I feel it necessary to inform you that His Majesty has also told me you intend to approach Barret and Camaryn about the staffing levels of the castle, which you consider too high.”

Which you consider too high.

You.

Hmm.

Before I could also confirm this, she went on.

“I’ll need to ask you not to do that.”

I hadn’t planned on doing it now, or anytime in the foreseeable future. I wanted to request a conversation with whoever did this kind of thing for Queen Calisa at the Celestial Palace so I knew what I was talking about before I did it.

However, I was curious as to why she would ask me not to.

“Can you explain why?” I requested.

“You are to be our queen,” she said. “And, before even being coronated, as a demon from the Fall, a member of one of the traitor families, one of your first acts being firing Edgian demons from their jobs and robbing them of their livelihoods is not a good first look.”

I sat very still.

Oddly, Hurley let out a low growl.

Regrettably, Mira noticed neither of these and kept talking.

“We need to gauge how our citizens react to King Tanyn’s decision about you. We need to do some spin to give them your best face. You’re a female of style and substance, we need to drive that home. Perhaps some charity work⁠—”

“Stop speaking,” I demanded.

She clamped her mouth shut even as her body gave a slight, surprised jerk.

“I had not intended to sack anyone, though, you didn’t ask. That being said, I’ll still point out the obvious. There are other, far more pressing matters at hand, I’m sure you know,” I stated.

“Yes,” she agreed cautiously.