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Spitting and rinsing out my mouth, I nod. “I also want to change the way our orphans are treated. There has to be a better system for placement. How many children did we just orphan with our actions yesterday?”

“Not as many as you’d think,” he says. “Cinder only chose auditors who were single without children to do her bidding. Also, any guards or soldiers we dispatched also had significant others who were responsible for childcare, as they weren’t home very often since they lived in the barracks.”

“I need to make sure I send those men and women we just widowed money.” I sigh.

“You know they were all vile,” Kenzo mutters.

“Oh, yes, I do,” I agree. All too well. His eyes darken, I’m already moving on. They can’t hurt me anymore. They’re dead.

Striding into the bedroom, I bite my lip. I never want to look at another shade of navy blue again. Pulling out a green long-sleeved dress with a slit up the side, I toss it onto the bed along with a thigh knife holster, and flat, brown boots. I don’t plan to be a normal queen, may as well set the expectations up correctly.

Kenzo’s jaw drops as I release the towel from around me, his eyes bouncing from the clothes to me.

“I’m going to go find clothes, and I’ll send one of the guys in to replace your knife for you,” he says, amused. “Forbach will be talking about you for years, Mistress. I can’t fucking wait to see what you do.”

He walks out of the room, leaving me to smirk in his absence. Queen. Holy shit.

* * *

The castle isin a flurry of activity when we arrive, driving both vehicles in with our things. As if waiting for us, men and women who serve as maids and workers follow us into the courtyard.

“Your Majesty, we’ll unload everything if you’ll just tell us where?” one of the women asks as I get out of the car.

“That’ll be a little difficult. I haven’t decided where we’ll be sleeping. May I speak to Margot, the house manager, please?” I ask.

Nodding, she takes a step backward. “I’ll lead you to her. Right this way, Your Majesty,” she says.

Unfortunately, I don’t know her name, but I’ll find out after speaking to Margot. Kenzo and Sidney fall into step with me as I follow, and I know it’s for my safety. We still don’t know what to expect, or if there are any hidden enemies who were loyal to Cinder.

“Please tell me we aren’t sleeping in her room, Pet,” Sidney mutters under his breath.

“Not for all the money in the world,” I promise.

“Margot?” the girl asks, popping her head into her office. It feels odd that she wasn’t there to greet us, and my lips purse in displeasure. I haven’t had much reason to interact with her, as Cinder had morning meetings with her.

Thankfully, the skulls and the horrible chandelier have been cleared from the entryway, and the bodies have been removed from the castle. Small steps to airing out the madness Cinder left behind.

“Yes, girl, what? The new queen will be here any time, and I have to make sure things are up to snuff. There’s been too much upheaval, I won’t be losing my job now, too,” Margot grumbles.

My lips twitch, amused now that I know she didn’t know I was here yet. She’s no doubt going to be pissed when she realizes I’m standing right here. At least she wasn’t awful in her judgment of me.

“She’s here. The new queen is next to me, and wishes a moment of your time,” the girl says, curtsying quickly before rushing away.

Margot is silent, and I move to the doorway. “Margot,” I murmur. “I need a few things done before we can fully move in.”

“Of course,” she says, standing quickly. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to greet you. I didn’t realize you’d arrived.”

“Only just,” I explain. “I need a large bedroom that did not belong to Cinder. It’ll need to fit a large bed, several closets, and an attached bathroom.”

Margot thinks, biting her lip. “I’m afraid the only room like that is Cinder’s old room,” she muses. “What is the problem with that room, if I may ask?”

As I said, I didn’t spend much time around Margot, and it’s very possible that she doesn’t know the full extent of my traumatic past with my step-sister.

“There are ghosts who I’m sure still exist within the walls, and I’d prefer not to ever be visited by them,” I tell her instead.

“Who exactly is your Queen, Margot?” Sidney snaps. He was interrogating castle employees, and I immediately can see that they’ve had a run in. Sidney was very thorough apparently with his interviews. He always is.

“Queen Drizella, of course,” Margot says hurriedly. “Or rather, she will be after her coronation. I will need to bring in some of the royal builders to restructure rooms to ensure we can accommodate you, Your Majesty. What wing would you like to reside in?”