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The day after the museum dedication, normal business resumed, which meant royal duties claimed Jaryk’s attention.

As per her routine, after morning deportment classes, Kismet and her sister went exploring—after several forays, they still hadn’t seen the whole palace—and then ate lunch together.

Today, they were lunching in Karma’s suite.

Much as she admired the grandeur of Jaryk’s apartment, she preferred her sister’s cozier but still elegant space.

It seemed silly and awkward for two people to sit at a table stretching the length of a humongous dining room.

A servant wheeled in a cart with their meal. “May I get you anything else?” she asked.

“No, thank you. This is great,” Karma replied with a smile. The servant bowed and departed.

“I could get used to this.” Her sister removed the cover from a dish and released delicious aromas into the air.

“The food is phenomenal,” Kismet agreed. “I keep forgetting to ask the names of things. I want to request some of them again.”

“True that, but I meant getting the royal treatment.”

“Oh, that.”

“You don’t enjoy it?” Karma looked at her.

“It’s nice, but I don’t need it—”

“Well, I don’t neeeed it—”

“And I didn’t earn it.”

“So, who did? Earth to Kismet, Jaryk and Falkor didn’t earn it. They were born into it. As were the king and queen, and the monarchs before them, and before them…”

They do earn it, though. The stability and protection the benevolent monarchs provided enabled people to thrive and achieve their goals, dreams, and wealth, albeit on a smaller scale.

They fostered many worthwhile projects—like the Museum of Alien Horticulture.

She’d overheard attendees talking—they loved Jaryk, and they raved about the exhibit.

His interest in horticulture had bloomed into a “boo” that would draw visitors from all over the globe and the galaxy, who would then spend money at hotels, eateries, shops.

Those business owners would benefit, and they would spread their money around to the benefit of other citizens.

Besides that, the museum served as a learning tool, feeding the quest for knowledge and fostering curiosity about other worlds. And that was just one “pet project.”

She’d been impressed by the whole exhibit and how much the people loved and respected Jaryk. Their regard enhanced her opinion of him. She would have been proud to have him as her husband—for real.

“And besides—” Her sister warmed up. “ You did kind of earn it. You are enabling Jaryk to escape a fate worse than death.”

“I don’t think he views the prospect of marriage to Alia as quite that,” she replied drily, but she got the same pang as when she’d had the epiphany that she could be considered an invasive species.

“Well, marriage to you is his path to freedom.”

He did desire freedom. So, it was pointless to wish for more, wasn’t it?

I need a chance. A fair chance. I don’t want to be discounted just because I’m human. I want him to be open to the idea of a real marriage.

“Just don’t fall in love with him.”

“Why would you say that?” Her cheeks heated as if her sister had caught her at something.

Karma’s eyes narrowed. “Because I know you.”

“You’re the one who falls in and out of love with the day of the week,” Kismet pointed out. “I’ve only had a couple of serious relationships.”

“Because you don’t put yourself out there—if you were less guarded, you would fall in love more. Mom says we have very tender hearts.”

“Oh, well, if the seer says it, it must be true.” She loved her mother, but she was a serious space cadet.

“What if he goes back to Alia?” Karma asked.

“He can’t go back to her—he’s never really been with her.”

“You know what I mean. Mom foresaw heartbreak and a love triangle in your future.”

“You should have told me that before I left Earth, not after I got here and got married,” she said wryly.

“Like you would have listened to me.”

Her sister had a point there.

Heartbreak was a risk in any relationship. Their mother got no points for that prognostication. The love triangle prediction seemed a little eerie—but she still gave her mother’s ESP no credence.

“If, at the end of a year, he decides to marry Alia for the good of the kingdom, then so be it. I knew when I married him it wasn’t going to be forever—that’s why I went through with it. Because there was an escape clause.”

* * * *

Upon returning to her apartment midafternoon, Lewen met her at the door. “Your clothing has been delivered to your bedchamber, Ms. Kismet.” She’d tried to get the butler to call her by her first name, but he insisted on formality, so they compromised.

“Thank you, Lewen.” She hurried to her bedroom, eager to see the ball gown. She’d expected to see the dress draped across the bed, but it wasn’t, so she flung open the wardrobe doors.

“Oh, my god!” Clothing in every color for every occasion filled the closet. She’d been expecting one formal and a few other outfits for informal events—not an entire boutique of high-end alien designer couture. As for ball gowns, there were a dozen of those!

I won’t be here long enough to wear all of this.

The extravagance stirred her guilt, but it warred with excitement.

What girl didn’t appreciate beautiful new clothes?

She would never be a true princess, but she could dress like one.

She reminded herself she’d been transported to a different realm, planet, and way of life.

She grabbed her MCD and contacted her sister. “Come to my apartment, now! You have to see this!”

“What is it?”

“My ball gown came,” she said simply, not wishing to dilute the impact when her sister saw her closet.

“Ooh, yeah. Is it beautiful?”

“You have no idea!” Neither did she. She had no idea which of the formal gowns had been intended for the upcoming ball. She hadn’t examined them closely, but they were all beautiful.

“Be there in a flash. Assuming I don’t get lost,” Karma said.

She chuckled. The distance between their residences was a bit of a hike, and her sister had a poor sense of direction.

Kismet had navigated their explorations of the palace.

“Watch for the waterfall,” she said. There was a courtyard with a huge fountain midway between their residences.

“If you’re not here in half an hour, I’ll send out a search party,” she joked.

“I’m on my way!”

Kismet dove into the closet, eager to see what she had. This is like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one.

The lavish overindulgence still bothered her middle-class frugality, but not enough to dampen her excitement. When her sister got here, they could play dress-up. There were enough clothes for both of them—and five other women. Karma had different tastes, but she would find something appealing.

She examined the breathtaking gowns first. A few had billowy skirts; others were sleek and slender. Some off the shoulder, others with full-length sleeves. Silk—did Kaldor have silkworms?—fabrics with net overlays seeded with crystals and jewels.

And the day wear, while much simpler, was just as luxurious.

Compared to these clothes, her own outfits appeared cheap. She squirmed at the sight of the blue dress she’d worn to the museum, cleaned, and rehung. Jaryk hadn’t said the dress was nice—only that the color was appropriate. No wonder he had clothes made for me.

I’ll wear one of the new outfits tonight at dinner—assuming he comes home.

She eyed a simple rose sheath dress. Or maybe this? She selected a lavender tunic with matching pantaloons. Deep in her closet, surrounded by clothes, she heard the butler speaking but couldn’t quite make out the words.

“What?” she yelled.

“Ms. Kismet? You—Maj…visitor.”

Karma didn’t get lost after all.

“Send her in, please, Lewen.”

“In your bedchamber …”

“Yes!”

She studied several garments but kept returning to the lavender tunic-and-pantaloon set. Holding up the outfit, she exited the closet—just as the bedroom chamber door slid open. “I think I’m going to wear this for dinner tonight,” she announced to her sister.

“You will look lovely. I’m sure my son will appreciate it,” said Queen Myka.

“Your Majesty!” Kismet clutched the garment to her chest. “My apologies. I was expecting my sister. Uh, um, Jaryk’s not here.”

“I came to speak to you.”

“Me?” she squeaked.

“I apologize for dropping in unannounced, but I had some free time, and took a chance you would be here. I thought we should become better acquainted.”

Hurry, Karma, hurry. Pleeeaese, don’t get lost. She needed a buffer.

What if she said or did the wrong thing?

“Uh, sure. That would be great, Your Majesty. Perhaps we should move into the parlor. I can have Lewen bring some refreshments.” He would know what to serve the queen; she had no idea what would be appropriate.

“If it’s all the same to you, I’m fine right here. Would it be all right if I sit?”

“Please do.”

The queen sat in one of the tall-backed brocade chairs.

Kismet set the outfit on the bed and reluctantly took the seat next to her.

“So…” She slapped her hands on her knees, at a complete loss for words.

She couldn’t even start off with the weather because they were inside, and she had no idea what the weather was.

How about them Star Raiders? Do you think they’ll win the championship?

“How have you been getting along at the palace?” the queen asked.

“Oh! Good. My sister and I explore a little each day—I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course, it is. The palace is your home now. What have you seen that you like the most?”

“It’s all beautiful and grand, but I love the gardens,” she admitted, and then winced. Maybe I should have said the architecture or the artwork.

The queen’s mouth curved into a pleased smile. “Jaryk has been instrumental in the development of those. We’ve always had green space within the palace complex, but he has turned the gardens into works of art.”

“I accompanied him to the preview of the Museum of Alien Horticulture,” she volunteered.

The queen nodded. “One of his pet projects. He’s been working on that for a long time. And what did you think?”

“I loved it. It was fascinating. And there was even an exhibit devoted to Earth.”

“A little slice of home?”

“Yes.”

“Leaving your planet, your people, and your family must be hard. I assume you have more family besides your sister?”

“Our mother.”

“You are close to her?”

“Yes.”

“She must miss you as much as I would miss my children if they were to move far away.”

Was that the queen’s way of saying she wished Kismet would go home?

She had no idea how to respond, but the mention of her mother caused a lump to form in her throat.

Although vastly different in personality and outlook, Destiny was her biggest supporter and cheerleader.

Maybe because Karma was tuned into their mother’s frequency, Destiny worried more about Kismet, often reading the tea leaves and tarot cards to check in on her. It was her way of showing she cared.

“I miss her, too,” she said.

“I know my son married you to avoid marrying Alia.”

She gulped at the queen’s unexpected outspokenness. Why did Jaryk have to be gone today? Why couldn’t Karma have found her bearings and not gotten lost just this once? Unable to come up with a response, she dropped her gaze to avoid staring like a deer in the headlights.

“You may have gotten the wrong impression,” the queen said.

Oh, I don’t think so. “And what’s that?”

“That I oppose your marriage to my son.”

“You don’t?”

The queen smiled. “No, I don’t.”

“But King Rullok…”

“Is concerned with the political ramifications. The merger between our family and Alia’s would have benefitted the kingdom, but not necessarily Jaryk’s happiness.

I know my son. He and Alia would have been a mismatch.

Neither she, nor the other—well, let’s just say, I am glad my son took this bold step.

“My son is the future king. He must do what is right for Kaldor, but I want him to be happy, and my deepest hope is that he can achieve both. I confess I was shocked at first to discover the circumstances around your marriage, and that you are human, but from the little I’ve seen and the lot I’ve heard, you appear to be very good for Jaryk. ”

She’d heard a lot? Probably the staff kept her apprised. Although necessary for the queen to be informed, Kismet wasn’t sure she liked servants reporting on her actions.

“In any case, I give you my personal blessing and support.”

“I’m here! Show me the dress!” Karma burst into the room.