Theanore had a lovely gold circled in her curls and she had her frilliest dress on. The one which matched her hair and had apples stitched on it. She was on royal progress in the forest with Darion walking before her and saying:

“All Hail Theanore, the First of her Name. Long may she reign.” People giggled as she passed, and she was letting out a giggle too from time to time.

Her dept to Alerion for the extended territory was to be paid in four-leaf clovers. Furthermore, she had made a deal with a very official person just this morning that her enchanted goods had to have only ten percent tax on them. This was less than the twenty-five percent she used to pay before.

She was to hold a speech before her new subjects later today. People as far away as Mirstone were coming to the grotto to see her. She had a grand feast made in their honor.

She ended up spending all her mana on pigs and cows and cabbage to be able to host it. Not only that, but she had spent extra, so the animals can be butchered beforehand. Alerion was her main supplier of foodstuff, but the dungeon of plenty also pitched in.

She was making her way to the pixie part of the forest, so she could practice her speech with them. Pixies were humanoid and very intelligent. They would surely know if her speech was not good enough.

Once she reached the pixies, they bowed as one, and she curtsied, giggling.

“My loyal friends.” Began her speech, Theanore. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the new beginning of the forest of fireflies and the surrounding lands. A beginning of a golden age where everyone will have something to munch on.”

“Your Highness, omit the munch and replace it with eat.” Said a pixie, hand raised in the air.

“Ok, eat. Thank you. Moving on. In this age people will learn to enchant and enchantments will be our main export. And we will all have a lot of money and be happy and unicorns will…”

“Little Highness, you are getting ahead of yourself. Unicorns have not been seen in these parts for the past century and a half.” Said another pixie.

“And be happy…and, uhm, …a little help here?” Said Theanore, hands gripping the skirt of her dress and lower lip trembling.

“And knowledge will pave the way to prosperity.” Said Darion next to her, and the pixies began applauding.

“And kindness will pave the way to understanding. In this age, it is illegal to abandon your children in an orphanage. If you can’t take care of them because of money, then you are welcome to come live at the Apple Grotto with them!” Said Theanore, and some pixies gasped.

“Your Highness, this is too radical.” Said Darion.

“But I don’t want children to be abandoned, Dari. I mean, Lord Chancellor.” Lord Chancellor was Darion’s tittle. Just like, Queen Mother was Esmer’s and King Regent was Crassus’. There were some other tittles that Theanore could give, but she had been advised to hold on to them and use them as rewards.

“You cannot order your subject to keep their children. Bitterness will replace any love in parents who have little means to support themselves, let alone their children. They will do something far more drastic than simple abandonment.” Said Darion with a grave voice.

“Like what?” Asked Theanore with bated breath.

“Kill them.” Said a pixie from the crowd, and Theanore sucked in a breath.

“But I am inviting them to the grotto…” Said Theanore and Darion sighed.

“Yes, and it will become a ghetto soon if you do so. No one wants to live in a ghetto, Thea.” Said the gremlin. “Think of something else you would like to enforce.”

“And every child will receive an education, funded by the state.” Said Theanore, and the pixies cheered as Darion nodded in approval.

“That is an excellent thing to gift to your subjects, Your Highness.” Said the gremlin, and Theanore managed a small smile at that.

“Can the pixies come to the speech, Lord Chancellor?” Asked Theanore, and Darion nodded.

“But just them and the worker elves, Thea. The ants will get trampled, and the rest are just animals.”

Theanore agreed with that, silently. Although she had wanted Petunia to come for moral support. They made it back to the entrance of the grotto. There was a stage next to Crassus’ house and a small, intricate, chair on it.

It was big enough for Theanore and had apple motives on it. The worker elves worked together with the ants and the pixies to make it. It was a masterpiece and Theanore liked it very much.

She sat on it and looked at the gathered people. She waved and some of them waved back, but not as excitedly. She could see Mister Perry in the crowd together with Alena, Danika, and Nathan. The forest of fireflies guardians were there too, although now they held the title of generals of her nonexistent army. That is, if one didn’t count the murder muffins.

Rip and Hiss came to the stage and jumped in Theanore’s lap as if summoned. She petted them behind the ears and waited for the flute to signal. Normally, horns would be blown. But Theanore found them too loud, and so one of the children from the orphanage agreed to play the flute with the melody of a horn.

As even that came to pass, Theanore got up and addressed her subjects. Or at least tried to. The words she had prepared just this morning ran away from her. She decided to improvise after a few moments of silence.

“Dear friends and family. Well, we are all family now. So just family. From this day on, everyone is getting free education for their children and help from builder ants on their farms. Let us all help each other and be happy. I now announce the motto of the Nation of Fireflies. Happiness in Union.”

The crowd burst in loud applause and Theanore curtsied. She was getting better at it with each attempt. This time, no one giggled.