The throne room was an enormous corridor. Its ceiling soared to an astonishing height—likely more than ten meters.
The walls, much like the rest of the palace, appeared to be made of bark, but here, was white, giving the space an air of both natural beauty and sacred reverence.
A long, wide carpet of exquisite green fabric stretched from the entrance to the throne, flanked on either side by two rows of guards.
They stood at attention, only stopping a few meters before the throne itself.
The throne, made from the same white wood as the walls, had gilded branch-like extensions, some adorned with delicate golden flowers.
Standing on either side of it, waiting for him, were Sequoria and Aislyra.
Lucas' heart pounded as he took in the sheer grandeur and solemnity of the room. Swallowing his nerves, he stepped onto the luxurious carpet and began his approach to the throne.
As he passed each guard, they immediately knelt in respect, only adding to his unease.
It wasn't something he could get used to so quickly, but he reminded himself—he was the queen now. It was only natural for people to treat him this way.
Soon, he arrived before the throne and, without hesitation, took his seat. It was far more comfortable than he had expected.
A brief silence followed, during which Lucas was unsure of what to do.
Sensing his hesitation, Sequoria leaned in slightly and whispered, "Don't worry, 'Alberia.' The ministers should be arriving any moment now."
"Alright," Lucas replied with a nod, straightening his posture.
A couple of minutes later, the grand doors swung open, and six individuals entered, one after another.
They approached the throne in unison before kneeling, forming a line no more than a meter away from where he sat.
After exchanging a glance with Sequoria, who gave a small nod of approval, the first minister spoke.
He was an elf with dark skin, long white hair, and sharp green eyes, clad in sleek black armor.
"I am relieved to see that Your Majesty has recovered. I also want to thank you for allowing the guards to return to the palace after only two days.
"I apologize, but I could not leave you unprotected for any longer than that."
This was Scuro, the Minister of Defense. Lucas recalled what Sequoria had told him about the man—it had surprised him at first.
Scuro was a dark elf, originally from Oscuora, but he had been exiled when a new king took the throne. Alberia had encountered him during his exile and, recognizing his talent in military strategy and troop management, granted him a place in Yggdora.
Over time, he had proven himself invaluable, rising to the position of Minister of Defense and serving as the kingdom's chief strategist during times of war.
According to Sequoria, "He is the most loyal person I know."
Lucas cleared his throat and, doing his best to sound both regal and reassuring, responded, "There's no need to apologize, Scuro. I am fully recovered now, two days were more than enough.
"My mother told me you did an excellent job ensuring the safety of the city in my absence."
Scuro lowered his head even further and replied, "I appreciate Your Majesty's words, but I only did my duty."
I think I understand what Sequoria meant, Lucas thought.
Seeing that Scuro had finished speaking, the elf beside him took his turn to address the queen.
"I'm glad to see you in good health, Lady Alberia," he said in a firm, almost severe tone. "However, I must bring up an important matter right away. I propose a slight increase in taxes.
"As you know, the costs of repairing the damage caused by Artema have been extremely high. While we are not in an economic crisis, it would still be wise to start recovering the lost funds.
"I am certain that, as long as the increase is not excessive, our citizens will be willing to contribute."
This was Lucrio Elenlora, Minister of Economy—and, interestingly, one of Sequoria's younger brothers, making him Alberia's uncle.
His features bore a strong resemblance to Sequoria's, though with a more masculine edge. A notable scar ran beneath his right eye, the mark of an old wound.
According to Sequoria, he was gruff and sometimes excessively strict, but utterly trustworthy. His expertise with numbers was unmatched, making him one of the most competent individuals to handle the kingdom's finances.
However Lucas wasn't particularly confident when it came to economics—especially since it had been the subject that gave him the most trouble during high school. Fortunately, Sequoria came to his aid, whispering something in his ear.
With a regal yet slightly apologetic tone, Lucas responded, "Thank you, Uncle Lucrio. I'm feeling much better now. As for the tax proposal, please allow me a day to discuss it with my mother."
Lucrio let out a sharp tch before replying, "Very well, Alberia. I will wait, but please give me an answer as soon as possible."
"Lucrio, stop being so rude to the queen," Scuro snapped, his tone laced with irritation. "Just because you're her uncle doesn't give you the right to speak however you please."
Lucrio scoffed. "And you—stop acting like a royal lapdog. Dog, loyalty is one thing, but must you wag your tail every time she speaks?"
"What did you just call me, Lucrio?!" Scuro shouted, his temper flaring.
Lucrio smirked. "Which part? Lapdog or just plain dog?" He shrugged, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Not that it matters—both are true."
"Lucrio!!!" Scuro's voice rose as his hand flew to the hilt of his sword.
Lucrio chuckled darkly. "Oh? Is the queen's guard dog looking for a fight?" He lifted a hand, arcane energy crackling at his fingertips. "Fine. I'll make sure you're properly trained."
Lucas and Aislyra both tensed, ready to intervene before things escalated further—but before either of them could act, someone else beat them to it.
A sharp thud! echoed through the room.
A woman with long black hair tied into a high ponytail, red-framed glasses, a white blouse, and a black mini skirt stepped forward, delivering a powerful punch to both Lucrio and Scuro's heads.
As they reeled from the impact, she scolded them sternly, "Would you two stop acting like children in front of the queen? I know you don't get along, but if you're adults, then act like it. At least put aside your petty issues when addressing Her Majesty."
She was Aurola, the Minister of Education.
According to what Sequoria had told him, Aurola had a kind but firm personality and often took on the role of keeping the other ministers in check. In practice, she was the "mother" of the group.
Realizing what he had just done, Scuro immediately bowed so deeply that his forehead nearly hit the floor. "YOUR MAJESTY, I OFFER MY DEEPEST APOLOGIES! I HAVE SHOWN YOU SUCH A CHILDISH DISPLAY! I, SCURO, AM READY TO ACCEPT ANY PUNISHMENT YOU DEEM FIT!!!" he shouted in a voice full of regret and shame.
Lucrio, on the other hand, simply looked away in irritation, unwilling to admit his fault.
But before he could escape accountability, Aurola forcefully pushed his head downward into a bow as well.
"No, Lucrio, you need to apologize too," she reprimanded. "Scuro wasn't wrong—your tone toward the queen was incredibly disrespectful. Even though you're Lady Alberia's uncle, you must always address her with the appropriate respect in official settings."
Lucrio let out a heavy sigh before finally, albeit begrudgingly, saying, "I sincerely apologize for my behavior. I did not act with the maturity expected of me."
"Good," Aurola said, nodding in satisfaction.
Lucas, feeling slightly awkward at the whole situation, wiped a small bead of sweat from his forehead before saying, "Scuro, Uncle Lucrio, you may raise your heads. I forgive you. But from now on, please keep in mind what Aurola just said."
"Understood," the two ministers responded in unison before returning to their original positions.
Then, Sequoria turned to Aurola and asked, "Minister Aurola, do you have anything to report to Her Majesty?"
"No, aside from the fact that I'm glad to see you in good health again," Aurola replied as she calmly returned to her place.
"Your Majesty, I would like to request that Katerina visit my office later so she can provide me with a detailed report of your condition over the past two days—your symptoms, their severity, and any other relevant details. This will allow me to assist you more effectively should something like this happen again," said an elf with an almost robotic tone.
She had short, platinum-blonde hair so light it was nearly white and striking orange eyes. She wore pristine white velvet gloves, a matching jacket, and a neatly tied cravat.
She was Heve, the Minister of Health—the kingdom's most skilled doctor.
According to Sequoria, before becoming Minister of Health, Heve had always been an exceptionally logical person who got straight to the point. However, despite her methodical nature, she was known for her gentle persistence with her patients, which had made her deeply beloved.
Lucas glanced at Katerina for confirmation, and she nodded.
"Of course, Heve. I'll send Katerina to you later so you can get all the information you need."
Heve gave a curt nod in acknowledgment.
"As efficient and direct as ever, Heve," chimed in a tall elf with a radiant smile.
She had long, golden-blonde hair styled into two high ponytails, shimmering golden eyes that sparkled like her expression, and wore a simple open green blouse over a white tank top.
With a burst of enthusiasm, she added, "That means it's my turn!"
She was Agratà, the Minister of Agriculture, whom Sequoria had described as "a sun that never sets." Always cheerful and brimming with energy, Agratà never backed down from a challenge.
"The restoration and reconstruction of our farmlands are going perfectly! Within a few months, we should be able to return production to its pre-Artema levels!" she declared confidently.
Finally, the last remaining minister—a young elf with short, messy blue hair—stepped forward.
He wore an oversized white lab coat that was clearly too big for him, and thick, circular glasses that were fogged up to the point where it was a mystery how he could even see.
With a hesitant and slightly stammering voice, he spoke, "Y-Your Majesty, I'm glad to see that you're well.
"I-I wanted to ask if you could visit my lab tomorrow... I have so many new i-inventions and potions that I've created over the past two days that I'd like to show you."
He was Macro, the Minister of Technology and Alchemy—the youngest of the ministers. A slightly antisocial yet incredibly diligent individual, Macro was a genius inventor, though his nervous demeanor often made him seem unassuming.
Lucas gave him a regal nod, doing his best to suppress his own excitement at the prospect of seeing how technology functioned in a world where magic existed. "Of course, Macro. As soon as I find the time tomorrow, I will gladly visit your lab and see your creations."
"T-Then I'll be waiting," Macro replied, his voice trembling slightly.
After a brief moment of silence, Sequoria spoke once more.
"Very well, ministers. If there is nothing else to discuss, you may return to your duties."
At her words, the six ministers rose to their feet, gave a respectful bow, and exited the room. The only one who left with a disgruntled expression was Lucrio.
Lucas let out a mental sigh of relief. It seemed that no one had noticed that another soul resided within Alberia's body.
Unfortunately for him, his first day as queen had only just begun.