Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen

Working in Polis feels identical to when I was a young maiden. The officers are almost all the same, and they know the Palace and its dynamics.

I can check the accounts and reforms without too much hassle. They all seem in order.

I also have a chat with the high officer appointed from the capital. I can't help but agree with Alexander: he's competent.

My part of the work is to check whether the information sent to Kyre is correct and to write down the long-term plans for the city. I won't be back for the next ten years, so I shouldn't meddle in specific accounts and short-term projects.

I do receive regular reports but, due to the distance, the problems would long be solved by the time I can reply. It's better if the officers have the responsibility of making small decisions. I will just show them the path to follow. Thanks to the good personnel policies enacted after the end was over, most of the employees in the Palace are competent and efficient. There's not much I can teach them.

A few days are enough to finish the critical tasks. It's mostly predicting the expenses of my ambitious projects and find someone with enough free time to follow the progress and send regular reports.

«Where do the students stay? I'd like to visit them,» I say when I'm done with the crucial matters. I'd like to check how the dormitories are and if they have enough food.

The scholarships Polis and Kyre allocated should be enough to have them taken care of. If I find out about some embezzlement...

«The Governor Consort should be present too since he's financing the other end of the exchange,» I add.

I'm sure Alexander will be happy to have something to do. His laziness resurfaced the moment I had to go to work, and he spends his days resting in the garden and reading books.

Sometimes, he disappears for a few hours but returns without a single hair out of order. I guess he walks in the city and in search of reminiscences of his first life.

Once a day, he does train. I've seen one of the sessions, and it's quite intense. I guess it's enough to keep him fit.

Should I also try wielding a sword? Would that make me able to withstand hours of another kind of exercise?

Oh, horse riding and archery are enough for me. I don't have time to do more than that. I've managed to keep my condition even after three pregnancies. Now, even if my breasts did grow and my hips are large, I like my figure as much as Alexander does.

It's not perfect and tiny like before, but I feel prettier from a certain angle. I'm almost thirty, after all. It's expectable to have a couple of wrinkles and a tired physique. Which, in fact, I still don't have.

I can imagine it: waking up on my thirtieth birthday and realising that my face is getting old. I'm waiting for the day I won't be able to keep up with Alexander's ideas anymore.

I hope he won't be too disappointed.

«My love, I'm ready to go!» he exclaims as soon as we meet.

Inspecting the dormitories and spaces for the students takes some time. Alexander is even more insistent than me.

«I see you spend the money you receive wisely,» he then comments.

It's the first time he has done something official since we arrived here. The people following us are staring in surprise.

They didn't think the lazy man that used all the time to read, snooze in the garden, or, at most, train, could actually perform an inspection.

They're also wondering what happened to the beast that conquered the city and stole their Queen. But that is a question they won't ask, luckily.

It would be a bit embarrassing to say out loud that the beast is well and alive, with never more energy than now. And then, after such naughty words, I would have to deal with the beast on my own.

These people don't know how difficult my life is.

«Are you tired, my love? Would you like to have a break? We can drink some tea in one of the nearby inns before walking back to the Palace...» he starts as soon as his part of the work is over.

Changing face in a split second, he holds my hand and pulls me out. He even leans his hand on my back. In case I was tired and wavering...

When we reach the garden of the school, though, we're stopped by a crowd.

«My Lord, my Lady!» the students shout. «Greetings!»

They bow their heads, some ladies even curtsey. We send around twenty students every year, so it's not a very crowded group. But they're as noisy as hundreds.

«We heard you were visiting and couldn't miss you. We need to greet you and thank you for the help and this opportunity.»

«Our lives changed when we were accepted in the program. There isn't something like this in the whole continent...»

«I wouldn't have studied any further if it wasn't for the scholarship.»

Ah, well, we didn't give scholarships to those that can afford to study anywhere in the world. They already can do that on their own.

We selected smart youth from Kyre and Polis among the poorest parts of the population. So that our influence does change something.

As for the costs, they will all be repaid when these people start working. They will be of more help with the new knowledge and perspective that travelling gives one.

«I know, right?» Alexander confirms. «My wife always has the best ideas.»

The students don't really react to his shameless remark. They're kind of used to it. Or, at least, they heard the stories that travelled through Kyre about the way the Lord spoils the Lady until surrender.

Someone even made up some gossip about the time we spent divorced and then engaged. They said that he won my heart by gifting me a gem every day.

Ah, if I was that greedy, I would be richer than the Empress.

All my efforts to win Alexander's heart were overlooked and forgotten. Yet, I worked really hard!