Chapter 2
Sagan
The rest of the meeting was going to be recorded for the unconscious Alphas that I left out in the heat, but one woke and hobbled back inside.
“I still have two more fights with you, Alpha,” I purred. “In each form—”
He dropped to his knee and hung his head. “I admit fault, Your Majesty. I will issue a corrected statement and never make this mistake again. I was prideful and defensive. I didn’t consider what was best for Thovudin.”
I let out a slow breath. “Fine, I will waive the other fights this time, but you will listen to the rest of what I said later. Take your seat.”
I wasn’t the only one who watched him hobble back to his table… But I was the only one who smirked while he did.
“I need someone to pop my shoulder back in,” he muttered to those near him.
Even better. I nodded they could help him just to get things moving, and it was satisfying to see the pain on his face when they set his shoulder.
“Now, moving on to what you all want to talk about most so you’re not distracted and we don’t risk people not listening to me again,” I said with a bit of extra sweetness in my tone that was meant to be sarcastic.
It was hard not to laugh when Treena snickered, but I nodded to Raquel to take over. She gave a report of how much the repairs had already cost from the elders’ rooms and the estimates for the rest. Then she went over how renovations were handled before and rotating areas for security reasons.
I thanked her when she was done and focused back on the Alphas.
“First of all, this was forced on me, and I’m not paying for your families to live like princes here.
Raquel has worked up a reasonable amount it would cost to have extra bodies to feed and water…
” I glanced at her. “I think it was that. We use the same air conditioning?”
“Yes, but they will use energy in their rooms or adjust the fan settings,” she reminded me.
“Plus, at the request of the Alphas, we had to add more coverage for the internet and you’re upgrading the system.
Their families will use it more than the elders did and that’s a lot of bandwidth.
It will have to be limited while the upgrade happens. ”
I nodded. “They will also be involved in aspects of being a royal as my mother was. You all approved of this. So the cost is something I’m adding to the agreement.”
I was glad when they all consented to what Raquel said. She really did figure out a basic number, not just to make money off of them.
“Also, we are adding in a clause that you will handle your family member the moment I say it’s done,” I said firmly.
“I’m not dealing with any issues again that it’s against the protocols of the royal family to kick out guests or whatever normal niceties.
None of this is normal. If I end things, I end things. Respect that and leave with grace.”
“Or apparently, just switch them out for their uncle,” someone snarked.
I couldn’t get a lock on who said it, but suddenly Onyx was across the room and punching someone. People reacted fast and got him off the guy.
“Seriously, women are drama?” Myriam grumbled under her breath, looking pleased when Darren snorted. “I like the uncle at least.”
“Thanks?” Darren chuckled, shooting her a wry look.
I ignored them and focused on the drama in front of us. The Alpha apologized for his Beta and promised he would handle it. He kicked him out of the meeting and looked mortified.
Good.
“I’m going to be fair and we’re doing it by random lottery and each can stay after the initial private meeting without influence,” I said, nodding to one of the Alphas who stood.
“Can we request to be last? We’re still working out who—the candidate isn’t clear.”
I had trouble not laughing. “Take your time. You’re more than welcome to trade your number for whoever is last or we can just move the whole list up.”
It ended up two others hadn’t locked in who they were tossing at me, so they decided to not take numbers and we’d work things out later.
“Yeah, we’ll just skip the three not drawn then and move along,” Myriam muttered as she stood with a fishbowl. “I’m assuming I can just go table to table and no one will throw a fit that I started at the front?”
The Alphas were less than thrilled at her attitude, but they fucking deserved it… And we all knew it.
“Good,” I said it was done. “For the next meeting, I want a list of all businesses you or anyone in your family owns or invests in.” I held up my hand when people were ready to object.
“I could ask just because you all signed saying we could dig into your lives as the royal family did my mother’s family. I could because it’s a Friday.”
Darren cleared his throat and I nodded for him to take over. “The point was brought up about some leaders having their hands in pies they shouldn’t. This is a new topic and our queen wants to educate herself on specifics. The fact so many of you were ready to take issue with it is very telling.”
I couldn’t have agreed more. “This list won’t be public. This isn’t something I’m trying to embarrass people with. If we agree an area should be off-limits, then we’ll calmly and with understanding figure out how to detach. The royal family will be doing the same.”
“Will we have access to the lists, Your Majesty?” one Alpha asked.
“I thought about that, but you all get a bit too competitive,” I answered evenly.
“Some of you have companies hidden under umbrellas or that you don’t own on paper.
One of you finds out someone you don’t like sells pens or whatever and then you could focus on wanting to outdo them.
I think it best we keep it vague and not add issues to our piles of them. ”
About half immediately agreed.
And the other half were the ones I was referring to, so that was fun.
Other than that and discussing the situation more about the elders, we were able to handle all the other business on the docket. One area was behind on court cases and needed to borrow some judges. They needed help to appoint more judges even. That was easy to manage.
Or I thought it was. Several Alphas looked shocked and impressed how quickly I managed it.
Droughts in one area had ruined crops and now there were shortages and the prices were going through the roof. Fine, we could get extras from other areas and what was the plan to make sure this didn’t happen next year?
I blinked at the Alpha when he seemed surprised when I asked. “Are you asking for our help in getting you that answer? We can find the right experts and see what can be done to help next year’s crops.”
“I didn’t get that far, Your Majesty. This problem was overwhelming and my focus,” the Alpha admitted.
“Of course, and well done keeping that the focus. I wasn’t chastising,” I said firmly. “I’m saying now that we have a plan to help—what would you like done next?”
It turned out another area had had the same problem five years prior and knew the right experts to help. Perfect. So getting that set up and reports with recommendations on the calendar were priority.
The other two Alphas that I’d beaten up came limping in together and one needed a shoulder set as well.
Darren shot me a knowing look.
Yes, I loved to pop out shoulders in a signature move when I fought. It was beyond satisfying when I was upset.
I remembered what Raquel had given me the day we’d gone over ideas for my suite and decided something right there.
“You three will donate your fines to the new female education non-profit I’m starting.
The rate of college-educated females compared to males in Thovudin is laughable in other countries. ”
Treena pretended not to notice when just about every gaze landed on her as if wanting her to confirm it.
“And I’m starting at the castle,” I told them.
“Raquel had the idea of sending some of the female staff to adult education programs since they won’t be waiting on elders constantly.
They can take night classes and learn new skills to add to their resumes.
We need more staff to help as my father had. Mother too.”
“Well done,” Darren praised, nodding to Raquel as well. “The ones who couldn’t stay here anymore after losing Amelia were understandable. But the spineless pricks who worked for your father and—”
I nodded when his chuffing got too bad. I felt the same but focused on the Alphas. “I think it fitting after you covered your bad behavior by using my sex against me.”
They agreed and the other two apologized when I reminded them that I had two more fights with them.
Apparently, I’d made my point well.
Lovely.
“Also, this will be the type of regular meal at the castle going forward unless it’s a state function,” I announced when it was time for lunch.
“It was the biggest thing Father was mocked for—his tone-deafness when we were still recovering from a recession.
However, it was because of the elders demanding this and that.
“I will be making that clear and also that the only reason the recession wasn’t worse was the moves my father made that many chastised.
If you would like back in my good graces, I would appreciate people reminding everyone of that.
Father put everything into helping the people of Thovudin.
Always, and that should never be forgotten. ”
I was glad when people clapped for that and nodded to the staff to serve.
“Also, it’s something you would immediately be criticized for, Your Majesty,” the Alpha of Clovergarde said… While looking annoyed he couldn’t now. “Though I guess I wouldn’t have thought it something you would handle so quickly—I mean we have so many other priorities.”
“I’m quite capable of multitasking and Raquel is beyond amazing, so the five-minute meeting with her wasn’t a bother,” I replied easily, hearing what he was really trying for.
That my priorities weren’t what they should be.