YUKA

"Where is she?" The Queen was furious. She paced back and forth in her throne room and stared at her guards. "Find her."

They each bowed. "Yes, your highness."

She dismissed them with a wave of her hand, and walked over to her ornately decorated throne and sat down on the crimson cushion. Her eyes narrowed and she ran her hand through her brunette hair.

"Queen Yuka," a vice interrupted her frustration.

Her chin jerked up, and her mouth curled in disgust. Kounji. The rat. "I suppose I have you to blame for this?"

"I only followed your orders," the man said, challenging her gaze. "I was looking for the young Princess to invite her to dinner," he paused, "but when I found her, she was leaping from the tower."

The Queen tapped her fingers against her throne. This was a mess. Her estranged daughter leaping from the palace walls. What would the people think? What would they say? The servants would talk. Rumors would spread. She would appear weak. Her grip on her people was already frail. However, was she to believe Kuonji? He always seemed to have ulterior motives.

"Persona!" she spat.

A slender man appeared from the shadows and placed himself in front of the Queen. "Yes, my Queen?"

"Clean up this mess," Queen Yuka ordered.

"As you wish."

Kounji stepped forward. "Forgive me, my Queen. If I may."

Queen Yuka held up a hand to halt her guard, and beckoned for Kounji to get on with it.

"Perhaps, we can use this," he paused, searching for the right word, "incident, to our advantage."

The Queen sat up straighter in her throne. He had gotten her attention. "Go on."

"Your illegitimate daughter," his lips curled at the truth that the Queen hated. "We can use her death as a way to unite the people."

Yuka's thoughts travelled quickly. His idea had lit a spark. "Continue," she said.

"We write up a piece, and publish it in the Alice paper. We have a mourning ceremony, and the city will come together and see a gentler side to their Queen."

As much as she despised Kounji, it was a good idea. The people would rally behind her, mourn with her, and she would use this as a pedestal to grow stronger.

"Get it done," Yuka ordered.