The trip back to Alexandria took almost two full days. I did not sleep, nor eat, on the airship. Neither was I in any mood to entertain those basic necessities when I arrived at the castle. Beatrix awaited me anxiously and ushered me toward my private audience chamber.

Locking the door securely after us, she turned to me with a graven face.

"Thank you for returning so speedily, my queen."

I shook my head. "Beatrix, I cannot stay long. Zidane is in a bad way and I must return to him as soon as possible."

Beatrix nodded slowly. "I am sorry for Mister Zidane's condition, but…"

There was a knock on the door – the secret knock of the Pluto Knights – and Beatrix was quick to open the door just long enough to admit Captain Steiner into the room.

"Queen Garnet!" Steiner offered me a proper salute as he entered, then moved to Beatrix's side.

Throwing up my arms in frustration, I demanded, "someone please explain to me what is going on around here!"

Beatrix exchanged a glance with Steiner. "The young man I spoke of in my letter… has extensive documentation to prove his relation to your mother."

I shook my head. "What does that matter?"

"It's only that… Well…"

Steiner jumped in then. "My queen, you must know Beatrix and I will remain loyal to you no matter what. Even should you lose the throne."

My pulse quickened. "What are you saying?" I asked, glancing back and forth between them eagerly.

"You already know of your true heritage," Beatrix said very softly. "Evidently, word has spread. This young man claims he has more right to the throne of Alexandria than you. He has issued a formal request that you step down, and turn Alexandria over to him."

"I… How can he..?" I was dumbfounded.

"Peace, my queen," the general offered, setting a firm hand on my shoulder. "Your scholars have made endless work of finding a loophole in Alexandrian law."

"A loophole?" I repeated. It was nearly a shriek.

Nodding, Steiner said, "I'm afraid he has a most legitimate claim, Your Highness. At the moment, the best we can do is hope to learn of some extenuating circumstance that will nullify his claim."

I clenched my fists and felt the strain in my jaw as my teeth came together with great force. "Who is this man? I will meet with him at once."

"He has taken it upon himself to tour the palace, Your Majesty."

My eyes narrowed on Beatrix. "What liberty has he to do such a thing?"

"Every liberty, I'm afraid. But you may rest assured I have ordered my best soldiers to escort him. He won't be making trouble."

"Find him immediately, and have him meet me on my balcony. I will sort this matter out myself."

Beatrix and Steiner saluted me in unison, then left. Once the door had sealed me within the room, I dropped to my knees and threw a sideways fist against the marble floor.

"First Zidane… and now Alexandria. I'm losing everything I ever cared about."

A few moments later, I awaited my guest on the throne on the balcony which overlooked the waterway dividing Alexandria and the palace grounds. Emotions swan through me in torrents, but I felt confident that my face and posture did not betray these.

When, at last, my guest arrived, I regarded him with absolutely superiority and confidence. He dropped to one knee before me and kissed the back of my hand as was customary.

"You may rise," I uttered in my most arrogant tone. When he did, I recognized him as the man from the party in Treno. "Lord Siticus," I said, almost losing control of my tone. "What brings you to Alexandria?"

Siticus rubbed at his ear. "Surely you already know why I am here," he said calmly.

"Indulge me." It was an order, not a request. I stared him down with a hardness I might not have been able to pull off, were it not for my already soured mood.

"Very well," he said, fiddling with his elaborate neck tie. "It has recently been brought to my attention that you, My Queen, are not truly the blood daughter of Queen Brahne, my aunt."

"Do you believe every rumor you hear about the royal family?" I asked nonchalantly.

He appeared quite immune to my act. "Come now, Queen Garnet. We're family, are we not? Or is that question, perhaps, too tender a subject to mention?"

I felt my eye twitch and my energy draining. "Very well, Lord Siticus, since you are family, I suppose you have a right to know. Garnet Til Alexandros died as an infant. I was adopted by the royal family of Alexandria to serve as the heiress of the kingdom at that time. You will find that makes me more than eligible to hold the throne."

Siticus smiled evilly. "I'm afraid not, cousin." He reached into his jacket pocket and removed a piece of paper folder into quarters. He fitted an eyeglass beneath the brow of his left eye as he unfolded the sheet of paper, clearing his throat. "This was taken directly from the Alexandrian archive," he said. "In the event that a royal heir should expire, the throne of Alexandria is to be succeeded by another member of the royal family."

He dropped his arms to his side then and let the eyeglass fall from his eye to dangle on its cord near his waist. "What do you say to that, M'lady?"

I could feel my palms sweating inside my gloves. "Just what does that piece of paper say about legal adoptions?"

He shrugged. "You've got me there, Highness. It says nothing to that regard."

I let myself relax slightly. "It seems you've presented a non sequitur."

"I think not. As the document from which this statement was copied says nothing about adoptions, I believe it is your argument which is senseless."

"Does an adopted son not inherit his father's house?" I asked in an almost whimsical tone in an attempt to hide my uneasiness.

"That's as may be, Highness. If you wish you press this matter, however, please understand I will have no choice but to take the whole affair to court."

I leaned toward him, holding my eyes steady and wide. "Please do, Lord Siticus. I look forward to meeting you again soon."

At this, General Beatrix and Captain Steiner appeared on either side of Jerome Siticus and quickly escorted him away. The moment I heard the large double doors slam shut, my body began to tremble. I sat clutching the arms of my throne for a long moment then.

Did this man truly have claim to Alexandria? Could my argument possibly hold up in court? What would my people say when Siticus went public with the facts about my heritage? And, most important at all, would I really be disappointed if I had to give up the throne?

Hadn't this been the opportunity I'd been longing for? A truly legitimate excuse to return to common life – isn't that what I'd prayed for?

I let out a deep sigh and rose to my weary feet. For a moment, I was captivated by the view of the Alexandrian sunset. The city seemed to glow a gentle amber color as the low sun sent long shadows stretching across the waterway – black fingers, reaching toward me, beckoning me.

When twilight had come, I elected to retire to my bedroom. I slept for the next twelve hours without stirring.