"Why'd you end up deciding to take it on?"

"Because it seemed like it needed to be done, in the long term. And I wasn't--doing anything essential, not really, not with the Elves. I can't just sit on my hands while my sister is training to kill a god."

"That's as good a reason as any."

"Sometimes I wonder how ambitious I wouldn't be if I didn't have a Great Mage in waiting of a sister to keep up with."

"Do you think it's good for you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then I'm glad of it. it's certainly good for us."

"Mutual benefit. Best kind of benefit."

And everyone settles into Beth Miqlat.

Running a city is hard work. Magic helps some, but less than one might think.

The Beoreans are very scrupulously compliant and obedient. This sort of helps and sort of hurts.

Yeah. Well, they're not going to die of old age, so eventually they'll figure out how things are different now.

By the radiant smiles Andreth is flashing her, it won't even take them Elven time to figure out.

That. Appears to be a thing. Um.

Andreth is competent and diplomatic and sharp when she wants to be and snarky when she wants to be and, um.

She smiles back. She doesn't do anything else. Yet.

She grew up on Elven values and is continent-famous for the doomed romance with an Elf and is generally insightful with people but, uh, not going to pick up on that. She'll keep smiling at the Queen, though, because she is a damn good queen and could use some self-confidence.

Yeah Illia has no idea if this is even appropriate but it's just feelings, it's not like one has to act on feelings, and she likes Andreth apart from any liking her she may or may not do.

The Beorians will start to relax about their Queen. Technically not yet Queen. Doesn't she have a coronation to see to?

Yes, quite.

A date is set. Appropriately ostentatious arrangements are made. Invitations are sent out to anyone she'd be behooved to invite.

They would all be delighted to attend if travel arrangements can be made so they aren't predictably absent from their kingdoms at crucial times.

Does Odette qualify?

Definitely.

That should be fine, then.

Lots of people of importance will attend her coronation. 

Grand. She will be sure to be polite but not deferential to all of them.

And the coronation itself will be exquisite.