The Council consisted of twelve members plus their chief. After a long night of discussion, they sat once again around a long rectangular table with a tall backed chair at one end—for the chief—and a throne at the other end. When Aurora had been directed to place herself on the throne, she reluctantly complied. Her legs dangled awkwardly as she sat on the edge of her seat, trying to remember each Councilman's name. Cafer she had seen many times, but the others wisely chose to keep a low profile for fear of incurring Zephyra's wrath.

"We welcome the future Empress to the Council." Cafer announced.

"Glory to the Empress!" the Council responded in unison. They all stared at the girl, waiting for her to speak.

Aurora shifted in her seat. "Thank you." She responded, unsure of protocol. Her tutors had taught her court etiquette, but none of them had actually prepared her to 'be' an empress. And the Council of her advisors were completely different than being at court. These men (the former Empress could not abide another woman having attention) worried more about policy than intrigue and as none of them was royalty, they were easily replaced at the ruler's discretion. As a result they were made of a group of solution-seekers, not problem-makers. If anyone could help Aurora, and by extension the world, it was them.

"Our condolences for your loss," said a man with a lean face and long black hair. Aurora believed his name was Zan. "We are on your side, Your Majesty."

"We want what is best." the large man next to him, Ezer, confirmed. "Let us know how we may serve you."

"Thank you." Aurora repeated. After years of hiding in the shadows of the palace, she was finally being seen and validated. It was freeing and yet severely uncomfortable. "You have a …plan?"

Cafer smiled reassuringly. "As soon as we heard of your mother's condition, we convened to discuss what options there were should Zephyra die."

"Not that we hoped for that outcome!" Birger, a red-headed advisor, interrupted. "The Empress should have had many more years to rule."

Cafer gave him a withering look. "Indeed, if we could have healed Her Majesty, we would have, but we were not born healers. Our job is to plan for the unthinkable." The men around the table nodded in agreement. It was their lot to foresee disaster and avoid it at all cost.

"So…" the little girl tried to be patient, but her attention was short and these men were, well, boring. "What's the plan?"

Everyone shifted their gaze to Cafer, who cleared his throat. "We have discussed the many complications of the transfer of power, and the most glaring, Your Majesty, is your age…"

Aurora'a lips curled slightly. " I can't change that, I'm afraid."

"But we can," Cafer told her seriously. "A young Empress will cause those opposed to your rule to rise up while they think you are weak. But what if they believed you were older? We think you should be eighteen."

"Me? An eighteen-year-old? How can you bring this about?" If the suggestion had come from anyone but the chief, she would have laughed, but Cafer was quite serious.

"It's actually a simple matter. Your parents were married more than twenty years and although most people know that the Empress has a daughter, no one knows your exact age." It was true. There had been no ceremony when she was born, and the news of her existence had spread only as a rumor. "We will of course change the date of your birth in the Royal records. And we will keep your public appearances to a minimum. Clothing, tall shoes, and make-up will help add to the illusion…That is, if it pleases You Majesty." Cafer bowed from his seat and awaited his sovereign's judgement.

None of it pleased the princess. Not only had she never had a normal childhood, now she was to have no childhood at all. But if what they said was true, and a young ruler would cause a revolt, then this seemed a plausible solution. "It seems you've thought of everything," she said at last. "Is there anything else I should know?"

She could tell from the uncomfortable silence that there was something more. Cafer attempted to tread carefully. "In order to complete this illusion and keep the peace, it is the council's advice that you select a husband…"

The girl could not hold her outrage. "WHAT?!?" She could handle many things, but forcing her to marry at age ten was out of the question. The law said one could marry at fourteen, and even then it was generally not done.

"Not a real husband. Just a figure head to pretend to be your husband."

"You want me to pick a fake husband? That's insane! What happens when one day I find someone I actually want to marry?"

"It's a small matter. We will simply switch the fake for the genuine. Who would question the Empress about her choice of spouse?" He made it sound as easy as changing one's clothes, and for a moment Aurora was tempted to believe him.

"We wouldn't have to live together..." Aurora mused. The girl knew her parents had separate quarters.

Cafer waved away her concern without hesitation. "Of course not. The Empress and stand-in consort would lead separate lives. You would only need to be seen together on official business. Otherwise you would not need to see the boy at all."

Aurora's ears were pricked. "You said 'boy' not 'man'…"

Zan piped up, "We think a boy would not try to control you. We've selected a few of the nobles' sons for you to look over. If it pleases Your Majesty…"

While the prospect of a grown man had seemed 'icky', the idea of a having fellow child to talk to was quite appealing. Aurora had never really met other people her age. This could be like having a built-in friend! Her excitement began to build, but she tried to control it. "Where are these boys?" She asked in her most regal voice.

"We can have them assembled in the Great Hall momentarily," Birger offered.

The girl struggled to stand from her throne and smoothed her white satin dress. "Very well." She said with a dramatic flourish. It was nice to have everyone hang on her every word for once. "Very well," she repeated. "I shall go select a 'husband'; after all I am eighteen."