>> Rays of sunshine basking along the wide room. Tranquility engulfed; only the sound of scratch of pen heard. On the center is a wide, brown table piled up with papers and stamp.

Against the window at the center point is a huge chair, reflecting the sunrays within. “That’s all the paper works you have for now, Your Highness.”

Placing another batch of piled papers, Abigor utters. “Thank you, Abigor.”

At the table, Astarte reads some of the documents, scrutinizing the written words before signing. Though, she is the new Queen, handling the documents in finance, agriculture and trading are all new to her.

She doesn’t have any background on these matters, so Mashtema and Ifrit, together with Alastor lends their help. They’re the ones reviewing and giving feedbacks to the Queen.

“This is really tiring.” Sighing exasperatedly, Astarte grunts out. “The weather’s good for hanging out...”

“It is, indeed... Your Highness.” Abigor replied as she puts down an ivory cup filled with warm tea on the table. “But you can’t just leave these matters unattended. Your Confidants are making the most out of it to help you.”

“Yeah,” Astarte leans her back on the backrest of her chair. This room, the same room Queen Juno used. The former Queen stays here right this hour, working.

The Queen’s role is a big responsibility. Queen Juno never left the work without properly finishing it.

On Astarte’s memoir taunts how, the previous Queen meticulously work on the process of analyzing documents to assist the needs of the Kingdom.

This same romm where her mother used to stay, now just a distant memory. “Your Highness?” Abigor calls out. “Huh? Ah...” Astarte smiles. “I just remembered the time before, where mom used to work here.”

Abigor pursed her lips after hearing that. Astarte gets the saucer and cup on her hands and took a sip on the tea. “.... She’s a wonderful Queen for me, and now that I am the one who works for the Kingdom, I wonder if I can be like her.”

Abigor remains silent, as Astarte looks at her. “You think I can be like her? A wonderful Queen admired by everyone?”

She knows the Queen is longing for her mother. Abigor knows that, though, Astarte has only a week to grieve for her mother, the responsibility weighing on her shoulder as a ruler is a must to take.

“I know you will.” With a smile, Abigor replies. “You will be the best than her, Your Highness...”

Astarte chuckles on her reply. “I am not that smart, but I can work hard to make ends meet on this Kingdom.”

“But I believe you will be a great ruler. Knowing you since when you’re still young, I know that. You have the potential, and I’m here to support you all through the way.”

Encourage words, the thing Astarte needs right now. She wants that word to hear from Juno, but she’s already gone. Yet, she knows that she will never be alone on this journey.

Here’s her loyal servant, and the confidants who supports to her idea. At the same time, the King-to-be that she has been admiring since that day.

“Thank you, Abigor.” Her words delivered with sincerity. Her lips form a warm smile.

“I know there’s no reason for me to grieve over mother’s loss. Moreover, this Kingdom needs me as their Queen.”

Astarte then goes back again to reviewing the documents. Once again, silence reigns the whole surroundings as the warmth sensation flicking inside the room.