“Hi, Queen!” she waved at me with her usual cheerfulness, the movement quick and effortless despite the chair. “I’m excited to be here, too bad my brother couldn’t come…”

  I tried not to look at her wheelchair, like that’d make it invisible, and failed. “Well, I mean… Uh, I love you having here!”

  She just shook her head, an amused smile curling as if she’d been expecting that exact response. “Are you asking in your head how I could be so great in Rimelion while being a cripple on Earth? Even if it can be fixed?”

  I just bit my lip and nodded.

  “It’s okay, I’m used to it.” She smiled. Actually smiled, and it wasn’t the fake kind people throw at you to make you feel better. “Our parents died, and it left me in a coma, and when I woke up, I…” she shrugged, her smile turning bitter, and pointed at her legs. “I couldn’t move. And without parents, I’m glad for any money I get, and the procedures are so expensive…”

  “That’s… a lot to take in, sorry for almost asking,” I said, glancing at Lola. “Couldn’t we help her…?”

  “NO!” Lunaris cut me off so fast it was almost a slap, shaking her head like she was trying to rattle loose an uncomfortable thought. “Sorry, but I won’t do it for you!” Her face flushed crimson, neck to ears.

  “What?” I moved my stare between her and Lola. Lola’s holo-tablet was flickering with rapid swipes and scrolling, her brow furrowed in that I’m about to blow someone’s life up online way. And then I remembered what Dmitry had said. Rule 34. Oh, no. “Don’t tell me… DMITRY!” I yelled into the room, because if he wasn’t hiding here, I’d eat Lola’s tablet.

  Lisa came barreling in from the side corridor like she’d just heard the word “gossip” whispered on the wind. Her big grin was practically weaponized, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling like she’d just been given front-row seats to a scandal. “What did he do?”

  “It must be a misunderstanding,” Dmitry said, strolling in at a perfectly calm pace like he didn’t just have my suspicion aimed square at his smug face.

  “What did you ask this poor girl to do?” I jabbed a finger toward Lunaris like I was accusing him of war crimes. “Profit margins before people?!”

  “Sorry!” she blurted, shoulders hunching like she was expecting a thrown shoe. “I—I didn’t mean it like that!”

  Dmitry glanced at Lunaris over the rim of his holo-tablet. “Lunaris? Your look is… unique.” His fingers danced on the translucent screen, each flick sending neon-blue menus rippling in the air. “Oh, here it is! Your eyes are trending, Lunaris. Our survey shows you’re on top of the ‘would’ charts. Fans are asking for fully customizable figurines. An advance plus profit margins would be enough to cover the medical procedures.”

  “No,” Lunaris whispered, her voice tight, and Lola’s hand landed gently on her shoulder like an anchor.

  “By fully customizable you mean…” I asked, and Dmitry just turned the holo toward me. Ah, yeah, of course… my company headed by Dmitry had already done the mock-ups. Base Lunaris came with nothing. Not even underwear. That had to be bought separately. And the addons… yeah, variable was one word for it. I stared at him. “Dmitry.”

  “Yes…” He flicked his gaze between me and Lunaris. “We’re flexible in accommodating talent-specific needs. I’m already working on alternatives, but this would be—”

  My face went stiff in a way Mom’s did… the kind of cold that could frost glass. I let my voice match it. “Dmitry.”

  Lisa burst out laughing, the sound loud enough to echo in this large place. She even gave Dmitry a shove, her grin practically weaponized. He furrowed his brow, unamused, but his stare didn’t break. “Lisa, now that we aren’t enemies, you could—”

  Her eyes lit up as if a spark had just hit dry tinder. “Oh, I said a few minutes ago that I’m just so much better, I don’t consider you an enemy,” she said, dripping smugness. “Rebel flame!”

  Dmitry grunted, and I saw the flash of frustration pull tight over his face.

  “So it bothers you!” she crowed, laughing again, and this time leaning in just enough to make it personal.

  “Guys, stop bickering, and back to Lunaris,” I cut in, pointing at her while she was whispering hurriedly with my Queen-maker. “Can we… I don’t know, make a better contract, pay for it, and she’ll… I don’t know, sign something?”

  “I’ll take a look.” Dmitry’s eyes dropped back to his holo, his hands already flying over glowing menus while Lisa still hovered at his shoulder like a cat who just discovered how fun laser pointers are.

  “Wait…” Lunaris’s voice pitched up into panic. “I… what? Why?” she stammered and couldn’t find a landing spot for the words. “Why, Queen?!”

  I scratched my head, buying time. Why? Because she was an amazing person? Because she was stupidly committed to my kingdom? Because she was the kind of ace I could unleash on someone and then wish them good luck while sitting back with popcorn?

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Yeah, all of the above.

  “Uh…” I finally managed, “You’re an important member of our kingdom and… we take care of our own? Just work something out with Dmitry.” I snapped my fingers to pull his attention back to me. “And Dmitry is going to make you comfortable. Right, Dmitry?”

  “I can help!” Lisa shot her hand into the air like we were in the middle of homeroom roll call. “I study law, after all! I’ll make sure he’s… nice.” She grinned, drawing out the word until it practically purred… and the brief twitch in Dmitry’s jaw told me it landed like a shiver down his spine.

  So he wasn’t as unfazed as he liked to pretend. Good to know. “Sure. Lisa, Lunaris… go for it.”

  “Thank you so much!” Lunaris’s voice was bright enough to cut through the static of the holo-screens, her eyes almost glittering as she nodded. Then she wheeled herself after Dmitry and Lisa toward the far corner, the low hum of their conversation quickly blending with the quiet tapping of keys and the faint electronic chime of Lisa stealing another peek at his holo.

  I watched them go with a small smile… until Dmitry’s damn “would” survey flashed across my memory like a pop-up ad I couldn’t close. Suddenly, I really wanted to know my ranking.

  BAD CHARLIE.

  Instead of spiraling down that rabbit hole, I turned back to Lola, leaning just enough on the reception table to feel its smooth edge under my fingers. “So, who’s our next VIP?”

  Most of the faces in the VIP section were strangers… the kind of rich, bored, and perfectly interchangeable people who looked like they’d been printed from the same smug template.

  But the next one… I almost didn’t recognize.

  A man in a muted matte suit.

  The kind of aggressively ordinary thing you could fish off a clearance rack at three in the morning, worn by a third-rate salesman drowning his regrets in bottom-shelf whiskey. The cut was too plain, the color too forgettable; it almost physically offended my eyes after the parade of designer peacocks in here.

  My jaw actually dropped. Riker?! I mouthed. “What happened to flashy?” Ignoring greeting him.

  He strolled in with his two bodyguards… both of whom were dressed well enough to look like they were in charge, wearing that faint, perpetual smile like the entire room was an inside joke only he got.

  “Ohhh, the illustrious Queen herself awaits me!” he announced, his voice almost a whisper. “What a lucky day for yours truly. But alas—” He gestured to his drab attire with mock tragedy. “This is not my stage to glitter upon. Tonight, dear Charlie…” His grin sharpened, glinting with that familiar, performative menace. “Tonight is your moment. Your grand, villainous debut.”

  I groaned, because I’d been half-hoping his speech would eventually land somewhere normal, but nope… still the same man. “I’m not a villainous queen,” I said, but it came out like a resigned sigh more than a rebuttal. And it wasn’t like he was the first to bring it up.

  People got that impression… especially after walking through the reception room.

  Lola, in her very Lola “Queen-making” way, had decided my portrait needed to be there. But not in a tasteful, understated way. Oh, no. That would be boring and maybe somewhat acceptable.

  No, my portrait was a poster. A massive, full-color poster with a bold line across the bottom: Work as hard as Queen. We weren’t even in Rimelion. Was it even legal to use the title here?

  Well… nobody seemed to care.

  I let out a sigh that felt like it carried a week’s worth of irritation. “Welcome, Mister Riker. What do I owe for the pleasure?”

  He pressed a hand to his chest in exaggerated innocence, the motion so theatrical it might’ve come with a stage spotlight if he’d had his way. “Oh, I’m sure we’ll talk business soon enough. But tonight?” His tone dipped into mock sincerity. “I am here simply as a humble citizen of your Rimebreak kingdom… not as Riker the Magnate, not as the Architect of Rankings, not even as the Harbinger of Rime-Con glory.”

  I forced a smile, feeling the edges twitch in ways that probably betrayed how awkward it was. “Welcome. It’s… an honor to have you here.” The words tasted formal, almost foreign in my mouth.

  His grin spread instantly, quick as a card trick. “Oh, you’re polite tonight! What a delightful surprise. Perhaps a permanent change, hmm?” One eyebrow climbed, baiting me.

  The elevator hummed behind him, its low vibration running faintly through the floor as the carriage rose. I narrowed my eyes just enough to make the warning clear. “Don’t push your luck. Now go… someone else is coming.”

  “Ahhh, here she is!” Riker’s laugh broke over the background chatter like a cork popping. He pivoted neatly on his heel and strolled off with his two guards flanking him. Not with the strut of a man claiming the room, but with the easy gait of someone who blended in.

  And that? That was unsettling. Riker was never this normal. Anyway, their footsteps melted into the murmur of the chamber.

  In the corner, Lisa’s laugh spiked above the low hum, Dmitry’s voice following in a clipped counterpoint, and Lunaris’s softer tone trying, and failing, to argue with both of them, it reminded me how socially bad I used to be not that long ago.

  Poor girl, should help her.

  Around us, the space was getting busier. New arrivals of “plebs” spilled in small waves… tailored suits brushing past glittering dresses, the scent of perfume and expensive cologne weaving into the air along with the faint aroma of the catered buffet. The background noise had shifted from polite chatter to a low, constant thrum.

  The next guest was a young woman we all knew… Frozna. Her formal clothes had an earthy touch: a moss-green jacket, dark brown trousers with gold stitching, and a leather cord necklace with a polished stone.

  Oh… and a parrot on her shoulder.

  “Welcome… dear Frozna,” I said, though my eyes were locked on the bird like it might spontaneously combust. “Uhm…” I glanced at Lola, who just shrugged as if to say, not my circus.

  “Hello, Queen. Would you like to meet Tobi? He’s amazing. Tobi, say hi!”

  We all looked at the bird. Tobi tilted his head, feathers ruffling in quick, twitchy bursts. “Tobi! No!” he squawked instead, sharp enough to make two nearby guests glance over.

  Frozna actually blushed. “Queen Charlie… I swear he won’t…” Her gaze wandered past me, landing squarely on the throne. “…damage your throne.”

  “For your info, blame Lola. Even for the poster.”

  “I like the poster,” Frozna said with a nod. “It gives the villain persona serious—”

  “Tobi! Food!” Tobi cut her off, flapping his wings once before launching toward the refreshments.

  “Oh, Tobi!” Frozna panicked, giving me an apologetic nod before hurrying after him.

  I turned just in time to see the parrot land on a silver platter, head bobbing as he sampled something that looked suspiciously like smoked salmon. “Do we…” I started, eyes tracking the little menace. “Were we aware?”

  Lola pulled up a glowing screen on her holo. “Yes… she wrote ‘plus one small rascal,’ and I… apparently approved it.”

  The elevator dinged again, its sound barely cutting through the layered hum of voices and the faint clink of glassware.

  Patreon

  Discord! Do you want to join ranks of Scamantha, Lunaris or Llama and have your own reader character? Patreons have the first pick, but if they don't want I ask on so come and chat about your favorite exploit or what would you like to see. Is there enough Gatei, or Lucas? No? Want more Irwen? Tell us on discord and future may be changed! :)

  We hit our Favorites target! Monday 25th August is public chapter bonus day then!