The Queen of Bretonia basked on the chaise, the red lotus flower turning slowly through her fingers as she considered the Zoner Ambassador that had come into her great hall, and into her presence.
She moved with a catlike grace to sit up, an arm upon the back of the chaise, as she lifted the flower to her nose. Behind her long eyelashes flashed sharply intelligent eyes, taking the practiced motion to study him a while, as he stood a little awkwardly before her.
"Your Excellency," she said, her voice rich and poised. "Welcome to my court, and thank you for coming so swiftly after you were summoned. Though I had expected you sooner, I trust that you weren't... delayed by anything troubling?"
She smiled slyly, knowing exactly where he had been and what he had been doing.
"Doctor Holliday," she said, rising from the chaise, the skirts of her ruinously expensive dress falling into place perfectly, she walked down the steps to take his hand. "I can't express how long I have waited to meet you, I am quite a fan. After all, we were all interested in the Silvan affair... you should know that it made the newspapers here, I hope it wasn't too embarrassing for you to know that you set her upon the Zoner throne when you abdicated for... what was it again? A cough?" She looked at him sympathetically. "It is such a shame that some can be so frail they are unable to... perform."
She guided him across to the great windows, still holding his hand. "I could never think of simply handing such a precious jewel as New London over to the unwashed Gallic masses. You must have been so relieved to regain New Sydney... what do you Zoner's call it? Oh yes Gran Carnaria, from their diabolical plotting."
![[Image: IeOloj2.png]](https://i.imgur.com/IeOloj2.png)