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There was still a matter of getting through the day, beginning with the Council of Ministers that morning.
I took coffee and a couple of slices of toast before heading out almost before the staff began for the day, my driver making the short trip across South Havenmire to the building downtown: a modern structure with five floors, each allotted for separate services including judicial, law making, and public affairs.
The Council of Ministers met on the third floor. I took the stairs, my adrenaline pumping despite the lack of sleep. I had a feeling I’d be burning hot all day long.
How many more hours until I see her again?
I couldn’t remember a time when I’d been so excited to see a female. My attention span had never stretched far with the opposite sex, especially not when they so often wanted something from me as prince, then king. I didn’t have time to figure out ulterior motives as I ran the kingdom, hoping that one day, my father might resurface to take the burden off me again.
As I suspected, I was the first one in the session, and I made myself comfortable at the head of the room in the throne chair, already edgy about the hours ahead. If I could get through the tedium of the meeting, I’d be through the worst of the day.
I took a sip of my already cold coffee and sat back, waiting for the ministers to arrive, my two private guards remaining at the exits to ensure my safety.
One by one, they filtered in, all wearing smiles on their faces like I hadn’t seen before, bowing and whispering amongst themselves as if they were high schoolers in a locker room.
“Good morning, Alpha!” the Minister of Birchbank, who was also in charge of housing, boomed happily. “You look well rested.”
You need your eyes checked,I thought, but gave him a taut smile.
“Wonderful experience last night,” the minister in charge of agriculture offered as he took his seat. “Will there be more shows?”
I nodded, leaning forward in my chair. “These will be a weekly event at the castle.”
The din rose, and I slammed the gavel down, glowering at them. “This is still a place of business,” I reminded them sharply. “And today is a workday.”
Immediately, contrition fell on their collective faces, and they settled in among their paperwork to address the minutes before them.
I barely heard any of what was being said, my mind strictly on what was coming up for the evening. I had a plan for Maren, one I hoped she enjoyed as we got to know one another better, but that wasn’t my explicit intent for bringing her out that night.
“Alpha?”
I blinked, realizing that someone had asked me something.
“What?” I asked, looking toward the speaker.
“Do you think we should go ahead with the plans for building the new subdivision at the north end of South Havenmire?”
“Is it low-income housing?” I asked automatically.
My question was met with blank stares, their elitist minds spun by the query.
“Low income?” someone asked.
“As in, can low-income workers afford to live there?” I repeated slowly and deliberately.
“Well… I mean… no,” the minister hemmed.
“Don’t you think we need more affordable housing rather than expensive condos in South Havenmire?” I sighed, knowing that this argument would fall on deaf ears.
“There are lots of projects for the lower classes, Alpha,” the Minister of Birchbank answered.
I rolled my eyes. “Then why are there still unhoused faeries on the streets?”
“Because they choose that life!” one of the other ministers called out.
“Because they won’t work!” another proclaimed.
I was starting to get a headache already. These ministers were past their expiration date, but for the time being, I was outnumbered by their votes.
