Now that I have reached adult­hood, cer­tain things are becom­ing more and more appar­ent to me. Like the state of our nation, for a start.

Gone are the days when I was con­tent to be doted upon, to have my every whim ful­filled, to be a pretty face on coins. In the nation’s minds, too, I’ve changed — no longer a small, inof­fen­sive mas­cot for my coun­try, I feel like I’m becom­ing some­thing more impor­tant in their hearts.

Something’s wrong in Kayir. My father does noth­ing — can do noth­ing, because it is only due to the wealth and machi­na­tions of the priest­hood that our fam­ily is still in power. The priest­hood! Even despite my nag­ging doubts that monar­chy will be a last­ing suc­cess in Kayir, I am cer­tain they the money-grabbing theoc­racy they dream of will be far, far worse.

So what does Kayir need? My father? No, he lines our cof­fers with church gold and seeks to marry off his chil­dren, with­out a care for our coun­try. My broth­ers? Maybe. But they are as self-obsessed as my father, and will only do what’s right for the peo­ple if it’s right for them too. The Queen? They know where she came from; the peo­ple won’t accept her.

Which leaves… me?