The People's Queen

Katherine looked around the room of people that were with her for her coronation. She had never really thought about the day she would become Queen, but she knew that this is not what she would have expected.

She figured she would be surrounded by other royals, government officials, and that it would be a grand event. What had happened today was anything but that.

Sure there were royals there-- technically Charles and Marcus counted, and Eric was a government official, but they were the only ones.

The people of Helios would have lined the streets, and a lucky few would have even been able to watch, in person, as she was crowned. This time, the citizens were only allowed to watch the broadcast on television or listen to it on the radio.

The typically grand ceremony and celebration would have been accessorized with the most extravagant decorations, and no expense would have been spared. Instead, they had a rolled out carpet and some flowers placed in the ballroom.

Katherine was not even in the proper attire for a coronation.

The room was filled mostly with people who actually knew Katherine. People she hoped would be proud to call her Queen. People who had watched her grow up, like Jasper and Mark.

She was not one to typically enjoy celebrations, but she wanted to acknowledge the people who were with her today. The people who had gotten her through the last week of hell after the attack and what happened with her parents.

She never really had before, but today she felt grateful for all of her servants and castle staff.

"Just a moment," she said to Jasper before she walked over to Eric who was chatting with some guards. "I'm sorry to interrupt," she started when she reached the group of men, "but I would like to invite everyone to dinner tonight. I know the kitchen prepared plenty of food, and I'd like to sit with all of the people who got me here today to show my appreciation."

Eric and the guards looked at her with surprise before one of the guards clarified, "Your Majesty, you mean you wish to dine with the servants?"

"Yes, of course. We've had a difficult week. Many lost friends and partners, maybe even family members. I'm sorry it took me a while to realize, but I'm not the only one who has suffered loss from the attack. Yet they all still showed up and helped me, so I want to share a meal with them. It's the least I could do."

"I think I can have that arranged," Eric said slowly, still in shock over the Queen's words. He quickly called someone and let them know to fix the table arrangements before he hung up and told Katherine, "Diner will be ready in five minutes. Would you like to make a speech to tell everyone?"

"Oh, I don't know if I--"

"They would love to hear from you, Your Majesty. Like you said, many have been suffering. Words to them from the Queen will give them hope. Frankly, I'm embarrassed you thought about doing it before I did," Eric interrupted her.

"Alright then," Katherine said as she blushed. She hated speaking in crowds, but she knew Eric was right.

She walked up to the stage and found a microphone that was still plugged in. She wanted to be heard over all of the chit-chat, and she did not want to yell.

She stood there for a moment, almost hoping people would notice her so that she wouldn't have to interrupt, but when she realized that wouldn't happen, she cleared her throat and began to speak.

"Excuse me, everyone," she started. All the people in the room went silent as they turned to see the Queen up on the stage.

"I just wanted to say a couple of words very quickly." She swallowed hard and felt her heart beating incredibly fast. She pushed through the nervousness and continued, "I wish I felt like celebrating today. I became the Queen of Helios, but to me, today was a reminder of everything that I lost," she paused as she looked out at everyone, "everything that all of us lost. I lost my dad, and my mom is still missing. We lost many staff members and guards. You lost your coworkers, your friends, maybe even some of you lost your family or your loved ones. Yet all of you continued to show up after the attack. You continued to serve me and support this castle and everyone in it. I would not be standing here right now if it weren't for all of you and your strength. I could never thank you enough for everything that you do for me. Everything you have always done for me. But tonight, I'd like to show my appreciation by dining with all of you. The table is being set up right now, so I'd like to invite everyone to take a seat and share a meal with me. I know I've never said this to most of you, but thank you. Truly, thank you. I am so grateful for each and every one of you."

When she was done speaking, she stared out at everyone, feeling more vulnerable than she had felt in a long time. She was scared of being laughed at or spit on. She knew people didn't like her, but she was royalty, so people always just had to be nice to her.

Part of her really wished that they were proud to call her their Queen.

So she waited in agony before the silence was broken by one of the butlers who proudly shouted, "All hail Queen Katherine Mors!"

Soon after, everyone joined in, and Katherine felt a tear form in her eye as she smiled in relief. She had never cared about any of them or their opinions before, but she felt like something in her was changing.

Everyone cheered and clapped, and as Katherine walked down the steps of the stage, everyone started to make their way to the table for dinner.

"Wow," she heard Charles say from her right, and he walked over to her and handed her her crown. "I'm glad I made it back in time for that speech. You're going to make an incredible Queen," he said with awe.

"Thank you. Do you really think so?" she asked with slight hesitation.

"The people aren't used to having Kings and Queens who care for them and address them in the way you just did. That was an amazing first step to becoming the people's Queen." Charles noted. "Maybe the two of us really can change Titanus for the better," he said as he continued to look at her with admiration.

Katherine had been influencing Charles in a bad way with him sneaking around and lying for her, but it seemed as if he was having the opposite effect on her. She was becoming more sympathetic to her people.

He was a good friend to have.

She gave him a small smile before she said, "Let's go eat."