<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ff99">Her Royal Majesty, Queen Kiara Rose Vonn of the Kingdom of Libre, was carefully not squirming on her elaborate gold-and-green throne.  It wasn't that the throne was uncomfortable - in point of fact, in deference to her condition the cushions on the throne had been augmented to the point that she now required a stepstool both to ascend the throne and to prop her feet up while she sat in it.  No - it was something far more mundane.<br/>
<br/>
She had to pee.<br/>
<br/>
It was an indignity that she had become far more accustomed to than she wished.  When her husband was alive, it had been a simple matter to avoid holding court - or to slip out surreptitiously to visit the privy while he was speaking privately with an adviser or high noble.  The past two months, however... her presence was required at Court.  It was she that must address the concerns of both peasant and noble alike - she who must rule on disputes between houses.<br/>
<br/>
All with the heir to the throne bouncing merrily on her bladder.<br/>
<br/>
She was roused from contemplation of the unfair placement of the babe in her womb by the herald announcing the entrance of the Lord Chamberlain, Sir Arthur Magnussen and the official representative of His Royal Majesty Caddeus Thane of the Southern Isles.  The herald didn't appear to know the representative's name, which Kiara thought quite odd -- but, given the scowl on Sir Arthur's face, perhaps it was intentional.<br/>
<br/>
"Enter and be welcome," Kiara said formally, and gestured for the men to approach the throne.  Her eyes skimmed over her Chamberlain -- he was nothing special to look at, and not someone she had appointed herself -- and rested on the newcomer.  He was an attractive fellow, she had to admit - but then, that seemed to describe the vast majority of the vapid creatures at court.  She could only hope this one would prove to have more between his ears than empty space.  "Your King honors us with your presence, my Lord...?" she trailed off, inviting the man to introduce himself.  It was a subtle jab at the Chamberlain, who should have not only known the man's name, but informed the herald.  To fail to do so was either incompetence -- which Kiara reluctantly could not believe -- or a petty power play.</span></span>