Becoming a Lavian citizen (1)

Thank you for being patient, and apologies for taking so long to continue the story!

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It had been one week since Amelia arrived in Lavia with Lucius, Julius, and Torres, who handled the shifts professionally and started to make friends within the personnel community.

Even Torres, who had been skeptical initially, was starting to enjoy himself. It was difficult for him to admit it, but he liked Amelia and was thankful for this chance.

Meanwhile, Philipp had answered Amelia's letter saying he would visit her in six months. Although that presented a huge risk for her because Philipp could uncover her ruse, it also was the perfect opportunity to find Aurora's killer within his entourage. Undoubtedly, whoever wanted Aurora dead would come here to finish the job. That meant that Amelia had six months to perfect her performance as a Princess and plan on how to catch the killer and her potential escape.

Besides the issue of finding Aurora's murderer, there were also the lurking assassins in Lavia who had previously tried to harm the royal family. As Lucius had promised Amelia, he kept a lookout for any suspicious activities and was investigating the assassination attempts. It seemed there were a couple of suspects, but no one had been prosecuted yet.

While the three fulfilled their guard duties, Amelia had to perform as a princess. Because Amelia didn't know anything about it, she studied during the night for the meetings she had during the day so that her act would not be discovered.

Today Patricia took Amelia to the city with four guards and two servants to show her around and introduce her. The city was not far and at the foot of the hill on which the Summer Palace was situated, but due to security reasons, they had to travel with a carriage.

Patricia visited the city and villages nearby regularly to engage more with her people, who loved her for that. It was important to her that Aurora would carry on with that tradition.

Their first stop was an orphanage at the outer skirts of the city. The children were ecstatic about the visit and the cookies the queen had brought as gifts. They spoke with the headmaster, who reported some sad cases and introduced Aurora to everyone.

Amelia enjoyed this excursion very much. It pained her to see all the kids, but simultaneously, she was relieved to watch how caring the queen was. Furthermore, it reminded her of her time in Rodea, when the royal family took her in as an orphan. They had always cared for her like she was one of their daughters. One of her daughters – Aurora – came to her mind next, bringing unshed tears into her eyes.

Back in the carriage, Patricia addressed Amelia's sadness which didn't go unnoticed. "This might have been a rough start to our tour today, but it is crucial for you to see who needs our attention the most." She smiled encouragingly and tried to lighten up the mood.

"I am grateful you take the time to teach me all this, Patricia. Hopefully, one day I will be able to meet your expectations and support the king as much as you are doing right now." Amelia felt guilty for lying because she knew she would never be queen and never support her son in his duties. Sometimes she wished for all of this to be real, so she wouldn't have to disappoint the people she started caring for.

"Oh, I am sure you will make a wonderful queen dear. Our next stop is a little bit more fun. There is the weekly market happening in the city center with lots of merchandise brought in from all over the world."

"Does that mean people also get to trade goods from other countries?"

"Yes, we have established fair trade with most coastal regions, but honestly, not all the royals from each country know about it because we have negotiated with the relevant villages rather than the people in power."

Amelia was shocked about that revelation. "But wouldn't that be risky? That could start a war if the other countries were to find out."

"Hmm, not necessarily because we have strong relationships with most of them, and sometimes it is easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. - Anyways, we are here." And with that, the queen exited the carriage leaving behind a very confused and impressed Amelia. Before she was called out, though, she gathered herself and followed suit.

As both women entered the market, they were greeted by a cacophony of sounds, including the haggling of merchants, the clanging of metalworkers, and the calls of street vendors selling food and drinks. Amelia was overwhelmed by the sudden attack on all her senses. The vibrant market was filled with the fragrant aroma of spices and perfumes and the scent of roasting meats and fresh baked goods.

She didn't know where to look as the market stalls on over 30 streets and alleys were each a sight to behold, with brightly colored textiles hanging from the walls, rows of intricate ceramics and glassware on display, and piles of gleaming jewelry and precious metals.

The market was like nothing she had ever seen before, and the visitors she encountered were a diverse mix of people.

"Incredible, isn't it?" Patricia said to Amelia with a radiant smile on her face. Amelia could only nod and continue to observe her surroundings.

The guards were struggling to stay close to the ladies through the crowd. Once the people realized who the queen was, they jumped to speak to or touch her. It was said that touching a royal would bring luck, so dozens of hands touched the queen's arms.

Amelia was pushed back, and a group created a gap between her, the guards, and the queen. Sudden worry built up within Amelia. This didn't seem to go as planned, and too many people were around the queen. She had to ensure nothing happened to her but simultaneously ensure no one realized her secret skills.