“Well then, why not let the advisors run everything? Why have that one person in power? For that matter, what if you have a shitty [King] or [Queen]? If there’s only one heir—”

“Calanfer has seven [Princesses], Miss. Three sons—”

“But is it guaranteed to have that, Vimel? No? Shut up.”

Cara drained her first mug, reached for the water. She spoke.

“The problem is that even a good [Queen] or [King] is only…a person. You can’t rely on a person. That’s what I’m trying to say. They’ll let you down. A single monarch might be good. But the next? The ones after that? We need something better. No one will help you but yourself. You can’t trust the ‘people in charge’ to care or help you, specifically. They always miss someone between the cracks. Justice…doesn’t come. Not unless there’s a system in place to make it happen. A better system, for a better world.”

People looked at her. Cara flushed. She had said too much. She had made it too—

Personal.

At last, Meltain took a huge gulp.

“But what would that even look like, Miss Cara? A world without monarchies or even the nobility?

Just…people?”

“Yes. People who choose people to lead them.”

“Nonsense. A democracy? Like…what’s one of those?”

Cara glanced up. Some of the Thronebearers argued; the people of Afiele were blank. Meltain thought.

“Isn’t one of the Drake cities like that?”

“Pallass. And…Belchan. Chandrarian. I’ve heard of some Balerosian Democracies—that’s your better future?”

They laughed at her. Cara spoke seriously.

“It is. And a world without monarchies can exist.”

She was so convincing even the Thronebearers seemed uncertain. For a moment. But even so—Ser Dalimont exhaled.

“Miss Sullivan. You appear to be a traveller with strong…strong convictions. But you come to Terandria and insist that this is better. Pray, are the people of Afiele so unhappy? Do they want your democracy?”

He looked around. Cara saw people shake their heads at once.

“Not for me, even if I could choose. Long live Lord Lantal and Lady Risel! Fair and just!”

Meltain called out. Everyone from Afiele cheered and drank to that. Cara shook her head. That was just…

Her head was spinning. She was having trouble making a coherent argument, not to mention she was arguing alone against people firmly immersed in their system. But she made one last attempt.

“But. Aren’t there bad [Kings]. Bad nobles? Surely there are. Surely you know of people using their power and influence to bully smaller people.”

The laughter stopped. A shadow crossed every face. Oh, surely. Cara smiled bitterly with how certain she’d been.

“That is life, Miss Sullivan.”

Dalimont replied after a moment. Cara shook her head.