I take a cursory glance over the crowd. The audience is settled on benches in a half-moon shape that take up most of the chamber floor, and a large walkway splits the room in two. At the beginning of the day, the seats were nearly at capacity, filled with companions of the petitioners, guards, and curious onlookers. However, as the day droned on, and the list of scheduled citizens dwindled, so had the crowd. I start to turn my head back to the center of the room, when a silver glint catches my eye. I do a double take, concerned a weapon has been brought into the room. But I find nothing—it must have been the buckle of a belt. I’m getting tired.

“Your Majesty, thank you for seeing me,” a petite woman I recognize as a seamstress from Arberly says. She looks nervous, hands clasped in front of her and shoulders hunched. “I’m afraid I bring upsetting news. My shop burned down in a fire two weeks ago after my apprentice left a candle burning. Many water channelers aided me in putting out the flames, but all of my fabrics and works in progress were burned. I have no means of procuring additional fabrics to fulfill my current orders, nor can I take any new clients. I am, as they say, destitute. I’ve come today to ask for a small business loan to purchase new materials. I will of course pay it back. You may not remember, but I’ve made several gowns for you. I hope the quality of my work shows that I’m fully capable of getting my business back on track.” When she finishes, she bows again.

“Of course, I remember your dresses, and your shop, Alyss,” I say, smiling at her. Her eyes widen in surprise when I use her name, but I make it a point to remember every single person who has ever worked for me, even if it takes me hours and hours of studying briefs made for me by advisors and servants. After I watched a guard of mine die during the war, and couldn’t recall her name, I vowed that I would never forget a name again, and I haven’t. “We have the small business fund for situations just like these. If the loan is paid back within three months, we charge no interest. The Chancellor who oversees the program, Aria, will walk you through the terms and assist you through the process. Please, follow her to one of the meeting rooms in the back.”

“Oh, thank you, Your Majesty,” Alyss says, tears building in her eyes. She wipes them away, then bows again before following Aria. I stretch my neck, then motion for the next petitioner.