Regina was still dripping water as she stepped out of her bathroom into the antechamber of her private apartment, wrapped in a fluffy towel and wringing out her hair with one hand.

"I hope there is a reason you called me out," she said. "I was enjoying that bath."

"Sorry about that," Kiara replied. "I didn't mean for you to come right this instant."

Regina dropped into an armchair, waving a hand absently and using a trickle of mana to dissipate the water on her floor, then, with a moment of focus, heating the air around her to help dry her skin and hair, too. "Well, it sounded important." She'd been able to sense Kiara's impatience.

She was sensing that right now, too, just mixed with embarrassment.

"Yes, we need to discuss what's going on in the east," Kiara said. Then she paused. "Aren't you going to get dressed, Regina?"

"Well, I was," Regina said drily. With a put-upon sigh, she got up, crossed into the connecting room and levitated the dress someone had prepared for her. "Since you're here, you can help me."

Admittedly, Regina only made a cursory effort to keep the towel up as she put on her underwear, then stepped into the dress and turned to let Kiara zip it up in the back. She didn't particularly care about her appearance or people seeing her 'indecently', usually — local standards for that were wildly inconsistent and changing rapidly, anyway. Besides, it wasn't like anyone would care about her body, especially her friends.

Or at least, so she thought, but the sensations she picked up from Kiara made her realize she was wrong about that. "Really, Kiara?" She turned her head.

After a moment of confusion, her friend's eyes widened and she quickly stepped back as if she'd been burned. "What?"

"I could sense what you were feeling," Regina pointed out. That had definitely been a moment of … appreciation.

"It's not my fault I have eyes," Kiara whined, sitting down on a nearby chair and crossing her legs defensively. "You're a pretty girl, I didn't mean anything by it."

"Sure, of course. You do realize I don't …"

"Of course," Kiara said hastily. "And I would never betray Janis like that, anyway."

"Well, I'm sorry," Regina conceded. She made sure her modesty was preserved, this time, and turned to sit in another chair. She wouldn't mention this to Janis either way.

"Let's move on. You wanted to talk about what's happening in the east? Define 'east' and 'happening' first, please?"

That made Kiara focus again, and a bit of the frustration verging on anger Regina had felt before returned. "There is clearly rising unrest. Monsters are getting bolder. And who knows which way some of the eastern lords will jump? I don't like that you sent June there like this."

Regina nodded in acknowledgment. "Just to be clear, is your objection because I sent her with Madris without your permission as her sister and queen, or because Madris is taking June east in the first place, or something else?"

Kiara frowned. "She's your apprentice; I know I can't dictate either of your movements," she said, though with visible reluctance. "I just don't like how careless you seem to have been with it and would like you to be more careful."

Regina turned away for a moment to levitate socks and shoes over to her, and certainly not to hide her expression. She put them on quickly, letting the silence linger for a moment. Kiara shifted unhappily.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Regina finally said, calmly.

"If that's supposed to be a proper apology, it's an awful one."

Regina inhaled sharply, tugging on her mandibles. "If I gave you an overwrought apology for my actions, you'd assume I was going to call June back, but I don't intend to do that."

Kiara glared at her. "Why not, my liege? My point stands, she would be much safer here."

"I didn't send them with a large escort because it would have hindered their efforts. And she was safe with Madris. A hundred guards wouldn't have provided as much security as she does. I trust Madris," Regina said simply.

Kiara reached up to massage the bridge of her nose. "Be that as it may, Madris left her."

"Yes, I didn't expect that," Regina conceded. "They are indeed parting for a few days. But June is still safe. She's a good psychic herself, and it's not like the little eastern kingdom she's in right now would attack her. They know I could destroy them without breaking a sweat if they hurt my apprentice."

"Unfortunately, people don't always act rationally," Kiara countered. "But it's not even just about her safety. Although I admit I would feel better if she had a larger guard. Considering monster activity —"

"Kiara, we've been over that," Regina interjected warningly. She could still sense other minds nearby, servants lingering, though giving them some privacy according to her wishes. It was still better not to talk in detail about some things.

"As I was saying, I would like her to have more guards," Kiara continued. "But it is also below her station to travel with so few attendants. She's a princess. What are the locals going to think if she just turns up with Sir Edmund and a few guards?"

"I don't know," Regina frowned. "I admit it's still hard for me to think like that sometimes. Surely they will still realize that she's important? We just do things differently."

Kiara sighed. "Some people might genuinely think she's out of favor, or even that you just sent here there to 'sideline' her for a bit and that it's a punishment," she said. "Or they're just going to think stupid things about the Empire. Honestly, June should probably have a much larger household than she does, traditionally. It's simply a bit … lost because she's stuck between my authority and yours. And it's not just her, I suppose —" Kiara shrugged. "I'm not going to tell you how to handle Janis' household, that's between the two of you. Obviously, you can get away with it because you're a Hive Queen and have your drones, and the whole 'Last Progenitor' bit. Janis is getting some benefit of that, too."

Regina ran a hand through her hair. "I know we don't have as many personal subordinates as most nobles, but is it really that bad?"

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Kiara gave her a slightly pitying look. "You're lucky that we're simply setting a trend with a different way of managing our affairs. I don't even have the same sort of household and court that my grandmother or great-grandmother would have had. But normally, someone in our position would have stewards, majordomos, chamberlains, butlers, scribes, and ladies in waiting, in various positions, the same for maids, plus cupbearers, provisioners, tailors, masters of horse, other menial workers like porters to varying degrees, knights and squires and pages — need I go on? You only have some of those positions, mostly focused on the court and political functions."

Regina sighed, sitting back in her chair. "Remind me to tell Ira how much I appreciate her," she muttered. "And the other drones, too."

"They are doing a splendid job," Kiara agreed. "It helps that you have a very different style of ruling than most. Regardless, do you understand my concerns?"

Regina nodded after thinking it over for a minute. "I'm not going to change the way I do things to conform to outdated standards," she stated. "It would probably be a disaster anyway. But I do see your point, and I'll also talk to Janis about it. I know her aunt has been wanting to build her a bigger household since she came on. And I will make sure June will be taken seriously. I am already sending others, anyway — they'll just have to wait for a bit while we assemble a larger party. We can send people meant to serve her with that group. And I'll make sure she has jewelry and other luxuries that will make the locals all green with envy. That should help, right?"

God, she'd really become used to being rich. It was weird when that kind of thing was almost an afterthought.

"Let's hope so," Kiara said. "How are they doing? And your other people in the area, have they raised any concerns?"

Regina leaned back a bit, closing her eyes to signal she was looking into the psychic link.

There really was increasing monster activity in the eastern parts, and she made a mental note to go back and look into it at some point and try to chart their movement patterns and lairs in detail later. Local garrisons were thin, but at least there were some. Many Delvers had left for the capital, the western border or simply signed up for the army and been stationed elsewhere. At least there were still some in a few locations, especially around the new excavation Galatea was focused on.

Obviously, Regina knew less about what was happening beyond her borders, but they still had something to work with. In concert with her new strategy to pull in the minor powers of the east, the hive was also sending more flying drones. Only one local potentate had dared complain so far. The Empire had given him some nice words and continued as they were. There were also drones in other roles in various places, including envoys and a few she'd sent as teachers, largely where Imperial influence was already firmly established and they had agreements in place. Of course there were also more drones in the north, closer to the border to Esemen. And then, of course, there were June and the others with her. Being psychics, even not connected to her psychic link, June and Edmund's minds stood out from the general background once she focused.

Regina mentally zoomed in on them, assessing their mental states and tentatively reaching out to them. She could tell both of them were fine, if maybe a little nervous or anxious. That probably had more to do with their mission than any concerns over their safety, though.

Edmund jumped a little when she established a connection, but he quickly caught himself. My Empress, he greeted her. How can I be of service?

I'm just checking in, she said. How are both of you doing?

Quite well, I think. He started a report on their activities, to which she listened without interruption. Everything seemed to be going well, more or less.

Good job, she concluded as he finished. Keep it up. Do you have any questions or concerns for me, while we're talking?

Edmund was a rather low-maintenance student, Regina supposed. Ironically, she'd actually started to appreciate him more since Helen's betrayal. He wasn't as strong as June, but strong enough, and while he had a lot to learn still, she didn't anticipate any major issues.

No, Milady, nothing I would bother you with. I had a few questions for Lady Madris, but I'll ask her when she returns. Is there anything else I should be doing?

No, just keep practicing and use this opportunity, she responded. We can reflect on it once you're back. I'd like your views on the area and the people's sentiments on the Empire.

Of course, I'll do my best.

So far, June seemed to have had some success. The local king was not eager for Imperial patronage, but he also wasn't stupid and knew which way the wind was blowing. And that the Empire had much to offer. They had a large carrot and an even larger stick to use. Regina would have felt bad about that, except she was sure they would actually improve people's lives here, and she was willing to annoy some elites.

Something else still caught her attention. Something felt odd, and it took her a moment to realize what it was. Madris was a little further away, and now that she focused on it, she felt two other minds who were clearly also psychics, though much 'dimmer'. They evidently didn't make any attempt to hide right now. But that wasn't it, either.

The minds she could sense weren't limited to the kingdom or its neighbors — they weren't just on the surface. Focusing on it a little more, she could tell there was also life underground. Much more scattered, of course … at least so far. Regina centered herself and sank deeper into the sensations she got, pushing aside the psychic link as anything more than a relay and focusing on what she could sense beyond it, in this area. Yes, going further east did increase the number of other minds she could sense, and especially how many of them were sapient, although it was at the very limit of her range now. She was clearly barely glimpsing the edges of a greater structure.

Paths, she suspected. There probably weren't any towns here, or any settlements beyond, perhaps, outposts. But the dark elves had still reached out and shaped this territory, opened new pathways and perhaps hidden corridors. Some of them might pass through these, for whatever reason.

Did the people on the surface know, she wondered? The tunnels were deep enough that she wouldn't expect a random farmer to notice if they didn't see them used, but perhaps the rulers were aware.

Regina shook her head and withdrew her awareness, focusing again on her own body and her surroundings. She stretched lightly as she opened her eyes, meeting Kiara's impatient gaze.

"Well?" the young queen asked.

"They're fine," she said. "They're both safe, and June is doing well. She was busy, but I talked to Edmund and he didn't have any concerns."

"It took you that long to find out?" Kiara muttered, but she noticeably relaxed a little.

"The dark elves' territory is much more expansive than I thought."

Kiara blinked and cocked her head, a bit thrown by the apparent non-sequitur, Regina could tell. "Does it? Is that what you were looking for?"

"It was hard to avoid once I really paid attention," Regina said. "I am not necessarily surprised that most people don't know, but at least some clearly do. I didn't quite get a feeling of where their actual inhabited land starts, but it's still interesting. The Eternal Dark itself, even if you just take the core territory, must be larger than I thought. If their territory and influence has a similar extent to the east, then they can probably cross most of the continent without setting foot on the surface. It wouldn't surprise me if this went up to the Ural, at least with a solitary tunnel."

Kiara frowned thoughtfully. "I only have very limited knowlege," she said. "But from what I can guess based on what I've heard and read, there are probably dwarven kingdoms there, as well as in the other mountain range you mentioned — the Caucasus?"

"Yes, probably," Regina nodded. "There might have been some in the Carpathians, too, but it seems like the gnomes took those." Or what was left of them. She wasn't sure if they'd just been shifted, but it seemed like this mountain range had actually been eroded somewhat, unlike the Alps, which were now a monster-infested terrain of peaks that might actually have grown a bit higher. The Cataclysm and magic. Utter bullshit.

"Regardless," Kiara commented, "is it important now?"

"I suppose not," Regina admitted. "It's just good to be aware. We need to make sure our efforts in the Eternal Dark go well. Or at least make sure that our enemies don't manage to turn them against us. For now, we should, of course, focus on the surface."

"And June's safety," Kiara said, giving her a stern look.

"Yes, of course. I already agreed to send more people, didn't I?" Regina stood up. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to go talk to some drones."

And consider whether she wanted to rethink her personal style or even her staff. Although it probably wouldn't be a good idea to have more people listen to how Kiara talked to her, in situations like this. You'd think an empress would get more respect from her closest vassal, Regina grumbled mentally, but she couldn't quite suppress the fond smile sneaking onto her face.

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