"so was that like a normal interaction with you and Rowan or . . . ?" I ask, looking down at Maximina, since I was a few whole inches taller.

  "yup, uhhhh, he kinda woke me up early to piss me off" Max looked up at me, then down at the floor.

  "remind me never to piss you off" I say before I think.

  dang it, is that considered rude? maybe? I'd like to be scary. Lindsay says I have a big mouth around people that make me nervous.

  Max ughs though, which means it was okay right?

  I prefer to be the most powerful in situations, where people can't boss me around, but it feels different around Maximina, like with Lindsay, I know they're supposed to order me around, I guess.

  but why don't I do that with the King?

  then, for some reason, I seem to zero in on the fact that we're alone in the hall.

  alone with Maximi- STOP THINKING ABOUT IT.

  "so, Maximina, how do you feel about the ceremony?" I ask

  Maximina continues to walk, looking as though she's thinking about something.

  "Maximina?" I ask again "hello? Maximina?"

  "oh! sorry, for a minute I thought you were talking to someone else" she smiled, it seemed strained "what'd you say?"

  "said your name three times" I said "have you not been called that your whole life?"

  "I-I . . . I haven't been hanging out with anyone but Rowan for a while" she said "I guess I'm not used actual conversations"

  "Rowan called you 'Maxie' when you were leaving" I recalled "is that your nickname?"

  "n-no it's Max, actually" she looked away "no one calls me by it but Rowan so you can forget-"

  "I'll call you Max then" Sye grinned "it fits you better"

  Why doesn't anyone call her that but Rowan? It's a great nickname and Cass goes by one . . .

  we took a turn and the door to the outside was in view.

  I took a deep breath and followed Max to the crack in the door to take a peek of the crowd

  The royal pavilion is exactly what it sounds like.

  It's a very fancy and rge pavilion with four thrones, the entire thing is elevated by a four step staircase.

  a perfectly pced stone path leads up to it, and today there is a crowd of hundreds of people cramped on either side of this path, screaming with excitement.

  we haven't entered yet, we'll wait until the King makes his announcement.

  The King Samael and the Queen Maeve are already on their thrones, waiting.

  Max starts to pace a bit before Cass finally shows up a few minutes ter the king demands silence.

  "People of Fellmor, I thank you for gathering here today to discover and welcome my to-be official heir!"

  everyone in the throng of people started screaming and cheering for the King.

  "now, now"

  the crowd settled down

  "this child of mine, has shown extra interest and investment in their political views and tutoring, they have truly shown to me what it means to be an aspiring Monarch"

  everyone held their breaths, waiting for the sentence or slip up that gave away who it is.

  Maximina or Cassander.

  Max or Cass.

  Princess or Prince.

  "I can tell you all are guessing and betting on who it will be my dear Cass or sweet Maximina"

  eerie silence.

  "So the next ruler of the rgest kingdom in Perion will be . . ."