How to Catch a Queen (Runaway Royals #1) - Alyssa Cole Page 0,86

queens; congratulations on the wedding; and invitations. So many invitations. Charity events, UAN state dinners, balls and—Shanti held up the bold purple envelope with the stylized RUW stamped onto the back.

Royal Unity Weekend.

It was tattered and the postmark was from several weeks ago, but it seemed to be real. She tore it open and read.

Her Highness Queen Ramatla of Thesolo kindly requests your presence at the annual Royal Unity Weekend, where the best and brightest granted this precious ability to do good in the world come together to plan how we best serve our collective future. And to eat delicious food, too, of course. Please RSVP as soon as possible so that travel arrangements can be made and let us know if you would like to be added as a speaker.

Tears did fall now, too quickly for her to catch. Being able to go to this event had been on her lifetime goals list since she’d decided she would be a queen. And now she’d been invited by the woman she admired most in the world—Shanti’s heart was so full it was almost painful. So often, she hurried on to the next thing, but she’d achieved one of her goals and would take this moment to celebrate it. Her dream event, in her homeland, in just a week—a blessing.

She looked toward her altar to Ingoka and briefly lowered her head in thanks for a prayer answered.

Then she placed the invitation on her desk, took a photo, and did something else she hadn’t thought possible—texted it to her friends so they could share her excitement.

Shanti: I just received an invitation to the RUW. Are either of you going?

Nya: Yay! I will be there—Johan and I are coming to support Prince Lukas, who’s giving a talk on The Royal *They* acknowledging gender nonbinary royals. We’re so proud of them—one of the youngest presenters! I was already excited to see my grandparents, Ledi, and Portia on the trip, and now I’ll get to see you, too!

Portia: Yay, Lukas! I’m giving a talk on how to use social media for royals. It’s cutting it close, but now that you’re coming you should give a presentation about Njaza. Verified information is hard to come by and it’s so mysterious—I’m sure lots of people would attend! I know I would.

Nya: I will be there for moral support and for hanging out between sessions, and would also like to see a session about Njaza.

Nya: ٩(^ᴗ^)۶

Nya: (ﾉ･ｪ･)ﾉ

Portia: ╭( ･ㅂ･)و

As they sent jumbles of symbols to one another, Shanti considered Portia’s suggestion. She wasn’t an expert, but all of her sorting and scanning—though most of it had been trash—had given her a pretty good overview of Njaza’s history. She was an outstanding researcher and knew she wrote compellingly about monarchies, and she was well versed in the potential future of Njaza—yes!

Ingoka’s clarity struck her; if she went to the RUW and gave a presentation, she could make everyone see Njaza as she did: a kingdom with so much potential that people—good people—should be clambering to help her and Sanyu make the change that was going so slowly from within. Musoke couldn’t deny everyone. And like Lumu had said, he wasn’t king.

Shanti: I can prepare something within a week. Thank you for the suggestion! ? Oh but—I got my invitation so late. Is it too late to RSVP? The event is within a week—am I even invited anymore?

Ledi has entered the chat.

Nya: I added Ledi because she can best answer that. ヾ(･ω･ ) Hi, cous.

Ledi: Hiya. Your invitation is still good to go, Queen Shanti.

Ledi: I hate awkwardness so let’s get this out of the way: while I’m not sorry I accidentally threw up on the shoes of the woman brought in to marry my now-husband, I’m sorry that woman was *you*. Hopefully we can move past it.

Portia: That wasn’t awkward?

Portia: AtLeastYouTried.gif

Ledi:

Ledi: Okay let me just apologize without all the other stuff. I’m sorry, period.

Shanti: No need to apologize. I understood what you meant. Also, you were poisoned, so it wasn’t entirely voluntary.

Nya: I don’t think it was voluntary at all! Ledi is very careful about spreading germs and bacteria.

Ledi: True. I meant to give you new shoes at the wedding, but you and King Sanyu deferred so I thought you hated us and I’d ruined international relations forever because I couldn’t keep my tea down.

Deferred?

Shanti looked up sharply at the cart of mail. She’d been here for months—the critical months after a new king started his reign. How many