Minara strode back to the townsfolk, making her way to the center, passing many she knew, waving to each one. Passing by a table stocked with glasses of wine and juice, she grabbed one of juice, taking a small sip before making her way to the statue at the center of the courtyard, picking up a small fork on the way.
The statue depicted the late king of Plohara, Astaros's father, King Faros. He had been a kind and honest man, working for the people of Plohara, putting them before himself many times. He wore a uniform, fitted with the emblem of Plohara, a seven-pointed star, with a smaller five-pointed star inside, both a shade of gold, standing out against the blue color of their uniforms.
His right hand was pressed onto his breast, arm stretched out at a 90 degree angle, the Ploharan salute, and his left was behind his back, facing away in a fist formation. His legs were together, facing forward, boots touching. His face had a disciplined look, his eyes steeled forward, but there was a hint of kindness, brows softened a touch, his mouth curling slightly to form a smile.
Minara walked up the stone stairs, stepping on the pedestal area below the statue, taking the fork and clinking the side of her glass, an echo reverberating around the courtyard. Many looked over, seeing Minara, the conversation coming to a close. As they stopped talking, Minara started doing so.
"I hope everyone has had a good time so far," Minara started, "And that the rest of the day continues to be so for you all. Now, today, as I have been sworn in, I hope to continue the work my family has done for the last century, adding my own input to different topics, hoping to better everything for you all. How many here are tired of the bland food we always have?" Many raised their hands, some holding food in their hands. "We here at the castle have been working, and have found a new strain of vegetable that is full of flavor and is especially healthy, one that grows almost anywhere, and takes only a few weeks to fully grow."
An attendant walked up, carrying an orange vegetable, long and spindly, handing it to Minara, who took a bite of the end, crunching down, heard all around the quiet courtyard.
As she swallowed, she started up again, "Here, we have one of those vegetables. It has a wonderful taste, so you do not need to add anything to it before you eat, except clean it a little. All around you, our attendants do have even more of this vegetable for everyone to try. We want your feedback, so we can make it even better, helping to add another item to our kingdom's exports!"
Attendants handed out a vegetable to everyone around, some looking at it skeptically, others ready to chow down. After the first crunch, the courtyard became filled with crunches, many people stunned by the taste, closer to a meat than a vegetable. It was savory, sometimes sweet, everything wrapped in one.
Minara clinked her glass again, this time with the vegetable, getting a laugh out of some who looked her way.
"Now, we do need a name for this vegetable, so we will be taking a vote in three days time, and anyone who cares to be involved should come back here, where we will bring everyone into the castle, to vote on what they want this new vegetable to be called," Minara spoke out, finishing the last of her vegetable, "I do have an idea for it, but I want you all to be the ones to name it. Without you all, we wouldn't have anyone to help and make the best country in the whole world!"
Cheers rang out from the crowd, many throwing their vegetables up in the air, celebrating for the great future for their country, a better life for them coming soon. As the celebration continued, Minara called out, "Everyone, keep on celebrating! Today, we all are one people, united together for the betterment of us all!"
________
As the celebration continued, Minara was approached by her brothers, each with a smirk on their faces. Rolando had a glass of juice, mostly full, while Galan had a near empty glass of wine, his breath smelling quite fermented.
"Our sister really is changing," Galan spoke out, his words slightly slurred together, "We should be seeing great things from you in the future, I presume?"
Minara scoffed, "Of course, Galan. I have many been working on many things that you haven't thought are important, but they will lead to much in the future, starting slow with the vegetable, others to come in the future."
"How much of this day was thought of by Lena?" Rolando questioned, "How much did you really do, how much do you contribute to each of these projects, like is your work meaningful, or are you just tacking your name onto these things when you don't deserve it?"
"I have contributed meaningfully to each and every single project that I am a part of," Minara said back, looking around at others enjoying the celebration, "Remember, our education was much different, yours on trade, mine on the sciences, art, mathematics, things you haven't studied a day in your life over. I deserve my place, and you need to know yours."
She took this moment to depart, mingling about with the townsfolk and others coming around the country for the event. At this time, she just needed a distraction, one from her brothers, who seemed to only be against her in the moment. It hadn't always been that way, memories of a younger time, one without meaningless conflict, one where they could just be themselves. Even she wasn't being herself, she was being who the people wanted her to be, one fully committed to the people. Throughout her life, she had been told what she would be, not allowed to choose for herself. If she didn't do anything, she would be sucked into plans and conflict she would never break from.
As she continued her walk around the courtyard, she saw that the number around had dwindled, the sun setting lower in the sky, a blend of reds and oranges plastered the sky. Others around her paid attention to her every movement, as she mingled around with the ones who stayed longer to visit with others and with her, of course.
As night approached, the sun fell below the horizon, darkness taking hold. Many people decided to head home for the night, the day of festivities leaving them quite tired, Minara included. When it seemed that all of the visitors had decided to head home, Minara joined the attendants, helping them pick up around the courtyard. Throughout the day, they had been good at keeping the area clean, but as the townsfolk had more beverages and became satiated, the etiquette they had dwindled.
Minara crouched down, using a small broom to sweep up bits and pieces of the tantalizing vegetable, one she hoped would help her country as a whole. Each bit she swept up did make her a little sad, as she worked hard to help with development as much as she could, so those wasted pieces felt like a disrespect against her. As she kept to it, she thought more about how the townsfolk had acted as the night went on, how they weren't as clean or aware as the start, so she looked at the wasted food as a little less of a slight against her; they didn't know what they were doing.
She took the gathered waste and brought it to the attendants in charge of disposing of it all, going back out to help more. She kept on this, taking numerous trips, the courtyard looking a little cleaner each time, until it reached the standard needed of a castle such as theirs.
She looked around, nightfall taking hold, the courtyard a field of light and shadows, attendants dodging in and out of light as they continued the final preparations. She took the moment to seek out an attendant, one she saw at the center, directing others as they worked around the courtyard, waving as she approached, a slight limp as her feet had gotten a little sore.
"I thought it might be best to let you know I was headed to my room to get ready for sleep," Minara spoke, "but I don't know how fast that may come about."
"Of course, Minara," She said, "I was quite surprised you stayed this long to help, both Rolando and Galan have long since been in the castle."
"Yeah, I did notice that, Lana," said Minara, scratching the back of her head, "Not very uncharacteristic of them based on how they were today."
Lana looked over, one eyebrow raised, "And how were they acting?"
Minara shyed up, whispering out, "They both seemed to be against me today, minimizing my achievements, when they haven't done much of anything themselves yet. I just want them to view me as an equal, not one that will forever be in their shadows, but I feel it may take a while."
"It may take some time, but you will show them," Lana placed her hand on Minara's shoulder, giving her a calming look, "You always have." Lana pulled her in for an embrace, Minara pulling her in closer, arms wrapped around each other. Minara breathed out, realizing she had been tensing up this whole time, letting herself settle into the hug just a little more, before pulling away. Minara gave Lana a quick smile, one of understanding, before turning to head into the castle.