The final morning of the honeymoon began with a terrible decision.
Pixelle and Lexi had apparently decided their contest wasn't over.
Jax disagreed.
Strongly.
A few hours later, the matter had been settled decisively.
Pixelle lay sprawled across one side of the bed.
Lexi occupied the other.
Neither appeared interested in appealing the ruling.
Jax stood beside the bed, looking down at them.
Both were asleep.
Both were smiling.
Lexi hadn't moved in several minutes.
Every so often, Pixelle's wings spasmed involuntarily, sending a faint shiver through the rest of her body before she went completely still again..
Jax watched her for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Yeah."
He considered the matter closed.
Quietly, he gathered his clothes and headed toward the kitchen.
They slept for another four hours.
By the time Pixelle finally wandered out of the bedroom, the cottage smelled of pancakes.
She stopped.
Sniffed.
Then followed the scent.
Jax stood beside the stove.
A plate of pancakes sat on the table beside bowls of strawberries and blueberries.
Pixelle's eyes widened.
"You put fruit inside them?"
"Blueberries."
She walked over and inspected the stack.
"And strawberries?"
"Those go on top."
Pixelle looked impressed.
"You're adapting quickly."
"To what?"
"Fairies."
Jax glanced at the fruit.
"Fairies like fruit?"
Pixelle stared at him.
"You didn't know?"
"I noticed you and Lexi ate a lot of it."
Pixelle smiled.
"So you made us fruit."
"Seemed reasonable."
She wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"You continue to demonstrate excellent qualifications for being King."
Jax flipped another pancake.
"I refuse to have my political approval rating determined by breakfast."
Pixelle kissed his shoulder.
"Too late. This makes you the best King of all time."
Lexi appeared several minutes later.
Her hair was a mess.
Her wings drooped.
She walked considerably slower than usual.
She stopped beside the table.
Looked at the pancakes.
Then at Jax.
"You cheated."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"At what?"
"The contest."
"I wasn't competing."
"You were the contest."
"That sounds like a technicality."
Lexi lowered herself carefully into a chair.
"Everything hurts."
Pixelle sat beside her.
"I feel wonderful."
Lexi looked at her.
"You were unconscious longer than I was."
"Strategic recovery."
"That's what you said yesterday."
"It remains accurate."
Jax placed the pancakes on the table.
Lexi looked at him.
"You seem entirely too pleased with yourself."
"I made breakfast."
"That isn't what I meant."
Jax sat down.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Neither woman believed him.
They ate slowly.
There was no rush anymore.
No schedule.
No ceremony waiting.
No expectations.
Just one final morning beside the lake.
Eventually, however, Pixelle looked toward the cottage.
"We should probably go home."
Lexi sighed.
"Probably."
Jax looked between them.
"We can come back."
Pixelle smiled.
"I know."
She looked toward the World Tree visible beyond the lake.
Then toward Jax.
"Besides."
Her smile became mischievous.
"The King has responsibilities."
Jax frowned.
"I liked you better when you were unconscious."
The return from the lakeside retreat should have been unremarkable.
It wasn't.
The moment the carriage entered the Fairy Village, it was an avalanche of need.
"Your Majesty!"
Jax stopped as he got out.
Pixelle kept walking.
Jax looked after her.
"Pretty sure they're talking to you."
Pixelle turned around.
"No."
A fairy hurried toward him.
Then another.
And another.
Jax looked around.
"Why are they all coming toward me?"
Lexi smiled.
"You've been gone."
"So has she."
He pointed at Pixelle.
Pixelle smiled sweetly.
"I'm the Queen."
"That doesn't answer anything."
"It usually does."
The first fairy reached him.
"Your Majesty, the eastern growers are still waiting for a decision regarding expansion near the lower roots."
A second landed nearby.
"King Jax, we need approval for additional storage near the Gateway."
A third arrived.
"There's also the matter of the southern water channels."
Jax looked between them.
Then toward Pixelle.
She waved.
"Welcome home, my King."
Jax stared at her.
Her hips swayed as she walked away.
She's damn lucky she's so pretty.
Then he turned back toward the waiting fairies.
"Okay. What are we solving for?"
His expression changed.
"What exactly is wrong with the water channels?"
The fairy blinked.
"They aren't supplying enough water to both growing areas."
"At the same time?"
"Mostly."
"How much water does each area need?"
The fairy hesitated.
"I'm not sure."
"Who is?"
"The cultivators would know."
"Good. Get them."
Jax pointed toward another fairy.
"And whoever manages the channels."
The fairy nodded quickly.
"I'll bring them."
She flew away.
Jax turned toward the fairy waiting about storage.
"What's the problem there?"
"We need more."
"More what?"
"Storage."
"I gathered that."
Jax smiled.
"What are we storing?"
The fairy began explaining.
Lexi watched quietly.
Then looked toward Pixelle.
Pixelle was smiling.
"What?" Lexi asked.
"He's actually enjoying this."
Lexi looked back toward Jax.
He was now asking how often shipments arrived, what was being stored, how long it remained there, and whether anything required special conditions.
Lexi smiled.
"Yes."
Pixelle shook her head.
"He's strange."
Another fairy arrived.
Then another.
Within ten minutes, a line had formed.
Jax eventually noticed.
He stopped mid-conversation.
Looked at the growing group.
Then at Lexi.
"Where did all of them come from?"
Lexi was trying not to laugh.
"I believe word is spreading."
"About what?"
"That the King is making decisions."
Jax looked toward the line again.
That apparently explained everything.
Another fairy approached.
"Your Majesty, there's a dispute between two families involving an old boundary agreement."
Jax listened as she explained.
After less than a minute, he looked toward Lexi.
"Lexi?"
She stepped closer.
"Yes?"
"I don't know enough about fairy land customs to have an opinion on this."
The fairy looked surprised.
Jax gestured toward Lexi.
"She does."
Lexi nodded.
Jax looked back at the fairy.
"Tell her everything you just told me."
Then he looked toward Lexi.
"When you understand what's happening, tell me what I'm missing."
"Of course."
Pixelle watched the exchange.
Then smiled too.
For the next hour, the pattern repeated.
Jax handled problems he understood.
He asked questions about the ones he didn't.
When he needed information, he found whoever had it.
When something depended upon fairy tradition, Lexi became his guide.
And when a matter genuinely required Pixelle—
Pixelle somehow became remarkably difficult to locate.
Eventually Jax caught her trying to slip away.
"Hey."
Pixelle stopped.
Slowly.
"Yes?"
"Where are you going?"
"I have Queen things."
"What Queen things?"
She thought about it.
"Important ones."
Lexi laughed.
Jax looked between them.
"How long has this been happening?"
Pixelle looked offended.
"What?"
"This."
He gestured toward the crowd.
"Lexi handles most of it, doesn't she?"
Pixelle straightened.
"I make the important decisions."
Lexi nodded.
"She does."
Pixelle smiled triumphantly.
"See?"
"After I explain them."
Pixelle's smile disappeared.
She turned toward Lexi.
"Whose side are you on?"
Lexi looked between her oldest friend and her new husband.
"Mine."
Jax laughed.
Pixelle crossed her arms.
"I am an excellent Queen."
Lexi kissed her cheek.
"You are."
"Thank you."
"You just don't particularly enjoy being one."
Pixelle considered that.
"I enjoy being Queen."
Jax waited.
Pixelle smiled.
"At least when it's convenient."
"Right."
Jax looked around at the fairies still waiting.
Then something occurred to him.
"Actually, we should probably clear something up."
Several nearby conversations stopped.
Jax hadn't intended to address everyone.
Apparently he was going to.
"I'm not moving here permanently."
The reaction was immediate.
Concern spread through the group.
Jax held up a hand.
"I'm not leaving either."
That helped.
A little.
"I have businesses in Solmere. Friends. Responsibilities all over the United Kingdoms. I'm going to be here a lot. But I'm not planning to make the Fairy Kingdom my permanent home."
He paused.
"And if your King is supposed to live here permanently, I understand. If that means I shouldn't have the title, I'm perfectly willing to give it up."
"No."
Jax blinked.
He wasn't sure who had said it.
Then another fairy spoke.
"No."
A third joined in.
Then several more.
"No."
Jax looked around.
"I wasn't actually asking a yes-or-no question."
"We know."
Jax stared at them.
Lexi covered her mouth.
Pixelle didn't bother.
She laughed.
Jax shook his head.
"I'm serious. I'm not going to change your traditions just because I married Pixelle."
An older fairy stepped forward.
"Do you intend to abandon us?"
"No."
"Will you return?"
"Of course."
"Will you help when we need you?"
Jax frowned.
"Obviously."
The older fairy smiled.
"Then why would we want another King?"
Murmurs of agreement moved through the crowd.
Jax looked around.
There was no hesitation.
No uncertainty.
They wanted him.
Not because he'd married Pixelle.
Not merely because tradition gave him the title.
They actually wanted him as their King.
Jax looked toward Lexi.
She smiled.
Then toward Pixelle.
Her expression had softened.
"Looks like they're keeping you."
Jax sighed.
"Apparently."
The cheers started before he'd even finished the word.
Jax waited for them to die down.
"Okay."
Another cheer.
"Okay!"
Eventually they quieted.
"If I'm going to be here regularly, I'm going to need a house."
Pixelle immediately brightened.
"A palace."
"No."
"A small palace."
"A house."
"A royal house."
"That's just a house with unnecessary adjectives."
Pixelle considered it.
"I want a balcony."
Jax sighed.
"You can have a balcony."
She smiled.
"Royal balcony."
"Don't push it."
By the end of the conversation, a site had already been suggested near the outskirts of the village.
Close enough to walk into town.
Far enough away for privacy.
A home.
Not their only one.
But theirs.
Jax could live with that.
By early afternoon, Jax finally escaped.
Mostly.
The Gateway into Solmere was busy.
Very busy.
Jax stepped through the dimensional space with Pixelle and Lexi beside him.
People moved in both directions.
Humans.
Beastkin.
Merchants.
Workers.
Adventurers.
Fairies.
Lots of fairies.
They emerged into Solmere—
And Pixelle stopped.
A three-inch fairy flew past them.
She was wearing a tiny fur-lined coat.
Tiny boots.
And a knitted blue cap.
Snow was melting from the top of it.
Jax stared after her.
"Was she in Frostveil?"
Pixelle blinked.
Another fairy walked past at full size.
She wore a heavy winter coat and carried a small bag over one shoulder.
"Apparently," Lexi said.
A third fairy flew through the Gateway behind them.
She was shivering violently.
She wore considerably less.
Jax pointed.
"That one learned something."
Pixelle laughed.
Then she started looking around.
Fairies were everywhere.
Some full-sized.
Some tiny.
Some flying.
Some walking.
One sat on the shoulder of a human merchant while the two argued cheerfully about something.
Another stood full-sized outside a clothing shop, holding three dresses against herself.
A tiny fairy flew overhead carrying something that smelled suspiciously like food from Oceanside.
Pixelle stared.
"They didn't wait."
Lexi smiled.
"Would you?"
Pixelle laughed.
"No."
Jax watched another group disappear into the Gateway.
Solmere barely seemed to notice.
Nobody stared.
Nobody pointed.
Nobody stopped what they were doing.
A full-sized fairy walked past Brannic's delivery wagon.
A bunnykin moved around her.
Two humans continued arguing over lumber prices.
A tiny fairy landed on a nearby railing.
Nobody cared.
Jax smiled.
Solmere had gotten used to strange.
Pixelle watched the traffic.
Her expression slowly changed.
"They can have both."
Jax looked at her.
"Both what?"
"A home."
She watched another group of fairies disappear into the Gateway.
"And everywhere else."
Lexi smiled.
Jax nodded.
"Sounds like a good deal."
The Gateway traffic itself was considerably less impressive.
Lexi noticed first.
Of course she did.
She stood near the entrance for several minutes.
Watching.
She didn't say anything.
A wagon entered.
People behind it stopped.
The wagon cleared.
Traffic resumed.
Another group arrived from Oceanside.
Then a merchant wagon approached.
Everything slowed again.
Jax eventually noticed Lexi hadn't moved.
"What are you doing?"
"Watching."
"Should I be concerned?"
"Probably."
She kept watching.
Finally she approached one of the attendants.
"When does this get busiest?"
The attendant thought about it.
"Morning. Late afternoon too."
"What slows you down the most?"
"Wagons."
"Why?"
"They're bigger. They move slower. Sometimes drivers have questions. Sometimes cargo has to be checked."
Lexi nodded.
"Do passengers take as long?"
"No."
"How many people use the Gateway every day?"
The attendant hesitated.
"I don't know."
"How many wagons?"
"I don't know."
"How much freight?"
Another hesitation.
"We don't really track that."
Lexi looked toward the Gateway.
"Which destination gets the most traffic?"
"Oceanside."
"How much more?"
"Probably a lot."
Lexi looked at him.
"Probably?"
The attendant suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Jax smiled.
Lexi didn't criticize him.
She simply looked back toward the entrance.
Another wagon approached.
The attendant watched it too.
"That's going to slow everything again."
Lexi nodded.
"Does the wagon have to enter through that door?"
The attendant looked confused.
"Where else would it go?"
"I don't know."
She looked toward Jax.
"Does everyone have to enter the dimensional space through the same door?"
Jax thought about it.
"No."
The attendant looked at him.
Jax continued.
"The destination doors inside don't care which entrance you used."
Lexi nodded.
"So another entrance could lead into the same dimensional space?"
"Should."
"Beside this one?"
"Yeah."
The attendant looked from Jax to the wagon.
Then toward the people waiting behind it.
His expression changed.
"We could separate them."
Lexi looked at him.
"Separate what?"
"Freight and passengers."
He pointed toward the Gateway.
"During the busy periods. People use this entrance. Wagons use another."
Jax smiled.
The attendant was getting excited now.
"We wouldn't even need it open all day. Just when traffic gets heavy."
Lexi nodded slowly.
"Would that solve the problem?"
The attendant started to answer.
Then stopped.
"I think so."
"Think?"
He looked at the Gateway.
Then laughed.
"We don't know."
Lexi smiled.
"No."
The attendant nodded.
"We need numbers."
"What numbers?"
He started counting on his fingers.
"People. Wagons. Destination."
He thought longer.
"Time of day."
Lexi nodded.
"What else?"
"Freight."
"Anything else?"
"How long they're taking to get through."
His eyes widened slightly.
"Then we'd know exactly when we need the second entrance."
Lexi smiled.
"That sounds useful."
The attendant was already looking toward another worker.
"I can start tomorrow."
"Why tomorrow?"
He paused.
Then grinned.
"Today."
Lexi walked away.
Jax fell into step beside her.
"You already knew where that conversation was going."
"I suspected."
"You could've just told him."
"I could have."
"Why didn't you?"
Lexi glanced back.
The attendant was already explaining the idea enthusiastically to another worker.
"Because now it's his."
Jax looked at her.
Lexi smiled.
"He'll make it work."
Jax smiled.
"That's sneaky."
"I prefer effective."
The UK Chronicle had beaten them home.
Jax discovered the latest edition sitting on a table less than an hour later.
The headline occupied nearly half the page.
JAX DARQUEBANE — KING OF THE FAIRIES
Jax stared.
"Oh, come on."
Pixelle looked over his shoulder.
"I like it."
"Of course you do."
Lexi leaned closer.
Jax began reading.
Days after The UK Chronicle first reported the impending marriage between Jax Darquebane and Fairy Queen Pixelle Starbloom, the union has now been confirmed.
With that marriage comes another confirmation: Jax Darquebane is now officially King of the Fairies.
Yes. Officially.
No. We are not surprised.
Jax looked at Pixelle.
"I hate them."
"No, you don't."
He continued.
We do, however, owe our readers one correction.
Apparently, we only reported half the wedding.
Lexi immediately started laughing.
Jax closed his eyes.
"No."
Pixelle grabbed the paper.
"Yes."
She continued reading aloud.
"Lexi Darquebane, longtime confidante of Queen Pixelle and newly appointed First Maiden of the Court, also married Jax Darquebane during the ceremony."
Lexi covered her mouth.
Pixelle kept going.
"In our defense, according to those present, the groom didn't know either."
Silence.
Then Lexi lost it.
Pixelle followed.
Jax stared at both of them.
"That's not funny."
Lexi tried to speak.
Failed.
Pixelle wiped at her eyes.
"It's a little funny."
Jax took the paper back.
"Who told them?"
Neither woman answered.
Jax narrowed his eyes.
"Nyxian."
Pixelle laughed harder.
Jax returned to the article.
The political consequences of the marriage remain uncertain. Darquebane holds no formal crown within the United Kingdoms, yet his economic influence continues to expand. He now also holds a recognized royal title over a population estimated at approximately fifty thousand fairies.
Whether Darquebane intends to exercise that authority remains to be seen.
"I don't."
Lexi looked over.
"You don't what?"
"Exercise authority."
Pixelle stared at him.
"You spent most of the morning making decisions for my kingdom."
"That's different."
"How?"
"They had problems."
Pixelle smiled.
"And you solved them."
"I tried."
"My King."
Jax folded the paper.
"Don't."
Lexi smiled.
"My King."
"I liked both of you better this morning."
Brannic and Merriweather's shop was chaos.
That wasn't unusual.
The type of chaos was.
"Growth rings!"
A fairy near the front called toward the counter.
"I've been waiting since this morning!"
Another fairy raised her hand.
"I was here first!"
"You were not!"
"I absolutely was!"
Merriweather appeared from somewhere behind the counter.
"Everyone will get their turn!"
"How many do you have?"
Merriweather stopped.
"Not fifty thousand!"
The room went quiet.
"Thank you."
Then immediately became loud again.
Jax crossed his arms.
"We created a problem."
Merriweather glared at him.
"Don't say growth rings."
"I didn't."
"You were thinking it."
"I was."
"Stop."
Jax smiled.
Demand had exploded almost immediately.
Production hadn't.
Merriweather and Brannic had already worked out the difficult parts.
The enchantment was understood.
The ring could be reproduced.
More importantly, the fairy-specific nature of the magic remained intact.
The rings wouldn't turn humans into giants.
But knowing how to make something and producing tens of thousands of them were very different problems.
For now—
Supply was tiny.
Demand was enormous.
The wealthier fairies had been the first to pay the premium prices.
Jax didn't particularly mind.
Their money helped expand production.
But he had already insisted that a percentage of every production batch be held back.
Those rings would be offered through a raffle.
Any fairy could enter.
Winners could purchase one at a substantially reduced price.
Still profitable.
Just less profitable.
Eventually production would catch up.
Until then—
Being wealthy wouldn't be the only way to become tall.
Lexi wandered deeper into the workshop.
Then stopped.
Brannic sat at one of the anvils.
Hammering.
A ring.
Lexi watched him for several seconds.
She didn't interrupt.
She watched the process.
Watched one of his workers prepare another piece of metal.
Watched Brannic inspect it.
Then watched him return to the ring.
Finally—
"How difficult is that?"
Brannic glanced up.
"For me?"
"For one of them."
She gestured toward his workers.
Brannic shrugged.
"The hammering? Once they know what they're doing, not especially."
"And the metal?"
"They can prepare it."
"The enchantment?"
"Merriweather already solved the difficult part."
Lexi nodded.
"So they could make the rings?"
Brannic frowned.
"Aye."
Lexi looked toward the table several feet away.
World Tree materials rested there.
Materials Brannic had been eager to study.
"Could they work on those?"
Brannic looked almost offended.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because they don't know what they're dealing with."
"Who does?"
"Me."
Brannic stopped.
Lexi said nothing.
His eyes moved from the ring beneath his hammer—
To his workers.
Then toward the World Tree materials.
His expression changed.
"If I showed them exactly how I want these done..."
Lexi waited.
"And inspected every one before it got my mark..."
"Would it still be your work?"
Brannic considered it.
"Aye."
He nodded.
"As long as it's done to my standards."
Lexi smiled.
"So what should you be working on?"
Brannic stared at the ring.
Then set his hammer down.
"Apparently not this."
Lexi laughed.
Brannic pointed toward two of his workers.
"You two. Come here."
They approached.
"I'm going to show you how I want these done."
One of them looked surprised.
"Us?"
"Aye."
Brannic pointed toward the ring.
"And if either of you puts my mark on one without me approving it, I'll use your skull as an anvil."
Both nodded immediately.
Lexi smiled.
Standards established.
Brannic looked at her.
Then a grin slowly appeared.
"I'm beginning to understand why Jax married you."
Lexi smiled.
"One of many reasons."
From behind them—
"I heard that."
Lexi turned.
Jax stood several feet away.
"You were supposed to."
She turned back toward Brannic.
Then walked away.
Her hips moved with a deliberately unnecessary little sway.
Jax watched.
Lexi glanced over her shoulder.
Caught him.
And smiled.
Jax shook his head.
Smart.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Yeah.
He'd chosen well.
Fairy Cider was the next problem.
Or opportunity.
Depending on who was talking.
A distributor stood inside one of Jax's warehouses examining several bottles.
"We already carry Pixie Mead."
Lexi stood across from him.
"So?"
He looked at her.
"So why would we carry Fairy Cider?"
Lexi smiled.
"Oh."
She placed her notes on the table.
"Let me tell you why."
Jax leaned against a nearby crate.
This should be fun.
Lexi picked up one bottle.
"Who buys your Pixie Mead?"
The distributor frowned.
"Lots of people."
"Mostly?"
"Adventurers. Taverns. Some restaurants. People who want something stronger."
Lexi nodded.
"And what do people order when they don't want something stronger?"
"Beer. Wine. Cider."
Lexi waited.
The distributor looked at the bottle in her hand.
Then back at her.
She smiled.
He frowned.
"Fairy Cider isn't competing with the Mead."
Lexi tilted her head.
"Is it?"
He picked up the bottle.
"It's sweeter."
"Yes."
"Sparkling."
"Yes."
"Fruitier."
Lexi smiled.
"Yes."
The distributor stared at the bottle.
"So it's a different customer."
"Could be."
Jax covered his mouth.
The distributor wasn't finished.
"Or the same customer at a different time."
Lexi's smile widened.
"Could be."
The man looked at her.
"You knew that."
"I suspected you might."
He laughed.
"All right. How much can you supply?"
There it was.
The question she wanted.
"Currently?"
She named a number.
The distributor frowned.
"That's not much."
"No."
"Then I can't supply every tavern."
"No."
He thought about it.
"So we start with selected locations."
Lexi nodded.
"Why?"
"See where it sells."
"And then?"
"Increase orders where demand is highest."
He paused.
"Expand as production increases."
Lexi smiled.
The distributor shook his head.
"You could have just told me all of this."
"I could have."
"What about pricing?"
Lexi pulled her notes closer.
"Now we're negotiating."
Jax quietly walked away.
She didn't need him.
Not everything came as naturally.
Later, Lexi stood inside one of Solmere's busiest restaurants.
She watched servers move between tables.
Workers disappeared into the kitchen.
Food emerged.
People arrived.
People left.
Someone cleaned a table.
Another group immediately took it.
Lexi watched for several minutes.
Then longer.
Finally—
"I don't understand this."
Jax looked at her.
"Which part?"
Lexi gestured around the room.
"This."
"Restaurants?"
"Restaurants. Taverns. Hotels."
She watched another server hurry past.
"I understand the inventory. Purchasing. Contracts. Payroll. Costs. I can tell you whether this place is making money."
She pointed toward the dining room.
"But how many servers should be here?"
Jax shrugged.
"Depends."
"On what?"
"Day. Time. Reservations. Events. Weather."
Lexi looked at him.
"Weather?"
"Sometimes."
She frowned.
"That's ridiculous."
"People are ridiculous."
"I've noticed."
Jax laughed.
Lexi continued watching.
"How quickly should tables turn? When should staff increase? When should they decrease? How many rooms should a hotel hold open for unexpected travelers? How do you decide whether someone waiting for a table will leave or wait?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
Jax nodded.
"Okay."
Lexi looked at him.
"Okay?"
"Let's stick with what you know."
She seemed surprised.
"That's it?"
"We have Gateway traffic backing up, fifty thousand fairies wanting growth rings, Fairy Cider orders we can't fill, trade expanding faster than our warehouses and half a dozen other things you understand better than almost anyone I've met."
He gestured around the restaurant.
"This works."
Lexi looked around.
"Not perfectly."
"Nothing does."
He smiled.
"We'll worry about making this better when we need to."
Lexi considered that.
Then nodded.
"Fair."
Jax headed toward the door.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Back to the problems you're terrifying."
Lexi followed him.
"I don't terrify problems."
"You should see them when you're not looking."
By evening—
Lexi had taken over a table.
Then another.
Papers covered both.
Gateway traffic.
Growth-ring production.
Fairy Cider orders.
Trade agreements.
Staffing.
Inventory.
Three fairies waited nearby.
Two humans.
A beastkin merchant.
Someone had brought food.
Lexi had forgotten to eat it.
Jax walked past.
Then stopped.
He looked at the tables.
Then at her.
"Having fun?"
Lexi looked up.
She should have looked overwhelmed.
She didn't.
She was smiling.
"Immensely."
Jax smiled.
Yeah.
He'd chosen well.
Lexi looked back toward the papers.
Then paused.
"Jax?"
"Yeah?"
"I need three more people."
"Hire them."
She looked up.
"Just like that?"
"You're the Grand Administrator."
Lexi stared at him.
Jax continued walking.
Behind him—
Silence.
Then—
"Right."
Jax smiled.
Lexi turned toward the people waiting around her.
"All right."
She picked up the next page.
"Next problem."