“First daughter of Drocco and Cailyn Andaus.” Naya paused, her mouth pursed. "I think that is self-explanatory.”

"But you are also the firstborn, are you not?"

“Yes. Heir to the Lox Empire⁠—"

"Are you the heir because you are the firstborn?" Prillu asked.

"Yes."

"Is there any instance in your culture where the heir is not the firstborn?"

Naya thought for a moment. "This line hasn’t existed long enough for me to say. I am heir because of my abilities, but I don't think it would be a problem for one of my siblings to be heir if they were more suited."

Prillu tilted her head, her eyes still guarded. "You'll never know that for sure, will you?"

Naya frowned. She didn't like where these questions were going. What did it matter if another one of her siblings were destined to be heir? "The tradition for the Land, before the Lox Empire, is that the heir is always the firstborn," Naya said, trying to get the conversation back in the direction it started in. "That is not necessarily going to change for my rule. When I’ve had discussions with my parents, the reason for me being the heir is not primarily because I am the firstborn, so I would assume that doesn't matter to them as much as competency."

Prillu nodded. "Continue."

"Guardian of Omegas."

"What does that mean?"

"Historically, Omegas have needed protection. It is part of my duty to guard them against that in the future."

"Your mother is seen as the mother of all Omegas, that is the term used to describe her among the people?"

“Yes.”

"So I don't see what you do."

"My mother is the empress. She helps Omegas feel safe. It doesn't mean she is responsible or able to address every single issues regarding Omegas across the Known Lands, especially as time moves forward. Not everyone who is an adult now understands what it was like then."

"And you do?"

“I have studied it." Naya shrugged. “It’s not a pretty history. But by understanding what happened, I can help to educate and help prevent it from happening again."

Prillu held her gaze for a long moment before returning back down to her parchment. "Carry on."

"Keeper of Peace."

Prillu simply raised an eyebrow as a question.

"When I was born, unprecedented peace was enjoyed by our people, first between Alphas and Omegas, and then between the Lox Empire and the Lands of Eiros. Many of the remaining resistance against my father at that time also ended. It was a time of peace, prosperity, and joy. Obviously, everyone wants that to continue."

"Would you say that your family and people believe you are successful in that?"

A slight tremble began in her hands, and the echo of screams resounded in her ears. Naya tried to remain focused. "Yes.”

Prillu's eyes narrowed. "It doesn't seem you are convinced."

Naya swallowed. She might as well tell them now before they found out more than she wanted them to. Maybe they would realize that she was not the perfect solution to destroy her people. "I don't think the people trust me as much as they would like to."

"Why?"

"I've made mistakes.”

“What kind of mistakes?”

Naya forced herself to stay relaxed and not glance at Akoro. “The kind a very young person makes when they’re figuring out that they have a lot of responsibilities.”

“And you think your people don’t understand that?”

Naya resisted rolling her eyes. “I think my people are more scared of me than they are in awe of me."

"We haven't seen any evidence of that," Prillu said firmly.

Naya shrugged. "I'm telling you what I believe to be true. You’ll have to decide for yourself what you think is."

Prillu scribbled on the wooden tablet for a while before looking back up. "So what are your duties? You have duties as a princess, but it's not noted anywhere what exactly those duties are."

Naya lifted her shoulders. "I don't have that many duties, to be honest. If there’s anything to do with Omegas—any announcement or event, I normally organize and arrange it. If I’m not, I make sure I attend. Any Omega business that my mother is unable to see to, I take that on. I visit all of the regions in the countries and familiarize myself with the micro cultures that exist within them. That’s obviously a big job…." Her voice faded, unsure how much to say. In truth, she hadn't done much of that in the last six years.

"Being a ‘keeper of peace,’" Prillu said. "Does that mean peace with other nations? It seems that there is no need to keep the peace with them if there is no conflict."

"It can mean that," Naya said. "But it also means peace between Alphas and Omegas, peace between the different nations and regions; it means peace between the Imperial Empire and its people… It can be many things. But it is about upholding a life that reduces potential conflict between people."

"And as part of those duties, do you intervene in disputes?"

"Sometimes, depending on how big the dispute is. Our laws are still trying to catch up with some of the issues that happen out in the lands. But peacekeeping can be very rewarding, as I'm sure you understand."

Prillu stared at her for a moment, her face guarded. "Do you ever use force to keep the peace?"

"Sometimes it's necessary," Naya said. "But more often, it is about protecting the land and its people from itself."

"What do you mean?"

"Natural disasters can sometimes take a toll on people," Naya said, her throat tightening. "Sometimes it requires thinking quickly and finding a solution that is the most peaceful, even though it is a hard and difficult situation. In those circumstances, there is no one to blame and yet people find blaming others cathartic."

Her eyes lowered as her mind was dragged back, smoke drawing to her nostrils, acrid choking feeling. She took a deep breath, aware that Akoro as probably watching every single action.

“As the first born daughter of the emperor and empress, there haven't been any unions between your family and the other families that rule in the Known Lands, is that right?"

"Not yet, no," Naya said.

"But you are familiar with them? Would you say you’re friends?"

Naya lifted a shoulder half-heartedly. "We have known each other since we were born because our parents have to engage with each other for trade and other things. I wouldn't necessarily say we're friends."

"It is rumored that you and the first daughter of the Southern Lands High Chef are close."

Naya lifted a brow. "You want me to confirm a rumor?"

Prillu’s head tilted and she pressed her lips together, but she took the bait and didn't press for an answer. "Have you given birth to any children?"

Naya frowned, a sudden jolt shooting up her. "What? What kind of question is that?"

"As the zmola kindly explained when you first met the council, we need to know everything about you and your life. That is part of what we need from you. Often, older daughters of a royal family don't always declare when they've had children out of marriage; it is suppressed for fear it may mar their reputation. In our experience, it's not uncommon that, at your age, you could have potentially given birth to children secretly."

“And what exactly is the experience you have with that?” Naya asked harshly.

Akoro growled and stepped toward the table. “Answer the question.”