[Lauchenoiria]

"I don't understand!" Amy Quinn said, throwing the international edition of the government-run Kerlian News over her shoulder. "They're just completely ignoring us! They're even using it to their advantage with the Robinsons."

"Unfortunately, the world has become so used to Kerlite having secrets. Hale, the Auroras... it has desensitised them to the Council being insane," her mother replied. "If we want the seat, we will need another strategy."

"Excuse me," her father piped up jovially, "I thought we were going for a throne, not a Council seat."

"You don't even want to do this," his wife accused. "You made that abundantly clear many years ago."

This was true. Robert Price-May had taken part in this matter - marrying Anna Quinn, fathering Amy, making claims to a throne that ceased to exist a hundred years ago - against his will. His parents had forced him into it. They'd married at 16. Anna had been eager, but Rob thought the whole thing was archaic nonsense. He had chosen, however, to forego rage in favour of finding humour in the situation. He even bought a plastic crown off the internet.

"We shifted our focus to the Council seat precisely because you had no interest, Dad," Amy pointed out.

"Yes, yes, power at any cost," he laughed. "Have you considered building a lair under a volcano?"

"Oh, grow up, Dad! We're not supervillains!" Amy threw up her hands and leaned back on the couch.

Despite her assertions, Robert did think there was something villainous about his wife and daughter. The whole thing felt distinctly wrong, to be so focused on power for the sake of... well. They said it was justice, and reclaiming an "ancestral right". He thought it was more along the lines of vengeance.

"Imogen Robinson," Anna said suddenly.

"What about her?" asked Amy.

"She is, in many ways, a natural ally. It is a pity that she is a preteen, as she has a similar claim. She should have inherited when her mother and sister were convicted of treason. Removing the whole family was unconstitutional."

"She's under fourteen," pointed out Amy. "Sitting on the Council at her age is also unconstitutional."

"None of the three of you meet the Maytown Academy requirement," Robert piped up. "If we are playing Kerlian constitutionalism."

"EUDCA is a law, not a constitutional clause, unlike the age and Council integrity measures,” Amy said.

"Correct," nodded Anna. "Imogen's seat should have been held until her birthday. And despite her age, I think we ought to get in contact. She has made it clear she wants her birthright."

"So now you're involving middle schoolers,” Robert rolled his eyes.

"She meets the unbroken female line requirement," Anna explained. "Unlike any of the Rakēs, or Parks, or the Xiomeran line. We looked into all of them but it's hard to track through the female line in patrilineal societies - and even harder among the Xiomerans.”

"I'm sure Calhualyana could help," Rob joked, "with all her domestic surveillance."

"Imogen makes way more sense," Amy said, ignoring her father. "Allow me, Mum. I'm at least somewhat closer in age."

"Good," nodded Anna, "Careful to avoid the mother or sister - or that Pierre they have living with them. Unless the Pierre seems receptive."

"Don't worry, mother, I've prepared for this my whole life."