Augstus came when the queen summoned him. Never once had he not answered her call, and that had not changed even in the present circumstances. Admittedly he was surprised the summons had come so late—though perhaps he shouldn’t have been. Augustus did know the ground beneath his feet wasn’t firm, but even so, he was sure of his path forward.

He approached Iliana in the garden, assessing her as he approached for continued signs of illness. He was her uncle as well as her advisor, and on both accounts was naturally concerned for her well-being. Nothing seemed overtly out of the ordinary.

Augustus stepped before her with a neutral, but not unpleasant, expression, dipping into a slight bow.

“Your majesty.”

No smile, yet not harsh lines of anger around his mouth or between his brows. She supposed this was a better thing, though it still made her want to shift in her seat as she looked to him. Even if she sat before him, she only felt like that small child once before she squared her shoulders slightly.

“Uncle,” her voice even as she shifted the peppermint into her cheek. “You look well,” she prompted, perhaps testing the waters on where they stood. He addressed her by her title, while they were alone. And to her… it meant rocky waters.

Augustus smiled just a little. Perhaps it didn’t matter what the queen accomplished, he thought idly. Perhaps he’d always see her as the darling little girl he’d come to dote on—even though she was a mother and monarch in her own right.

“And you seem well yourself,” He said, warmth in his voice, “Your illness is on the turn, I hope?”

The twitch of the smile visibly released some tension in her shoulders. No matter what questions she had that swirled about him… she had needed this meeting. When she had lost her father, Augustus had been there to pick up that role for her as a young teen.

“It seems to have resided for the time being,” she mused for a moment. Still looking up to him from the bench. “But it seems this pregnancy is going to be rather different than the others. The healers and midwife warned it might come back, which is why I keep a tin of peppermint with me now. Only thing that has seemed to help the nausea.” He was now one of the very few who knew, and she had the pleasure of telling him herself. She watched him warily, trying to gauge his reaction to such news.

Pregnancy. Augustus first raised his eyebrows in surprise and then smiled. The air between them seemed to shift, the hidden tension breaking with the simple joy of the news. Augusts stepped forward and kissed Iliana on the forehead before sitting next to her on the bench.

“I suppose congratulations are in order,” He said, taking her hand in his and looking over her at her, “I’m sure the king is pleased?”

A breathe loosed from her chest the moment he moved forward to kiss her forehead and then sit beside her. Her hand in his, and she squeezed tightly. “I am pleased,” she said with a slight laugh. Being a mother was something she never imagined she would enjoy. And yet seeing her children now brought her the greatest pride and joy. “But the King is as well.”

She glanced down at her lap, though it didn’t stop her eyes from shining. “It’s the first time I’ve not been taken potions, this time,” her gaze met his. “It was all on our own.” And that held a certain pride in her words that couldn’t be faked. So she loosed a long breath, and glanced around the area as if taking it all in before she looked back to him. “I figured good news was a better way for us to start after the cabinet meeting.”

Augustus chuckled along with her. His sons were dear to him, but he knew there was nothing that could compare to the love of a mother. Phaedra loved by sinking her claws into her son so deep he could never get away, but it was still love. Iliana’s was warmer. More gentle. The detail about the potions did make the logistics a little more real than he would have liked, summoning an image that he swatted away as quickly as it appeared.

The mention of the cabinet meeting was enough to divert his attention. Augustus continued to smile, though his features did become more pensive. He nodded, straightening up and amiably going to business.

“My hope is that Florina’s instillation has come at an advantageous time,” Augustus started in, “Duke Mikaels remains at large, but his estate is closely watched. Hopefully, he will be brought to justice soon.”

Augustus had started in on a list of action items, perhaps not understanding Iliana’s subtext—or perhaps ignoring it.

Iliana watched her uncle, he shifted but not by much. But she listened as he went to tell her how things had shifted. A gifted advisor. Who she’d be meeting with soon, that alone made her palms sweat at the thought.

“I have assigned Lord October Montgomery to help oversee the Military Advisor position. Should you need someone to partner with. While he has not been questioned or put on trial, Duke Mikaels has also abandoned his post.” She only hesitated a moment before she carried on. “Lady Cahaya Sinaga is helping to oversee the Steward position, as I have asked Lady Scout Kane to take on my Advisor of Law.” Did he already know? Her announcement hadn’t yet been sent out, but would later in the day.

Lord October. Augustus's eyebrow twitched for a moment in skeptical fashion before lowering again. It was there his countenance stayed, as Iliana disclosed what had already been the prince's to bear. Scout. Scout, someone who he'd made his own now remanded to government service in a more official capacity. He was happy for her on some level, but on another...Scout had been his. His to mold, his to partner with, his to make an ally of...just...his.

"Lady Kane is a wise choice. As for Duke Michaels..." Augustus said spitefully, "I hope he can be brought to justice soon." Augustus was quiet for a moment, before speaking, "Duke Michaels and His Majesty...they worked closely, did they not?" Augustus would not hide it from his tone: he was leading her somewhere.