I hope you haven't been too worried! What an odd letter Yudit's advisor must have written. I don't know what they were thinking, we're all quite well. Here's what happened: on 3 Cider, the past Directorate was consolidated. Now instead of seven elected Directors, we'll have three permanent ones. This will be much more efficient and will benefit every citizen. Certainly I can't think of anyone who is not happy about this opportunity!

They bring me to the Underground Palace. The current reigning Candle Queen is there. She is sixty-seven. She has served her purpose. They lift the Candle Crown from her elderly neck and place it onto mine, with a strap to secure it under my chin. Three large candles sit on the plate, and it is heavy, but this is what I have trained for. They sew me into the dress I will wear for the next fifty years, and there is singing that fills the chamber like bells.