Rick smiled. "Why don't you show me your favorite places in Meridia?"
"The ones that meant something to you before everything went wrong, and let's make new memories in old places."
Nerissa nodded. "Alright."
They spent the morning exploring the rebuilt capital, with Nerissa pointing out places that were important to her during her long reign. Nerissa used to sit in a small square, directly listening to people's problems, rather than relying on her advisors to do so.
A coral garden she had tended to for decades, watching it grow from tiny plants into a stunning display of color and life.
"This garden was where I came when the crown felt too heavy," Nerissa said, running her fingers over a bright piece of coral that glowed soft purple. "I planted each piece myself."
"Taking care of things that were growing reminded me that there were still beautiful things in the world, even when I was in charge."
