The Princess Sophia by E.F. Benson — Read

Till the time she was twenty-one Princess Sophia lived quietly enough at Amandos, paying visits occasionally abroad, but passing a full ten months of the year in Rhodopé. Though she was often bored, she was usually employed, for Prince Demetrius' health had now for a year or two been failing, and many of the lesser cares of state devolved on his daughter. It must be confessed that during her father's lifetime she discharged these duties admirably, and has not always had the credit for this, for the complete neglect of all her duties when she herself was on the throne has effaced the memory of these earlier years. She presided over the National Assembly -- except on the comparatively few occasions when her father was present -- with a wonderful great dignity and grace, and while listening to their debates and considering their resolutions with all the care that they deserved, she never let the autocratic power wielded by the Crown seem to pass from her control or grow effete.

More than once she used her power of veto, more than once she insisted on a measure thrown out only by a narrow number of votes being put into effect. But never -- and in this she showed the true and right understanding of autocratic government -- did she reverse the decision of a substantial majority.