The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen
«So, let me recap,» Ignis exclaims when I'm done with my confession. «Your mother is the Queen of Mages. You're the most powerful among your siblings, so you're her successor. And, one day, one of our kids will be your successor as well.»
«As long as one of them has powers, yes.»
«Which is highly probable, given what your mother says.»
«Yes.» I nod.
He's catching on pretty quickly. Now, it is just a matter of finding a way to make my two roles coexist.
«So, the Royal Family of Alba is going to have a King and the leader of the Mages,» he considers. «That's quite the amount of power, Veronica. It might cause struggles among our successors. We need to think of a solution in time.»
«Yes, but it's too early. We don't have successors yet, except for our yet-to-be-born baby.»
«You should have told me earlier!» he says. «It's not just about your identity, but this changes the balances at court. You brought me more power than just your father's alliance!»
«Yeah,» I sigh. «But you can't use this power, Ignis. Mages hide in the shadows in this country.»
«I'm planning to change that.»
«It will take time. Until then, we should focus on what we're facing right now. There's someone trying to take my place.»
«That... Veronica, I wouldn't take another wife even if something happened to you. I would most likely follow you right away.»
«Oh, don't say such things!» I exclaim. «Don't even think like this! Even if I die, you have to live on, Ignis. It's not good if we both die, is it? No matter which one of us is the first to leave this world, the other has to live on and carry the memories as long as possible.»
How could he say such a thing with such an easy tone? My life is in danger, and the possibility I die is tangible. I can't allow him to think of such extreme thoughts, for it could really make him do something stupid.
«I'll do my best to survive, and you will too,» I say. «Promise.»
«I will protect you, Veronica. With every ounce of power that I can grab,» is his reply.
«No. Promise!»
I cross my arms and wait. His warm hug and tender pecks won't make me change my mind. He has to live, regardless of me. And the same is valid for me as well. Even if I can't imagine a life without him, even if it's painful and desperate, I have to continue fighting if he leaves me first.
Even if I see no reason to.
«So, you don't want to talk about magic anymore,» he says, changing the topic for good. «You want to plan your revenge against the human attackers.»
«Exactly. Not as much against the attackers as against the mastermind. Someone from the Palace, you say?»
«Yes, exactly.»
«How can we find out who it is?»
«Either with a trap or with careful investigations.»
«Since you're already carrying on the second, let me think of the first one.»
«No way you're setting up traps.»
«Oh, I'll just talk with people. Also, there are rumours about my pregnancy already, even though we haven't made it public. We should just announce it and get it over with.»
«The practice is to announce it around a month after finding out. During such a period, the maids take notes about the Queen's health, and the doctor carries check-ups to make sure the diagnosis is right. Then, if everything proceeds well, the news is spread through the Kingdom. The Royal Guards will distribute food in all the provinces, the musicians will compose new songs and play them in the streets... It will be a joyous period for the people.»
«I see.» He's so naive, sometimes. Why isn't he using it for his image? Oh, I have to think about everything!
Also, this is good news.
«My dear, I found a way!» I exclaim.
«A way?»
«Yes. The High Priest asked me to convince you to participate in the Church foundation anniversary. But... You shouldn't go, or your hard work till now would be ruined. At the same time, I don't want the High Priest to think I'm distancing myself as well. I'll act as a bridge, for now, but I don't want to be a bother to you. If you've acted how you acted, you have your reasons and a plan. So, to avoid causing harm, I had thought about a way to avoid your presence at the anniversary while preventing the Church from spreading the rumour you did it on purpose.»
«Let me hear.»
«Announce the pregnancy,» I say. «No one will blame a future father for not being able to appear somewhere. Especially if the announcement is done right before the celebration.»
«Announcements are planned in advance, Veronica. The Church will know we did it on purpose. And everyone else will figure out.»
«That's why you have your smart wife helping you,» I say. «Oh, not too smart because I have no resources to do it on my own yet. But I'll work on it after I can sweat a little. Right now, I'll just think of my baby...»
The way his eyes glared when I said help made me change my sentence just a little. He'll lock me in a room if I work too much... It's better to throw the idea at him, just for this once.
«My dearest, you should use your informants' network to spread the news.»
«What?» he hums, rather surprised.
«You should let everyone know we're pregnant just a few days before the celebration. Then, when the gossip is fired up, someone will inquire. I mean, it's already known to some people. It will reach our enemy's ears either way if it already hasn't. We should at least take some advantage of it.»
«You want me to spread the news and then, when someone comes asking, to reveal the truth and start the celebration. You want to force an official announcement.»
«Yes,» I sigh. «But to do it, you need two things. Perfect timing, and someone you can trust but is not suspicious. Or even better, someone you can control without making it obvious. The one asking the question needs to be someone no one will link to us. And also someone with good timing.»
«I'll think about it. We have time.»
«The ritual is next week.»
«I know, I know... It's enough time, Veronica. I've solved crises in way less than seven days.»
«Oh, my husband is so hard-working,» I say, leaning against him and sighing on his chest.
«My wife is a little fox.»
«You like me as I am.»
«Of course. I married you because I remember the vital girl who dragged me towards trouble.»
«Towards adventures.»
«It's pretty much the same when you're involved.»
«So, are we going to do this?»
«You won't be required to do anything except for acting surprised when the situation unfolds following your plans.»
«Oh, I love doing nothing. It leaves me time to stare at my husband's beauty!»
«Veronica,» he sighs. «Don't tease me like this...»
His red ears are adorable; so flushed that I'd bite them. I'd stay here days just teasing him, and I'd kiss him until falling asleep if only we weren't in the middle of a comfortable business discussion.
«It's impossible to keep secrets for long in the court,» he continues, focused as I will never be while in his arms. «It's actually lucky that we have little time. We just need to figure out the best moment for the revelation and the best moment for the announcement. I'll think about it after talking with the Chancellor.»
«All right.»
«About your secrets... I'm still finding it hard to believe,» he sighs. «Give me a few days to accept the situation.»
«Aren't you going to scold me for keeping a secret?»
«It would be hypocritical.»
«Then, what about the way I treated you? Isn't that hypocritical as well?»
«Veronica, you were swindled into marriage. It's not quite the same. I lied to you with a purpose in mind, while you just kept a secret since the moment you were born.»
«You're so understanding with me.»
I would feel less guilty if he was angry, though. I would be furious... Correction, I was so furious when I was in his place.
«I said no more secrets,» I point out. «But I kept it for so long.»
«My dear, don't bother looking for reasons to be scolded. If you want me to act angry, just tell me,» Ignis chuckles.
His gentle hand around my waist turns forceful as he drags me in his embrace. His lips caress mine in a sweet kiss. Even if he's pretending to be overbearing, he doesn't want to risk hurting me.
Again, like often, when he's nearby, I'm conflicted. I don't know which version of him I like more.
«I love you, Ignis. And this has never been a lie.»
«I love you too, Ronnie.»
«Don't use that name!» I exclaim, getting farther from him to cross my arms. «I hate it!»
«Ronnie.»
«No!»
«You call me Ignis,» he points out as if it explained anything.
«But it's cuter than Ronnie.»
«Maybe to your ears... You know, Ronnie... I'd like to hear your complaints a little more. What don't you like about your pet name, exactly?»
He chuckles, pecking my pouting lips and leaning back on the sofa. He stares at me with his shining eyes, and I can't help but love that pet name as well.. Just for a moment, though.
Chapter 128: Balance Of Powers
«As long as one of them has powers, yes.»
«Which is highly probable, given what your mother says.»
«Yes.» I nod.
He's catching on pretty quickly. Now, it is just a matter of finding a way to make my two roles coexist.
«So, the Royal Family of Alba is going to have a King and the leader of the Mages,» he considers. «That's quite the amount of power, Veronica. It might cause struggles among our successors. We need to think of a solution in time.»
«Yes, but it's too early. We don't have successors yet, except for our yet-to-be-born baby.»
«You should have told me earlier!» he says. «It's not just about your identity, but this changes the balances at court. You brought me more power than just your father's alliance!»
«Yeah,» I sigh. «But you can't use this power, Ignis. Mages hide in the shadows in this country.»
«I'm planning to change that.»
«It will take time. Until then, we should focus on what we're facing right now. There's someone trying to take my place.»
«That... Veronica, I wouldn't take another wife even if something happened to you. I would most likely follow you right away.»
«Oh, don't say such things!» I exclaim. «Don't even think like this! Even if I die, you have to live on, Ignis. It's not good if we both die, is it? No matter which one of us is the first to leave this world, the other has to live on and carry the memories as long as possible.»
How could he say such a thing with such an easy tone? My life is in danger, and the possibility I die is tangible. I can't allow him to think of such extreme thoughts, for it could really make him do something stupid.
«I'll do my best to survive, and you will too,» I say. «Promise.»
«I will protect you, Veronica. With every ounce of power that I can grab,» is his reply.
«No. Promise!»
I cross my arms and wait. His warm hug and tender pecks won't make me change my mind. He has to live, regardless of me. And the same is valid for me as well. Even if I can't imagine a life without him, even if it's painful and desperate, I have to continue fighting if he leaves me first.
Even if I see no reason to.
«So, you don't want to talk about magic anymore,» he says, changing the topic for good. «You want to plan your revenge against the human attackers.»
«Yes, exactly.»
«How can we find out who it is?»
«Either with a trap or with careful investigations.»
«Since you're already carrying on the second, let me think of the first one.»
«No way you're setting up traps.»
«Oh, I'll just talk with people. Also, there are rumours about my pregnancy already, even though we haven't made it public. We should just announce it and get it over with.»
«The practice is to announce it around a month after finding out. During such a period, the maids take notes about the Queen's health, and the doctor carries check-ups to make sure the diagnosis is right. Then, if everything proceeds well, the news is spread through the Kingdom. The Royal Guards will distribute food in all the provinces, the musicians will compose new songs and play them in the streets... It will be a joyous period for the people.»
«I see.» He's so naive, sometimes. Why isn't he using it for his image? Oh, I have to think about everything!
Also, this is good news.
«My dear, I found a way!» I exclaim.
«A way?»
«Yes. The High Priest asked me to convince you to participate in the Church foundation anniversary. But... You shouldn't go, or your hard work till now would be ruined. At the same time, I don't want the High Priest to think I'm distancing myself as well. I'll act as a bridge, for now, but I don't want to be a bother to you. If you've acted how you acted, you have your reasons and a plan. So, to avoid causing harm, I had thought about a way to avoid your presence at the anniversary while preventing the Church from spreading the rumour you did it on purpose.»
«Let me hear.»
«Announce the pregnancy,» I say. «No one will blame a future father for not being able to appear somewhere. Especially if the announcement is done right before the celebration.»
«Announcements are planned in advance, Veronica. The Church will know we did it on purpose. And everyone else will figure out.»
«That's why you have your smart wife helping you,» I say. «Oh, not too smart because I have no resources to do it on my own yet. But I'll work on it after I can sweat a little. Right now, I'll just think of my baby...»
The way his eyes glared when I said help made me change my sentence just a little. He'll lock me in a room if I work too much... It's better to throw the idea at him, just for this once.
«My dearest, you should use your informants' network to spread the news.»
«What?» he hums, rather surprised.
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«You want me to spread the news and then, when someone comes asking, to reveal the truth and start the celebration. You want to force an official announcement.»
«Yes,» I sigh. «But to do it, you need two things. Perfect timing, and someone you can trust but is not suspicious. Or even better, someone you can control without making it obvious. The one asking the question needs to be someone no one will link to us. And also someone with good timing.»
«I'll think about it. We have time.»
«The ritual is next week.»
«I know, I know... It's enough time, Veronica. I've solved crises in way less than seven days.»
«Oh, my husband is so hard-working,» I say, leaning against him and sighing on his chest.
«My wife is a little fox.»
«You like me as I am.»
«Of course. I married you because I remember the vital girl who dragged me towards trouble.»
«Towards adventures.»
«It's pretty much the same when you're involved.»
«So, are we going to do this?»
«You won't be required to do anything except for acting surprised when the situation unfolds following your plans.»
«Oh, I love doing nothing. It leaves me time to stare at my husband's beauty!»
«Veronica,» he sighs. «Don't tease me like this...»
His red ears are adorable; so flushed that I'd bite them. I'd stay here days just teasing him, and I'd kiss him until falling asleep if only we weren't in the middle of a comfortable business discussion.
«It's impossible to keep secrets for long in the court,» he continues, focused as I will never be while in his arms. «It's actually lucky that we have little time. We just need to figure out the best moment for the revelation and the best moment for the announcement. I'll think about it after talking with the Chancellor.»
«All right.»
«About your secrets... I'm still finding it hard to believe,» he sighs. «Give me a few days to accept the situation.»
«It would be hypocritical.»
«Then, what about the way I treated you? Isn't that hypocritical as well?»
«Veronica, you were swindled into marriage. It's not quite the same. I lied to you with a purpose in mind, while you just kept a secret since the moment you were born.»
«You're so understanding with me.»
I would feel less guilty if he was angry, though. I would be furious... Correction, I was so furious when I was in his place.
«I said no more secrets,» I point out. «But I kept it for so long.»
«My dear, don't bother looking for reasons to be scolded. If you want me to act angry, just tell me,» Ignis chuckles.
His gentle hand around my waist turns forceful as he drags me in his embrace. His lips caress mine in a sweet kiss. Even if he's pretending to be overbearing, he doesn't want to risk hurting me.
Again, like often, when he's nearby, I'm conflicted. I don't know which version of him I like more.
«I love you, Ignis. And this has never been a lie.»
«I love you too, Ronnie.»
«Don't use that name!» I exclaim, getting farther from him to cross my arms. «I hate it!»
«Ronnie.»
«No!»
«You call me Ignis,» he points out as if it explained anything.
«But it's cuter than Ronnie.»
«Maybe to your ears... You know, Ronnie... I'd like to hear your complaints a little more. What don't you like about your pet name, exactly?»
He chuckles, pecking my pouting lips and leaning back on the sofa. He stares at me with his shining eyes, and I can't help but love that pet name as well.. Just for a moment, though.
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