The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen
A few days after the announcement, I receive a visit. Adelphium, the High Priest, comes to congratulate me.
I can't sense any insincerity; he doesn't seem to mind how we ghosted him during the celebration of the anniversary of the Church.
«I'd like to invite your Majesty to visit the Temple. When your health allows it, of course!»
«I can come, but I doubt my husband will follow.»
«In fact, I invited you only,» he chuckles. «I'd like to talk about matters of the soul.»
«Oh, all right, then.»
«The King is too busy to think about our spirits. I would never ask for his time for this... But the Queen has the duty to bring peace to Alba.»
«Indeed. I need to bring peace, but it's difficult,» I say. «I'm currently under protection because of a few attempts on my life. I thought it was normal for a Royal, but this is something else. Someone is trying to get rid of me... for reasons I don't fully understand.»
«I see. Is there anything I can do to help?»
At the moment, all I need is to gain some time. I can't fight on two fronts; the Church has to wait.
«Nothing,» I say. «I'll survive it. I just hope it will be over soon...»
«There's no need to risk your child with an outing, then,» Adelphium realises. «I can come to the Palace more often if your Majesty allows me permission.»
He already comes and goes as he pleases. What use does he have of my permission?
«Sure,» I say.
«Thank you,» he murmurs, placing a hand on his heart.
«There's no reason to thank me. I'd just prefer to be alerted before a visit so that I can get ready to welcome you.»
He chuckles, understanding my point. Oh, I forgot diplomacy today.
«I will make sure to do so.»
«Also, my husband sometimes is concerned about our meetings,» I say. «I don't know why, but he feels as if I was betraying him.»
A little complaining won't kill anyone, will it?
«Can you believe it?»
My Ignis is jealous of a Priest! How could that be? He knows very well what I think about them. Yet, he glares when I talk about Adelphium.
«The King is wise and worries, for he loves the Queen earnestly,» he comments.
«But are there reasons to worry?» I murmur. «Not while other people are trying harder to get rid of me.»
«Precisely because of the attempts, his Majesty has the right to worry. There will be better times as soon as the culprits are exposed.»
«Do you think they will be exposed, though? Do we stand a chance to find someone so well-hidden?»
«I believe in the guards. They keep Alba safe; why shouldn't they be able to find a criminal?»
«I'm just worried,» I sigh.
«I received a prophecy,» he says.
«You saw something?»
«Oh, not me...» He laughs out loud, and I bite my tongue, realising I just revealed that I know about his powers.
I should focus. Why am I so distracted when Adelphium is around... I hope I'm not underestimating him just because he can't sense powers. It would be stupid, especially because he might be bluffing. He might know about my powers while pretending to be clueless.
If that was the case, going to the Temple is out of the question! What if it's a trap?
«What about the prophecy?» I inquire.
«One of our Prophets saw your child. It will be a son, and he'll become a wise and merciful King.»
«That's pretty precise for a prophecy. So much information... Colour me surprised.»
«You're knowledgeable in prophecies, your Majesty?»
«I've heard rumours about a few, and they always were weird phrases which need interpretation. Words that could mean anything at all. Aren't prophecies meant to be interpreted only when it's too late to change the situation?»
«Oh, that's because you haven't met our First Prophet. They see with clarity.»
«They?»
«I'm not allowed to let any information about them out. Not even whether they're male or female.»
«I see... I can't know anything except that they see clearly.»
«They told me that our destiny is in our Queen's hands.»
«In my hands?»
«Oh, when I received that prophecy, Alba had no Queen. A few days after the coup, the First Prophet told me the future Queen would change our lives.»
«Oh, they said so?»
«Exactly these words.»
Hmm... Even more than just suspicious. But if it's true, if they have a Prophet who sees with such clarity... Oh, I should have taken this into account when preparing to wage war against the Church!
«I haven't met a real Prophet, ever,» I say. «And I can't be sure if the few prophecies I've heard of are genuine. Still, if you believe in that person, so will I. I will trust your judgement, Adelphium.»
Even though the Prophet said something very vague about me while the words are so precise regarding my baby.
«Oh, maybe they said one of my children will become a merciful King!»
«No, your Majesty.»
«I called you by name,» I interrupt him. «Please, return the favour.»
«Sure, your... I mean... V-veronica.» He stutters when saying my name, and his eyes can't look at me while doing so. He's kind of shy as well, I guess. «By the way, the First Prophet was very clear. They told me, about a week ago, that the child the Queen is carrying will become King one day.»
Two days before the announcement.
«They also said the King wouldn't be present at the ceremony even after the Queen accepted. But it wasn't as relevant after hearing about the child.»
Can I trust him? Can I risk believing in his words and finally imagining how my baby will be?
«Oh, it means the pregnancy will end well!» I exclaim. How comforting! I'll first talk with Aida, and when she confirms it's a boy, I'll believe Adelphium.
After all, no matter which side they defend, Prophets can't lie about their prophecies. They risk losing their powers if they do. Magic is a delicate matter, a form of energy easy to conquer and easy to lose for us Mages. Especially those dealing with the soul and those seeing the past, the future, or far places. They need to keep their mind pure and void of any guilt if they want to keep their powers. It's a tough life, and most give up as they become adults.
«I can't wait to meet my child,» I sigh, pressing a hand on my stomach. Where Ignis put his hand yesterday; in the wrong place. But whatever, I'm not here to teach biology to a Priest.
«We all are looking forward to that moment.»
«And... How will he be?»
I'm particularly interested in hair colour. I hope it's red! I'd love red-haired children. A boy and a girl, so that I can see both versions and decide which one is cuter.
«I don't know, your Majesty. Veronica. I don't know the details... I've told you everything I heard.»
«All right. But, I'm so curious.»
«It won't be long,» Adelphium chuckles.
Five months. How can it not be long? It's a month before knowing more about the kid. Then the other four, imagining him and wondering if he'll look like his father or he'll just have his character.
Nonetheless, I'll get fatter and fatter, round like a ball. I'll have trouble moving until one day, finally, this little thing will come out of here, making me scream against all the Gods.
«Returning to the relevant matters... To those more urgent, let's say. How can I help you?»
«I just came here to congratulate you. There's no need for help, this once.»
He came to check whether I was really pregnant and couldn't move! Is that so? He's actually unhappy Ignis skipped the celebration!
«I'm glad you are all right. The people after your life have ill intentions, and it's important for Alba that the Queen and her successor isn't by any means hurt.»
«You mean, the King's successor,» I point out.
«Yes, I meant that...» he says, a little embarrassed. «I'm sorry, it was a slip of tongue.»
«There's nothing this child can inherit from me.»
«Except for your charm and intelligence, my Queen.»
Hmm, I'm not sure I have much charm on anyone other than Ignis. As for intelligence... I have serious doubts that my child should inherit that from me.
I am not dumb, on the contrary. Yet, I'm not the one the children should look up to. Ignis is better as a role model.
«Not to mention your beauty,» Adelphium adds, smiling assuringly.
Or, maybe, it's just me who sees his smirk as reassuring. Maybe, he's planning my demise with that angel face of his.
«Princes and Princesses need no beauty,» I point out.
What for? To be desired as decorations for someone more powerful?
My children will be their own personas.. All of them.
Chapter 140: Prophetic Words
I can't sense any insincerity; he doesn't seem to mind how we ghosted him during the celebration of the anniversary of the Church.
«I'd like to invite your Majesty to visit the Temple. When your health allows it, of course!»
«I can come, but I doubt my husband will follow.»
«In fact, I invited you only,» he chuckles. «I'd like to talk about matters of the soul.»
«Oh, all right, then.»
«The King is too busy to think about our spirits. I would never ask for his time for this... But the Queen has the duty to bring peace to Alba.»
«Indeed. I need to bring peace, but it's difficult,» I say. «I'm currently under protection because of a few attempts on my life. I thought it was normal for a Royal, but this is something else. Someone is trying to get rid of me... for reasons I don't fully understand.»
«I see. Is there anything I can do to help?»
At the moment, all I need is to gain some time. I can't fight on two fronts; the Church has to wait.
«Nothing,» I say. «I'll survive it. I just hope it will be over soon...»
«There's no need to risk your child with an outing, then,» Adelphium realises. «I can come to the Palace more often if your Majesty allows me permission.»
He already comes and goes as he pleases. What use does he have of my permission?
«Sure,» I say.
«Thank you,» he murmurs, placing a hand on his heart.
«There's no reason to thank me. I'd just prefer to be alerted before a visit so that I can get ready to welcome you.»
He chuckles, understanding my point. Oh, I forgot diplomacy today.
«I will make sure to do so.»
«Also, my husband sometimes is concerned about our meetings,» I say. «I don't know why, but he feels as if I was betraying him.»
A little complaining won't kill anyone, will it?
My Ignis is jealous of a Priest! How could that be? He knows very well what I think about them. Yet, he glares when I talk about Adelphium.
«The King is wise and worries, for he loves the Queen earnestly,» he comments.
«But are there reasons to worry?» I murmur. «Not while other people are trying harder to get rid of me.»
«Precisely because of the attempts, his Majesty has the right to worry. There will be better times as soon as the culprits are exposed.»
«Do you think they will be exposed, though? Do we stand a chance to find someone so well-hidden?»
«I believe in the guards. They keep Alba safe; why shouldn't they be able to find a criminal?»
«I'm just worried,» I sigh.
«I received a prophecy,» he says.
«You saw something?»
«Oh, not me...» He laughs out loud, and I bite my tongue, realising I just revealed that I know about his powers.
I should focus. Why am I so distracted when Adelphium is around... I hope I'm not underestimating him just because he can't sense powers. It would be stupid, especially because he might be bluffing. He might know about my powers while pretending to be clueless.
If that was the case, going to the Temple is out of the question! What if it's a trap?
«What about the prophecy?» I inquire.
«One of our Prophets saw your child. It will be a son, and he'll become a wise and merciful King.»
«That's pretty precise for a prophecy. So much information... Colour me surprised.»
«You're knowledgeable in prophecies, your Majesty?»
«I've heard rumours about a few, and they always were weird phrases which need interpretation. Words that could mean anything at all. Aren't prophecies meant to be interpreted only when it's too late to change the situation?»
«Oh, that's because you haven't met our First Prophet. They see with clarity.»
«They?»
«I see... I can't know anything except that they see clearly.»
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Suspicious.«They told me that our destiny is in our Queen's hands.»
«In my hands?»
«Oh, when I received that prophecy, Alba had no Queen. A few days after the coup, the First Prophet told me the future Queen would change our lives.»
«Oh, they said so?»
«Exactly these words.»
Hmm... Even more than just suspicious. But if it's true, if they have a Prophet who sees with such clarity... Oh, I should have taken this into account when preparing to wage war against the Church!
«I haven't met a real Prophet, ever,» I say. «And I can't be sure if the few prophecies I've heard of are genuine. Still, if you believe in that person, so will I. I will trust your judgement, Adelphium.»
Even though the Prophet said something very vague about me while the words are so precise regarding my baby.
«Oh, maybe they said one of my children will become a merciful King!»
«No, your Majesty.»
«I called you by name,» I interrupt him. «Please, return the favour.»
«Sure, your... I mean... V-veronica.» He stutters when saying my name, and his eyes can't look at me while doing so. He's kind of shy as well, I guess. «By the way, the First Prophet was very clear. They told me, about a week ago, that the child the Queen is carrying will become King one day.»
Two days before the announcement.
«They also said the King wouldn't be present at the ceremony even after the Queen accepted. But it wasn't as relevant after hearing about the child.»
Can I trust him? Can I risk believing in his words and finally imagining how my baby will be?
«Oh, it means the pregnancy will end well!» I exclaim. How comforting! I'll first talk with Aida, and when she confirms it's a boy, I'll believe Adelphium.
After all, no matter which side they defend, Prophets can't lie about their prophecies. They risk losing their powers if they do. Magic is a delicate matter, a form of energy easy to conquer and easy to lose for us Mages. Especially those dealing with the soul and those seeing the past, the future, or far places. They need to keep their mind pure and void of any guilt if they want to keep their powers. It's a tough life, and most give up as they become adults.
«We all are looking forward to that moment.»
«And... How will he be?»
I'm particularly interested in hair colour. I hope it's red! I'd love red-haired children. A boy and a girl, so that I can see both versions and decide which one is cuter.
«I don't know, your Majesty. Veronica. I don't know the details... I've told you everything I heard.»
«All right. But, I'm so curious.»
«It won't be long,» Adelphium chuckles.
Five months. How can it not be long? It's a month before knowing more about the kid. Then the other four, imagining him and wondering if he'll look like his father or he'll just have his character.
Nonetheless, I'll get fatter and fatter, round like a ball. I'll have trouble moving until one day, finally, this little thing will come out of here, making me scream against all the Gods.
«Returning to the relevant matters... To those more urgent, let's say. How can I help you?»
«I just came here to congratulate you. There's no need for help, this once.»
He came to check whether I was really pregnant and couldn't move! Is that so? He's actually unhappy Ignis skipped the celebration!
«I'm glad you are all right. The people after your life have ill intentions, and it's important for Alba that the Queen and her successor isn't by any means hurt.»
«You mean, the King's successor,» I point out.
«Yes, I meant that...» he says, a little embarrassed. «I'm sorry, it was a slip of tongue.»
«There's nothing this child can inherit from me.»
«Except for your charm and intelligence, my Queen.»
Hmm, I'm not sure I have much charm on anyone other than Ignis. As for intelligence... I have serious doubts that my child should inherit that from me.
I am not dumb, on the contrary. Yet, I'm not the one the children should look up to. Ignis is better as a role model.
«Not to mention your beauty,» Adelphium adds, smiling assuringly.
«Princes and Princesses need no beauty,» I point out.
What for? To be desired as decorations for someone more powerful?
My children will be their own personas.. All of them.
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