The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen
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I collect just enough papers to look busy, and I walk out of the working room.
«Hello. I'd like to visit the King,» I say to my guards.
They nod, standing on guard and ready to follow.
«I don't know the way,» I point out.
I know how to reach his bedroom, but not his office.
«I will guide,» Bea says, appearing out of nowhere. «It's better if the guards stay a step behind your Majesty and not in front.»
«Because of protocol?» I murmur.
«Because of safety.»
«Oh.» Well, not that it matters. «Let's go, then.»
Since I'm carrying paper, people will just assume I'm here for business. They won't know that I'm actually dying of curiosity and can't wait for tonight to ask him a few questions.
After seeing the ladies at a tea party, I always want to desperately look for Ignis. It's not to confirm his feelings but just to get my hands on him. And to look at his green eyes... Yesterday, it was too dark to look at those. I had to settle on touching him.
The door is opened in front of my eyes, and I take a step back before the dress flutters inside because of the air. Who opens doors with this much energy?
«Veronica?» he says, noticing me in front of the door.
I was going to knock, and the herald was already collecting air to announce me, but Ignis came out before any one of us could do anything. He's now staring, surprised, but he must have known I was here. He felt it, subconsciously, didn't he?
«I'm here to ask for help,» I say, showing the papers.
«Oh... I'm late for a meeting with the Council...» he moves to the side, offering his hand to me. «Does it require much time?»
I take his hand by instinct, seeing how he's turning around just to answer my questions. Even if he was late.
«I can wait,» I lie. It's better to just tell him tonight.
«But it's boring here. Come with me, what do you think?»
«Me? Am I allowed?»
«There are very few things you're not allowed to do.»
«Like what?»
«Killing the King and endangering your safety. Everything else is your choice.»
«So, can I even attend the Council's meetings? For real? I want to see you working!» I want to imprint his focused face in my mind, to have something else to fantasise about when I'm bored.
«Let's go, then. We can talk later if it's not too urgent.»
«Urgent? Not really.»
I follow him, and we reach the Council Hall hand in hand. We remember to return royal only in front of the door, and the herald opens it for us. He steps in, shouting our names, and he then stops by one side and bows while Ignis and I reach the central table.
The room is crowded. There are all the Ministers sitting on the chairs in front of the wall on my right. On the left, I believe there are other high-ranking Officers.
The central table has twelve chairs in total, and about half are empty. I can see my uncle sitting on the second chair to the left of the King's seat. The Chancellor is on Ignis's right. I guess the empty chair between the King and my uncle is for me.
A couple of steps behind the Minister of Finance, Marius is staring with eyes wide open. I wink at him, and he returns focused on his notes. He's acting as uncle's secretary, I bet.
«We can start,» Ignis says. «Sorry for being late.»
All the eyes are now on me as if I was guilty of the King's delay. No one is even considering my innocence... Was this part of Ignis's plan? To look better in front of them, he's using me to explain how it took him so long to come here!
He moves the chair for me, and I sit down. I glance at my papers and check there's nothing relevant before turning them around so that the white face is up. I can use them for notes since everyone here seems to have documents in front of them.
«Can I have a pen?» I say.
«Use mine.»
«What's the agenda?» I wonder.
«We'll discuss international relationships,» my uncle says, sighing quietly. We haven't had time to talk about it too much yet.
«Oh, it's the right chance to discuss the... messages?» Oh, but is it public knowledge? I'm not sure how much Ignis told the Council about the plans to send Gratia away.
We stopped that plan, but consequences must be on their way.
«In fact,» the King exclaims, «we have started receiving the first complaints. The faraway empires don't care about unkept promises, but the nearby kingdoms are getting loud and playing offended.»
«But... Just because of secret messages?» I say. «Isn't it a little too much?»
«Not because of that. The messages sent were forged with paper from the Royal Office and the King's seal.»
«The King's seal?» I say. «Your seal?»
«Not mine, but one very similar. They do look authentic at a first glance, and the neighbouring Kings don't have time to look twice at it.»
«Oh.» This is a little suspicious, and I'm starting to realise what is going on. «So, what do we do now?»
Oh, how stupid of me! We're discussing it here.
«The... The most fierce of the objectors is Ventis.»
«But the message I read wasn't sealed!» I repeat. «Why were there secret papers around at all? They are useless without a seal.»
«Those were sent through spies. They were some kind of warning. The person moving in the shadows has first sent confidential information to confirm their role as an informant. Then, they sent the forged documents to continue with the plan. The secret messages both established a secret link to other leaders and made the following statements more credible.»
«Oh, it's way more complicated than it looks at first glance. Moreover... Moreover, it has been planned for longer than we thought. But returning to the unhappy neighbouring Kings. What do we do? Is there a way to stop hostilities without much loss?»
«Let the Minister of Foreign Affairs answer this,» Ignis says, smiling at me.
I turn back towards the table, and a man with a round stomach and funny long moustaches gets ready to talk. Under his nose, the moustaches are yellow, probably because of tobacco. He's far from me, four seats from where I sit, yet the smell reaches me this far.
«We've almost finished sending the explanations and official apologies. It should be enough to stop most countries from dragging the matter further. Moreover, confusing his Majesty, the King's symbol is embarrassing for them, so they will stop the discussion with the next one to two missives. Most of them.»
He presses a finger on his lip and makes it slide down the moustache. Oh, jeez. Where in the world did they find someone so peculiar to be a Minister?
«My estimation is that Ventis will not stop.»
«Not stop?» I say. I have to ask because it looks like I'm the only one surprised by this piece of information.
«They have looked for a pretext to start a war for decades,» the Minister explains without any trace of annoyance; as if my question was relevant and on point. «Especially during his Majesty, the late King's rule. They have decreased their attempts during the last few months, but they won't let go of such a chance.»
«So, there's a chance of a war?» I murmur. «Of a real war, with the armies clashing and the economy stopping... And all the rest.»
«Our King is an experienced soldier, your Majesty,» he says. «We don't fear war against Ventis as much as we worry about an alliance between them and Borea. If those two find a common language, we risk losing.»
Do they always talk about wars like this? As if it wasn't something horrible and to avoid at all costs? Oh, I did the same. I talked like this, but I could afford to be superficial because I wasn't the one making the decisions.
«And how can we avoid it?» I ask.
«That's the problem, your Majesty,» uncle intrudes, tapping on the armrest with his forefinger. He always does when he's nervous. «There's nothing much we can do to stop them. They want a war because they're eyeing some territories in Alba. No matter what we offer, they won't lose such a juicy chance to get their hands on the mines and forests of fine wood of that region.»
«So, we're kind of screwed,» I realise.
I catch a glimpse of Marius's expression, and he's glaring like a fool. What have I done, now? Is it because I'm talking too much?
Oh, why is even Ignis red-eared now?
«What?» I say.
«Veronica... Your words,» he whispers.
Oh, about screw? I thought it had become acceptable in diplomacy by now! Why are they all so shocked? Their tongues will roll down from their mouths if they don't close them.
«Well,» Ignis says out loud.. «That's basically correct.»
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Chapter 142: The Queen's First Council (1)
I collect just enough papers to look busy, and I walk out of the working room.
«Hello. I'd like to visit the King,» I say to my guards.
They nod, standing on guard and ready to follow.
«I don't know the way,» I point out.
I know how to reach his bedroom, but not his office.
«I will guide,» Bea says, appearing out of nowhere. «It's better if the guards stay a step behind your Majesty and not in front.»
«Because of protocol?» I murmur.
«Because of safety.»
«Oh.» Well, not that it matters. «Let's go, then.»
Since I'm carrying paper, people will just assume I'm here for business. They won't know that I'm actually dying of curiosity and can't wait for tonight to ask him a few questions.
After seeing the ladies at a tea party, I always want to desperately look for Ignis. It's not to confirm his feelings but just to get my hands on him. And to look at his green eyes... Yesterday, it was too dark to look at those. I had to settle on touching him.
The door is opened in front of my eyes, and I take a step back before the dress flutters inside because of the air. Who opens doors with this much energy?
«Veronica?» he says, noticing me in front of the door.
I was going to knock, and the herald was already collecting air to announce me, but Ignis came out before any one of us could do anything. He's now staring, surprised, but he must have known I was here. He felt it, subconsciously, didn't he?
«I'm here to ask for help,» I say, showing the papers.
«Oh... I'm late for a meeting with the Council...» he moves to the side, offering his hand to me. «Does it require much time?»
I take his hand by instinct, seeing how he's turning around just to answer my questions. Even if he was late.
«I can wait,» I lie. It's better to just tell him tonight.
«But it's boring here. Come with me, what do you think?»
«There are very few things you're not allowed to do.»
«Like what?»
«Killing the King and endangering your safety. Everything else is your choice.»
«So, can I even attend the Council's meetings? For real? I want to see you working!» I want to imprint his focused face in my mind, to have something else to fantasise about when I'm bored.
«Let's go, then. We can talk later if it's not too urgent.»
«Urgent? Not really.»
I follow him, and we reach the Council Hall hand in hand. We remember to return royal only in front of the door, and the herald opens it for us. He steps in, shouting our names, and he then stops by one side and bows while Ignis and I reach the central table.
The room is crowded. There are all the Ministers sitting on the chairs in front of the wall on my right. On the left, I believe there are other high-ranking Officers.
The central table has twelve chairs in total, and about half are empty. I can see my uncle sitting on the second chair to the left of the King's seat. The Chancellor is on Ignis's right. I guess the empty chair between the King and my uncle is for me.
A couple of steps behind the Minister of Finance, Marius is staring with eyes wide open. I wink at him, and he returns focused on his notes. He's acting as uncle's secretary, I bet.
«We can start,» Ignis says. «Sorry for being late.»
All the eyes are now on me as if I was guilty of the King's delay. No one is even considering my innocence... Was this part of Ignis's plan? To look better in front of them, he's using me to explain how it took him so long to come here!
He moves the chair for me, and I sit down. I glance at my papers and check there's nothing relevant before turning them around so that the white face is up. I can use them for notes since everyone here seems to have documents in front of them.
«Can I have a pen?» I say.
«Use mine.»
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Ignis pushes his inkwell and offers me a feather pen. Oh, can I keep it as a memory of my first Council?«What's the agenda?» I wonder.
«We'll discuss international relationships,» my uncle says, sighing quietly. We haven't had time to talk about it too much yet.
«Oh, it's the right chance to discuss the... messages?» Oh, but is it public knowledge? I'm not sure how much Ignis told the Council about the plans to send Gratia away.
«In fact,» the King exclaims, «we have started receiving the first complaints. The faraway empires don't care about unkept promises, but the nearby kingdoms are getting loud and playing offended.»
«But... Just because of secret messages?» I say. «Isn't it a little too much?»
«Not because of that. The messages sent were forged with paper from the Royal Office and the King's seal.»
«The King's seal?» I say. «Your seal?»
«Not mine, but one very similar. They do look authentic at a first glance, and the neighbouring Kings don't have time to look twice at it.»
«Oh.» This is a little suspicious, and I'm starting to realise what is going on. «So, what do we do now?»
Oh, how stupid of me! We're discussing it here.
«The... The most fierce of the objectors is Ventis.»
«But the message I read wasn't sealed!» I repeat. «Why were there secret papers around at all? They are useless without a seal.»
«Those were sent through spies. They were some kind of warning. The person moving in the shadows has first sent confidential information to confirm their role as an informant. Then, they sent the forged documents to continue with the plan. The secret messages both established a secret link to other leaders and made the following statements more credible.»
«Oh, it's way more complicated than it looks at first glance. Moreover... Moreover, it has been planned for longer than we thought. But returning to the unhappy neighbouring Kings. What do we do? Is there a way to stop hostilities without much loss?»
«Let the Minister of Foreign Affairs answer this,» Ignis says, smiling at me.
I turn back towards the table, and a man with a round stomach and funny long moustaches gets ready to talk. Under his nose, the moustaches are yellow, probably because of tobacco. He's far from me, four seats from where I sit, yet the smell reaches me this far.
«We've almost finished sending the explanations and official apologies. It should be enough to stop most countries from dragging the matter further. Moreover, confusing his Majesty, the King's symbol is embarrassing for them, so they will stop the discussion with the next one to two missives. Most of them.»
He presses a finger on his lip and makes it slide down the moustache. Oh, jeez. Where in the world did they find someone so peculiar to be a Minister?
«My estimation is that Ventis will not stop.»
«Not stop?» I say. I have to ask because it looks like I'm the only one surprised by this piece of information.
«They have looked for a pretext to start a war for decades,» the Minister explains without any trace of annoyance; as if my question was relevant and on point. «Especially during his Majesty, the late King's rule. They have decreased their attempts during the last few months, but they won't let go of such a chance.»
«So, there's a chance of a war?» I murmur. «Of a real war, with the armies clashing and the economy stopping... And all the rest.»
Do they always talk about wars like this? As if it wasn't something horrible and to avoid at all costs? Oh, I did the same. I talked like this, but I could afford to be superficial because I wasn't the one making the decisions.
«And how can we avoid it?» I ask.
«That's the problem, your Majesty,» uncle intrudes, tapping on the armrest with his forefinger. He always does when he's nervous. «There's nothing much we can do to stop them. They want a war because they're eyeing some territories in Alba. No matter what we offer, they won't lose such a juicy chance to get their hands on the mines and forests of fine wood of that region.»
«So, we're kind of screwed,» I realise.
I catch a glimpse of Marius's expression, and he's glaring like a fool. What have I done, now? Is it because I'm talking too much?
Oh, why is even Ignis red-eared now?
«What?» I say.
«Veronica... Your words,» he whispers.
Oh, about screw? I thought it had become acceptable in diplomacy by now! Why are they all so shocked? Their tongues will roll down from their mouths if they don't close them.
«Well,» Ignis says out loud.. «That's basically correct.»
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