The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen
«You shouldn't think like this, Malia,» I say. «Your life is not over just because of a choice you made long ago. You're young, and there's a lot you can still do!»
«Oh, your Majesty,» she sighs, her eyes watering a little. «I don't have influential parents who would cover for me. I chose the wrong person once, and it's over. No one is going to take me as a wife for more reasons than just my purity. It would be a risk since his Majesty knows very well about me. No one is willing to be associated with me in such a dangerous way.»
«Marriage is not everything.» But, unfortunately, it's most of a lady's life here in the Palace. So much that a woman's power can be measured only through her husband's name.
That's why the Queen Dowager told me the mastermind behind the attempts was a married woman. Because an unmarried person doesn't have the means to organise something like that.
«You can do something on your own,» I add. «Just anything... Business, academics. Art or simply embroidery. You can become good enough at something, and people won't have a choice but be in awe.»
«It's easier for your Majesty,» she points out. «But I am no one.»
«You're the daughter of a Count,» I rebuke.
Which, once again, isn't her own result. Why does a woman have to be either a daughter or a wife? Can't she simply live for herself?
«I am, but it's not enough,» she sighs. Her eyes move on the floor, making me realise a simple yet painful truth.
She didn't come with the idea of seducing the late Crown Prince on her own. She didn't get up, one day, deciding to become his mistress.
Someone pushed her in that direction, someone from her family. And then, when they realised they had placed a bet on the wrong horse, they discarded their own daughter like an old tool. She couldn't be used for a good marriage anymore, either way. Why put more effort into her education, social standing, and the development of her own character?
«How old are you?»
«I'm nineteen, your Majesty.»
«We're close in age,» I notice. Yet, she's already been through so much. «But I don't know as much as you about the court. Will you tell me a little more?»
«About the late Crown Prince?» she inquires, a little disappointed.
«No,» I say.
Why do we need to talk about him any longer? Unless there's something useful that comes out of it; I don't think I can collect any suitable ideas.
«About the other mistresses, then? Or the Princess? I thought your Majesty was friends with her Highness, but I'm glad you're distrusting. Even though her Highness doesn't make mistakes in public, she's not as kind as she looks. Her real character is... ehm, difficult?»
«I'd like to know what happened after the coup, unrelated to the Crown Prince. Just what you remember. For example, how was the King's coronation? Did everything proceed as planned? Weren't there any incidents or rumours around it?»
«His Majesty had a bad reputation while he was the Second Prince until he went to war and won. I think it was because of his hair colour. The nobles would frown at that and say he was cursed, but...»
«But?»
Suddenly, she doesn't know whether to trust me or not.
«But I don't think it's true. His Majesty was a kind Prince.»
«How do you know, exactly?»
I try not to frown or narrow my eyes. She won't tell the truth if she feels like I'm doubting or threatening.
Still, how could she know about Ignis's true nature?
«He was kind. Too bad he had little chances to sit on the throne,» she added. «That's why the choice fell on the First Prince.»
I see. Her parents decided to push her in that direction regardless of her own preferences. Not that tastes have any weight in politics.
«But once, a few days after my debut, I was told to attract the Crown Prince's attention.»
«By your parents?»
She winces, her face guilty. As if it was her fault if they told her.
«Yes, your Majesty.»
«Well, continue.»
«I failed, and my mother was so unhappy that she sent me out for the day. She said she didn't want to look at me, so I wandered in the gardens, in search of an empty corner where to cry a little. I did find the right place. His Majesty saw me in that unholy condition, and he consoled me.»
She bites her lower lip, remembering one of her early memories at court. Ladies are quite sensitive after their debut, and they're too young to be sent wandering alone. Things can go wrong in so many ways, the first being another lady picking on them.
Malia was as lucky as to meet Ignis and not anybody else.
I can guess he offered her food and a shoulder to cry on. Even though he could spare the shoulder.
«His Majesty told me a story,» she said. «About the war. He had returned two weeks earlier from the front, and he told me about the customs of the people on the other side of the border.»
Oh, that kind of consolation. Good. I can stop feeling unrest and focus more on the story. There was nothing intimate in their chat, just the usual kind soul of my husband. He can't watch a lady crying and do nothing. It's in his nature to cheer her up.
«That's why I offered it to your Majesty,» she adds. «Because I know it won't be a hard job. Even if for a short while, I'd like to have a position in the court. I won't mind retiring to the countryside after. Still, a mistress of the King has a higher chance of getting married than a simple lady without anything good point at her name.»
«All you can think about is marriage,» I say. «Oh, Malia... You should find a different way. I can help you, but you need to work on it with your own effort. It will be something that you made with your own hands, something no one will be able to take away from you.»
«What?»
«I don't know your talents better than you.»
«All I can do is bear with odd bed practises,» she complains. «I'm not even that proficient in a lady's talents.»
«I'm not either, but... For example, I'm good at diplomacy. You might have many talents you're not aware of because you have never tried.»
Oh, wait... I'm losing track of my mission here. Being close to Ignis for too long made me become a ladies' saviour. He infected me with kindness and a good heart.
Or, maybe, I'm still the old, possessive Veronica willing to keep everyone far from him. If he wants happy ladies around him, I'll be the one helping them so that he doesn't need to offer shoulders to cry on. I will do it in his stead, and we will both be happier.
«Your Majesty has a good heart,» she says. «I'm sorry for taking advantage of it.»
«Let's continue talking a little more. If you feel guilty, give me some information in exchange for my kindness.» Even though I did nothing to help her.
«What kind of information?»
«Anything you might have noticed in your position.»
«About the Royal Family?»
«That can do.»
«Even though the Crown Prince didn't sleep with his wife very often, he would spend the night in her chambers once every month. It was a deal they had... However, he told me he never touched her unless he was drunk or in a very odd mood.»
«Oh, how interesting.»
How did Aestas come to life, then? During a drunken frenzy of the Prince?
«He told me... That he barely remembered what happened. He also said he didn't like the Princess because she was cold to him.»
«And is there a reason for such coldness?»
«I don't think the Princess was actually cold, even if his late Highness said that.»
«What do you think, then?»
«I think that her Highness, the Princess, wasn't willing to fulfil his late Highness's requests. They were too much to ask from a wife, after all. And he told me their first night, after the marriage, had been boring for both.»
«Boring? Oh, he might have traumatised a maiden and didn't feel guilty?»
«I don't know that, your Majesty. However, the Princess surrounded herself with friends to avoid being alone. Even if disregarded by her husband, she became one of the central figures of public life in the Palace. Until about a year ago, at least.»
«What happened a year ago?»
«Her Highness decreased the frequency of her appearances in public, and she became more silent if not with her friends. I don't know what changed, but there were just a few people she met regularly.»
«Her friends?»
«Yes, your Majesty. The Crown Prince didn't seem to mind, except that he was unhappy about the night he had spent with her. The rest was just like usual. He said once that he would raise the kid if it was a son. He hoped it was because he didn't want to sleep with his wife again.»
How cruel.
«He thought he had much time to conceive an heir, by the way. And he didn't feel the need to have it with the woman he had wed.»
I wonder if the late King knew about this. A Royal Marriage is an alliance, and disrespecting the spouse in such a way is dangerous for Alba.
Oh, but who cares anymore? The more I hear about them, the less I'm concerned about their death.
Chapter 148: A Long List (3)
«Oh, your Majesty,» she sighs, her eyes watering a little. «I don't have influential parents who would cover for me. I chose the wrong person once, and it's over. No one is going to take me as a wife for more reasons than just my purity. It would be a risk since his Majesty knows very well about me. No one is willing to be associated with me in such a dangerous way.»
«Marriage is not everything.» But, unfortunately, it's most of a lady's life here in the Palace. So much that a woman's power can be measured only through her husband's name.
That's why the Queen Dowager told me the mastermind behind the attempts was a married woman. Because an unmarried person doesn't have the means to organise something like that.
«You can do something on your own,» I add. «Just anything... Business, academics. Art or simply embroidery. You can become good enough at something, and people won't have a choice but be in awe.»
«It's easier for your Majesty,» she points out. «But I am no one.»
«You're the daughter of a Count,» I rebuke.
Which, once again, isn't her own result. Why does a woman have to be either a daughter or a wife? Can't she simply live for herself?
«I am, but it's not enough,» she sighs. Her eyes move on the floor, making me realise a simple yet painful truth.
She didn't come with the idea of seducing the late Crown Prince on her own. She didn't get up, one day, deciding to become his mistress.
Someone pushed her in that direction, someone from her family. And then, when they realised they had placed a bet on the wrong horse, they discarded their own daughter like an old tool. She couldn't be used for a good marriage anymore, either way. Why put more effort into her education, social standing, and the development of her own character?
«How old are you?»
«I'm nineteen, your Majesty.»
«We're close in age,» I notice. Yet, she's already been through so much. «But I don't know as much as you about the court. Will you tell me a little more?»
«About the late Crown Prince?» she inquires, a little disappointed.
«No,» I say.
Why do we need to talk about him any longer? Unless there's something useful that comes out of it; I don't think I can collect any suitable ideas.
«About the other mistresses, then? Or the Princess? I thought your Majesty was friends with her Highness, but I'm glad you're distrusting. Even though her Highness doesn't make mistakes in public, she's not as kind as she looks. Her real character is... ehm, difficult?»
«I'd like to know what happened after the coup, unrelated to the Crown Prince. Just what you remember. For example, how was the King's coronation? Did everything proceed as planned? Weren't there any incidents or rumours around it?»
«His Majesty had a bad reputation while he was the Second Prince until he went to war and won. I think it was because of his hair colour. The nobles would frown at that and say he was cursed, but...»
Suddenly, she doesn't know whether to trust me or not.
«But I don't think it's true. His Majesty was a kind Prince.»
«How do you know, exactly?»
I try not to frown or narrow my eyes. She won't tell the truth if she feels like I'm doubting or threatening.
Still, how could she know about Ignis's true nature?
«He was kind. Too bad he had little chances to sit on the throne,» she added. «That's why the choice fell on the First Prince.»
I see. Her parents decided to push her in that direction regardless of her own preferences. Not that tastes have any weight in politics.
«But once, a few days after my debut, I was told to attract the Crown Prince's attention.»
«By your parents?»
She winces, her face guilty. As if it was her fault if they told her.
«Yes, your Majesty.»
«Well, continue.»
«I failed, and my mother was so unhappy that she sent me out for the day. She said she didn't want to look at me, so I wandered in the gardens, in search of an empty corner where to cry a little. I did find the right place. His Majesty saw me in that unholy condition, and he consoled me.»
She bites her lower lip, remembering one of her early memories at court. Ladies are quite sensitive after their debut, and they're too young to be sent wandering alone. Things can go wrong in so many ways, the first being another lady picking on them.
Malia was as lucky as to meet Ignis and not anybody else.
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«Consoled?» I repeat, sounding curious instead of jealous.I can guess he offered her food and a shoulder to cry on. Even though he could spare the shoulder.
«His Majesty told me a story,» she said. «About the war. He had returned two weeks earlier from the front, and he told me about the customs of the people on the other side of the border.»
Oh, that kind of consolation. Good. I can stop feeling unrest and focus more on the story. There was nothing intimate in their chat, just the usual kind soul of my husband. He can't watch a lady crying and do nothing. It's in his nature to cheer her up.
«All you can think about is marriage,» I say. «Oh, Malia... You should find a different way. I can help you, but you need to work on it with your own effort. It will be something that you made with your own hands, something no one will be able to take away from you.»
«What?»
«I don't know your talents better than you.»
«All I can do is bear with odd bed practises,» she complains. «I'm not even that proficient in a lady's talents.»
«I'm not either, but... For example, I'm good at diplomacy. You might have many talents you're not aware of because you have never tried.»
Oh, wait... I'm losing track of my mission here. Being close to Ignis for too long made me become a ladies' saviour. He infected me with kindness and a good heart.
Or, maybe, I'm still the old, possessive Veronica willing to keep everyone far from him. If he wants happy ladies around him, I'll be the one helping them so that he doesn't need to offer shoulders to cry on. I will do it in his stead, and we will both be happier.
«Your Majesty has a good heart,» she says. «I'm sorry for taking advantage of it.»
«Let's continue talking a little more. If you feel guilty, give me some information in exchange for my kindness.» Even though I did nothing to help her.
«What kind of information?»
«Anything you might have noticed in your position.»
«About the Royal Family?»
«That can do.»
«Even though the Crown Prince didn't sleep with his wife very often, he would spend the night in her chambers once every month. It was a deal they had... However, he told me he never touched her unless he was drunk or in a very odd mood.»
«Oh, how interesting.»
How did Aestas come to life, then? During a drunken frenzy of the Prince?
«He told me... That he barely remembered what happened. He also said he didn't like the Princess because she was cold to him.»
«And is there a reason for such coldness?»
«I don't think the Princess was actually cold, even if his late Highness said that.»
«I think that her Highness, the Princess, wasn't willing to fulfil his late Highness's requests. They were too much to ask from a wife, after all. And he told me their first night, after the marriage, had been boring for both.»
«Boring? Oh, he might have traumatised a maiden and didn't feel guilty?»
«I don't know that, your Majesty. However, the Princess surrounded herself with friends to avoid being alone. Even if disregarded by her husband, she became one of the central figures of public life in the Palace. Until about a year ago, at least.»
«What happened a year ago?»
«Her Highness decreased the frequency of her appearances in public, and she became more silent if not with her friends. I don't know what changed, but there were just a few people she met regularly.»
«Her friends?»
«Yes, your Majesty. The Crown Prince didn't seem to mind, except that he was unhappy about the night he had spent with her. The rest was just like usual. He said once that he would raise the kid if it was a son. He hoped it was because he didn't want to sleep with his wife again.»
How cruel.
«He thought he had much time to conceive an heir, by the way. And he didn't feel the need to have it with the woman he had wed.»
I wonder if the late King knew about this. A Royal Marriage is an alliance, and disrespecting the spouse in such a way is dangerous for Alba.
Oh, but who cares anymore? The more I hear about them, the less I'm concerned about their death.
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