The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

The news spreads through the Palace, and people know about it in less than two days. If I had waited a little more before finding out, I would have been the last one.

There's no official announcement, though. So, the matter is whispered about in great secret. It's odd. Many people know, but everyone pretends not to.

Quite a few people change after hearing it, starting from my brother, who becomes my third guardian. The first is Aida, and she doesn't hide her worries anymore. The second is Tobin, who's always nearby with both eyes open. He doesn't talk much, but I can tell he's even more cautious than before.

It could all be a consequence of the poisoning attempt, but I feel like everyone forgot about that.

«Here,» Marius says, allowing me to drink from the cup. He tried it himself in front of me, and I've allowed him to test poison for me only because Aida has already checked everything beforehand.

«It's boring. I want to go out,» I say out loud.

«It's too dangerous,» he points out.

«Oh, but I will have Sir Tobin protecting me. Not to mention my dearest brother! I said I would go visit an orphanage, and people won't believe my word if I change my mind now.»

«No one will dare to, sister. You're under protection right now. Normally, you don't go out during these months.»

«But I'm not ill. Pregnant women do everything normally: why should I be different?»

«Because you are Queen.»

«Oh, please! At least you should avoid that kind of reasoning!»

Marius notices the angry expression on my face, and he crooks his mouth.

«How important is it to you?» he inquires.

«It's vital for my plans. I have a mission here, and delaying would endanger our purposes,» I say, looking at the side.

Mother never told me to help Ignis's image, but I chose it as my mission on my own. I don't need to tell Marius such details, though.

«I will rest after finishing the tour, and I won't even attend social gatherings until you all decide I've slept enough!»

I won't need to attend gatherings if I spread enough good gossip in town.

«I will do absolutely nothing for days, and I will come back after a couple of hours at most.»

Oh, maybe three or four hours. But I will be sitting somewhere and telling tales. There's nothing to be afraid of, after all.

«If I help you with this, and something happens, your husband will kill me with his own hands. He will cut my head and show it to father, and father will burn it in disdain.»

«Oh, don't be over-dramatic.»

«You are being too lax. People around you tend to become dangerous when you're threatened.»

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms and glaring at the cake on my plate. Marius has eaten half of it to make sure there isn't poison in the middle of the slice.

«I'd like to do something now that I can,» I explain, dropping any facade and showing my worries. «I want to become a good Queen, and I won't have any chance once the child starts growing. Also, our enemies will organise soon, so we should act now while we have time.»

«What do you want to do?»

«I want to visit an orphanage. While we're at it, help me meet the head of the Mages in the capital. I'd like to see their faces, for it could be helpful in the future. There's something weird going on with Ignis's image, but I will solve it when I find out what exactly people think.»

«Your image is good, though. People love you: they say you charmed the cursed King and showed him how love is.»

«Cursed?»

Again that damned word. Why would anyone think that of Ignis? He's always considerate, kind, and gentle. Why would people assume he's a tyrant; and a cursed one, at that?

«Peasants think that he killed his family for power and that he terrorised the court until you appeared out of nowhere. Also, I've heard a lot of misinterpreted events while roaming in town...»

«Roaming in town?» I ask, surprised.

«Of course. The Palace makes me feel suffocating, so I often take a walk. I change into commoner clothes and make new friends and explore the streets. It's fun.»

«Just a pity I can't tag along,» I pout. «You're free to come and go, so why would you care to help me see the world outside of the walls of this place? I understand...»

«It's for your safety!»

«My safety? So, I'm a useless, harmless lady.»

«No, you are not. But I don't want you to get hurt, sister...»

«Will you tag along to protect me?»

«You shouldn't go in the first place.»

«Oh, come on! Will you come or not? I'm going either way, permission or not.»

«Ah, fine then! I will be there for you, your Majesty.»

He scoffs, utterly unhappy with my decision. But I can't let these small happenings stop me from reaching my goals. I want to help Ignis, and talking with people is the first step.

Not to mention that I need to start locating the Mages in Mavale.

«My dear brother, is there a place you'd like to visit after?»

«I want to come back home after the tour!»

«Sure, sure,» I chuckle. I don't care that Marius is frowning because I can finally have my way. I just need to convince Ignis not to stop me now. Everyone else will shut up when they see Marius accompanying me.

We spend the rest of the day organising the visit, and it's almost evening when my busy King comes to forbid me from this adventure.

He storms into my office and sends away every single person in the room. He reaches my desk. Unaffected by my tender smile, he leans forward.

«What are you doing?» he inquires, his green eyes cold like ice. It's odd I can finally see him angry.

«It's my job, your Majesty.»

«You are forbidden from going out,» he spits out through his teeth.

«Am I a prisoner now?»

«No, but you're under protection.»

«Will my life be like this for the rest of my years? Will I be prevented from seeing my people because you're afraid?»

«Your people?» he says, raising his brows.

«The moment I was crowned, every single person living in Alba became one of my people,» I point out. «I'm the Queen now, not just a random socialite.»

«Veronica, it's dangerous! You are expected to rest and take care of yourself.»

I get up and circle around the desk. I stop in front of him, resisting the temptation to run my hands on his chest. Since the moment the doctor explained how this sudden rush of thoughts is due to pregnancy, it became even harder to bear with it. At the same time, I became conscious about how improper it can look. I shouldn't touch my husband all the time, right? It's better to contain my desires and let them free only during certain moments.

«Living is dangerous, isn't it?» I point out. «If I'm to wither alone in this Palace, it will be no better than dying outside.»

«Don't talk like this!»

«Oh, but it's true. In a couple of decades, I will wonder if mine was a real life. And I don't want the answer to be no. I have to do something before it's late, don't I? It will be brief and very controlled. I will bring my brother and Sir Tobin, as well as all the guards you deem proper.»

«You will go and come without any other stop. You will follow the guards' instructions and never risk a strand of your hair.»

«Of course.»

«And you will come back when the time is over. No complaints and no stories.»

«Yes. I will be good,» I chuckle, finally hugging him. «I will listen to my King.»

«I'm talking as a husband now. Don't make me worry too much.»

«Your wife will try her best,» I sigh. «I won't make you worry anymore, Ignis.»

«As for the attempt on your life... We found the culprit. It's a servant of the Palace. There wasn't anything guiding us to the sender, but for now, we can assume they won't make a move too soon.»

«Could it be someone from the coup?» I ask

«No, it's impossible. I've cleaned the Palace from them, Veronica. This is a new threat, one that wasn't there when I became King... The first few days, there wasn't this person smuggling in the dark.»

«All right, then. Let's focus on making the most of my visit to the city. Then, we'll think of the sender and come up with a plan to discover their identity.»

It won't be easy, though. If they managed to keep it a secret from Ignis, how can I find out without many resources?

«You will rest when you come back,» he adds, stopping my train of thoughts and returning to what presses him the most.

«For days,» I surrender. «And I will rest before so that I'm not that tired when I go out. Is that better?»

«Good,» he says, nodding.. «You should take care of yourself, my dear.»