The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

The kids sing their song, and everything proceeds as planned.

I talk with them, and we agree on what flower is prettier and how much the King is a good person. I make it clear that he sent me here to bring them toys and sweets, so they now love him as much as I do.

«They say the King is evil,» a little boy says. He's blond and pale, just like a noble's son, but the shade is somehow dull. It might be because of the dust of the slums.

«Who says?» I inquire, bending forward and whispering as if we were plotting treason. «Are you sure those people are dependable? I met the King, and he doesn't seem evil to me.»

«How?»

«He's charming and brings sweets to me,» I try. «He also worries that I'm all right. That's not an evil person, is it?»

The kid shrugs, opening his eyes wide.

«Maybe, there's someone evil who's bad mouthing the King!» I realise, clapping my hands as if I've just got the idea. «What if it was the case?»

«Oh, no!» he sighs.

«I wouldn't believe the rumours... Have the people who told you ever met the King?»

«No,» he said, a little dubious.

«I have, on the contrary!»

«So, I will believe you,» he decides, smiling happily. In the end, it's good news that the King is a good person, isn't it?

«Do you know that he's a hero?» I try.

Some of the kids come closer and sit on the floor in front of me.

«His Majesty, the King, went to war when he was only fifteen. He fought against people tall twice his height, and he could take down ten enemies at the same time!»

«Really?» a girl murmurs, her eyes shining.

I nod while the teacher glares at her for her manners. One shouldn't doubt the Queen so readily, right?

I speak about Ignis's adventures, making up the details I don't know and making things a little more interesting when I was there, observing. By the way, I did see him take down many enemies at once during the journey from the capital to Narith.

When the time is up, I prepare to leave. I gift the kids with some toys and give them money for buying food in the streets. Melissa and Dorotea deliver the gifts while I talk with the director and make the conditions clear.

He doesn't seem to mind that the donations come with the promise to use it for the kids, and also with the wish to be thankful to the King for his generosity.

We walk out, finally, and I can think of fulfilling my promise to relax for what remains of the day. I will point it out when Ignis visits me this evening. I'll remind him that I was so obedient and didn't overexert my body.

As soon as I set my foot out, a pair of hands grips my shoulders and moves me to the side. I'm shielded behind the door while Tobin signals me not to move a muscle.

Chaos breaks out for some reason, and everyone runs in a different direction. Everyone but Tobin and I.

We stand behind the wall and wait. An arrow, a step from us and exactly where I was a minute ago, testifies what's happening.

Fernard Falco runs by our side and out, his sword raised and a focused expression.

It's frustrating that I can't see anything from here, but my job today is to be safe. It would be bad for everyone if the Queen was hurt during her first official visit. And I don't need to put my child in danger for any reason in the world.

«We can go now,» Tobin says, and he grips my arm while guiding me outside. We take short but fast steps and reach the carriage among the confusion.

Things haven't calmed down a bit, but somehow I'm safe. Tobin says so.

I step inside and sit, waiting for the following instructions. I heard a little about emergency procedures, but I haven't had time to be taught how to react yet. I've been Queen for a few days only, and I've spent my whole life defending myself with my powers.

«It will be all right,» a guard tries comforting me. Even though I'm not that scared for myself.

Where is my brother? I lost sight of him a while ago, and he hasn't reappeared when things have started getting messy.

I should be relieved he's not in danger, but it's worrying not to know where he is.

«Find my brother,» I order, and Tobin just nods. He closes the door, orders the guards around, and then walks away to fulfil my request.

The children didn't get out of the building, so they must be safe. At least that...

I wonder, who might be behind this attack? Is it the same person who organised the other small accidents? Starting from the pranks to the poisoning attempt...

As the situation and the noises calm down, I come to the realisation that someone is after me personally. Not after Ignis. But after me.

My husband has been safe all this time, at least concerning this group of events.

On one hand, I'm relieved because it's easier to defend myself than other people. On the other hand, it's not very comforting.

«Here,» Tobin says, pushing Marius inside without much regard.

«Oh, thank goodness,» I sigh.

I hug Marius tightly, and he lets me do it for a few minutes.

«Where the heck did you go?» I exclaim, annoyed, worried and relieved at the same time.

«I followed the men wearing a cape.»

«Men? Cape?»

«Two of them, wearing dark mantles with a hood. They had no signs on them, at least from what I could see. They met a man a few streets from here, and they exchanged some money.»

«What about the man?»

«Average height, average physique.»

«And a hooded mantle,» I guess.

A sigh leaves my lips, even though little information is better than nothing.

«But his sleeve,» Marius says, looking at me with worry. «His sleeve was decorated with gold.»

«Like what people use in the Palace,» I realise.

Not everyone, though. Only high-tier nobles do that. Counts don't have the guts to cover their clothes with gold while the Royal Family would use gems other than other precious materials...

«That man was most likely a Duke,» I say.

Other than Royals can't just wander in the woods like that. They're followed everywhere at any time.

«There also was a blue gem. He used it like a button or something. It was too far to see, and I didn't dare to go closer.»

«You did well,» I say. «It wouldn't have brought me any good if you were hurt or worse. I would need to explain to our parents how come I let you be wounded.»

«I'm not such an incompetent,» he defends himself. «I just lack the last bit of eyesight to see the symbols on his sleeve.»

«Let me be your big sister for once, all right?» I chuckle.

«You shouldn't be laughing after that arrow,» he points out.

«Don't ruin my mood. I already will hear about the attack often enough in the next few days.»

«Your husband won't let you get out of the Palace ever again,» he says.

«Regarding the Palace, shouldn't we go back now?»

«The carriage can't move. They trampled with it.»

«Oh, so we're trapped?»

«Not really. Your guards are outside, protecting us, and reinforcements are coming from the Palace.»

«Reinforcements?»

«I sent a message as soon as I noticed something was amiss,» he says. «I wouldn't be as stupid as to blindly follow suspicious people through the slums.»

«Wait... You sent the message before the attack?»

«Yes, of course. Now it would be late to do anything.»

«And what did you say?»

«Suspicious people, trafficking with the Queen's carriage.»

«Oh, that will send a fright in the Palace,» I murmur, crossing my arms. «We should hurry and go back so they won't worry.»

«Hearing about the attack won't cause any fright in your opinion?» he rebukes, annoyed.

«But I would be there. Ignis would see I'm safe and sound. Like this... Oh, he'll worry and then scold me for that.»

«I don't think your husband will scold you ever,» Marius points out. «But if you don't want to make him worry, we can send a second message. It shouldn't take long since the attack has been stopped.»

«I want to go home,» I moan.

«Home in Narith?»

«No, home in my room, with my maids and the people of my family.»

«We're here, Veronica,» Marius says. «I am here. Now.»

«I know.»

He seems to catch something on my expression, for he sits next to me and spreads his arms wide. He's offering a hug, maybe for the first time in years.

I sink in his arms and close my eyes, but I don't have time to enjoy the brotherly warmth because the door is slammed open.