The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

My late brother-in-law was named Maximilian. And, apparently, his Royal Name was going to be Hadrianus, in memory of the third King of Alba who enlarged our borders and established a more fair and precise tax system.

He was blonde, just like I knew, and he had green eyes like the current King and the late one. It was a family trait both sons inherited from their father.

Gratia has her mother's azure eyes but her father's bright blonde hair instead of the Dowager Queen's ash-coloured.

I've also seen the late King's portrait, and he does resemble Ignis except for the hair. The brother, on the other hand, is a mix of his parents' features. His eyes, though, don't shine like my husband's.

Maybe, because it's a painting and not a real person.

However, the little Aestas is more similar to her mother. Except for the green-brownish, browner than green, eyes, that are a mystery. Maybe, inherited from a grandparent or an ancestor on the Princess's side.

Aida says that familiar traits have weird ways of reappearing after generations; sometimes, kids don't inherit visible traits from their parents.

Still, there are impossible combinations. For example, blonde parents can't have dark-coloured kids. I don't know why it's like this, and it's kind of unfair. It makes it look even more than blonde hair is something pure and any darker shade would contaminate the purest blood.

In fact, my mother has blonde hair and my father black. All four of us siblings have black hair. My grandfather also had black hair.

Listening to Aida, though, there is a chance my kid has red or even blonde hair. How could it be blond if neither I nor Ignis are?

«I hope red,» I murmur while leaving the hall and heading outside.

I've visited one of the portrait halls nearest to the Royal Garden because I want to carry on with the interrogations but wanted to see the Prince's face at least once before talking with his lovers.

«It's quite a long list, isn't it?» I comment. Aida is following, observing the portraits with me.

She's particularly focused on the last three Kings and Queens.

«Looks long to someone with fidelity in mind when marrying, your Highness. From what I've heard, it was not that much of a scandal. People didn't talk about it much, and they would even tell me the Crown Prince was loyal to his wife since he had only that many lovers on the side.»

«As in, the King had more?»

«Exactly like that.»

«Oh, poor people,» I moan. «They don't know the happiness of marriage with a single person without other options on the side.»

«The King has the duty to keep his health, and people here think that he would fall ill without ways to... ehm... relax? Get rid of stress? I'm not sure what they meant, your Highness.»

We reach the door and, in front of it, we find my two guards: Tobin and Bea. They both have the capability to hide their presence, somehow, even though Bea's steps can be heard if one focuses.

«Let's get it over with. I don't want the Princess to notice anything, so I will talk with only a pair of ladies from the list. Bea, do you have any suggestions?»

«In my opinion, it would make sense to talk with Marchioness Verres.»

«Marchioness? As in, wife of Marquess Verres?»

«Yes, your Majesty. Servilia Verres. She spent a lot of time with his late Highness, and she is high-ranking enough to be talking with your Majesty without any precise reason.»

«Have I met her already?»

«She attended the first open day and greeted your Majesty personally during the ball. She was the fourth to congratulate your Majesty after the coronation, and she was the second among the ladies who approached your Majesty after the announcement.»

«Ah, I don't remember her,» I sigh. «Well, any other suggestion?»

«The daughter of Baron Quarto, Malia Quarto. She's the woman who offered, to your Majesty... ehm... soon after the announcement.»

«Oh, her, I do remember!» I exclaim with a big smile.

Finally, a familiar face has a name.

«But this is quite concerning.»

«Concerning, your Majesty?»

«Don't they feel awkward about the thought? They slept with the King's brother, after all. Is it just me, for real?»

Tobin lifts a brow. It's just a second, and his expression is immutable throughout the rest of the conversation. Still, I managed to catch a reaction... Which means: there's something he wants to say so badly.

«Yes?» I inquire, making him know that I've already witnessed and it's late to hide it.

«Marchioness Verres was not just the late Crown Prince's mistress,» he says.

Then, as if he's just done something embarrassing, he closes his mouth and evades my gaze. All with his poker face, but he's feeling shy now! Oh, how funny.

«Do I need to extract every single word with so much effort?» I sigh. «Why don't you tell me, Sir Tobin. Just the truth... Or what you believe can be the truth.»

«I wasn't the Captain of the Royal Guards during the late King's reign,» he explains. «I didn't have access to information like now. All I could know was what the other guards would talk about. I had no means to confirm it.»

«And?»

«Marchioness Verres had been the King's mistress.»

«Yes?» I murmur. She can't feel anything odd about seducing Ignis as next, given her past.

«Something like... Twenty years ago.»

«Oh.»

«Yes, your Majesty,» Bea confirms. «She doesn't share the bed with her husband anymore. Since they have two sons, there's no reason to anymore.»

«I understand,» I say. «But... How old is she?»

«She's currently forty-one.»

«The late Crown Prince had that kind of taste?»

«No, your Majesty. His late Highness didn't have any taste at all,» Bea explains. «His women are quite different from each other. Marchioness Verres is the one who lasted longer, by the way. And the daughter of Baron Quarto was his lover at the time of the coup, during the last two months of his life.»

I don't want to live here anymore. Do things have to be this complicated?

Moreover, how dare they blame Ignis for writing «screw them» when all they do, all the time, is just make things difficult to follow.

«Let's talk with them,» I sigh. «And also other uninvolved ladies as well. I need to mud the waters, or people will know I'm targeting them.»

«They will just assure your Majesty is inquiring about women to introduce to the King,» Bea points out. «Moreover, adding a few young ladies to the list will enforce that belief.»

Even just the thought hurts me. No way.

«Let's get to work,» I say, folding the train of the dress on my arm.

I adjust the cloak and make sure the hair is in place. Of course, it is. My maids know the best way to arrange it so that it doesn't move. And they also know how to comb it in the evening so that it's silken and pretty for Ignis to play.

«You know what to do,» I whisper to Aida, and I step out, ready for a battle.

The ladies notice me as soon as I am out, under the warm sunrays of this windy day. Time is flying away... It's been a month since I came here, hasn't it?

It felt longer than that, yet it passed so soon.

«Marchioness Verres at ten o'clock. Lady Malia Quarto right in front of you,» Bea whispers from behind me. That said, she takes a step to the side and follows me with her head bowed.

I can either walk aimlessly and talk with Marchioness Verres by chance, or I can approach Malia Quarto. I've had a chat with her already, so she won't find it odd. It might even have a rational explanation in these ladies' minds.

It will also send a signal: I'm considering accepting their customs and allowing a mistress for my husband. But that is something I will solve later. Avoiding war and discovering the traitors among us has priority.

My first target walks to me, solving my dilemma before I have time to consider the matter. Malia Quarto, indeed, is the first one I ought to talk with.

She was close to the late Crown Prince at the time of his death. She might know more than it meets the eye. But not much since she's alive, well, and cheery.

At most, I can find out if the coup was sudden or seemed planned in advance.

«Your Majesty,» she says, bowing her head and lifting her dress just enough to bend her knees by a few degrees.

«What a nice day, miss,» I reply. «I'd like to walk a little, but my court ladies aren't with me today.»

«I can accompany your Majesty,» she offers.

«Sure. Let's take a short walk.»

«As your Majesty pleases.»

Now, it's time to get some new information.