The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

Who is the person Ignis didn't want to execute after the coup?

I wouldn't have bothered executing anyone, to be honest. The late King and Crown Prince weren't nice people. I'm sure the nobles had their reasons for the attack.

Still, Ignis smiled at me when telling me about this person. I'm so curious to see them.

«I wasn't going to let you meet this person anytime soon. But, since you asked, we're here,» Ignis says while the guards start opening the first door.

The first, since there are many others, each with many locks. This person isn't just guarded but locked so deep that I wonder how they deliver food.

Oh, most likely, the servant passages are left open. Which noble would dare use those, either way?

While we get closer to the last door, something changes in the air. It becomes vibrant and unresting, a mixture of different energies taking the unmistakable shape of a barrier. Magic.

«Who is this person, Ignis?» I ask him. I get closer and whisper, making him realise that I can feel what's happening here.

I don't think that a mage with so much power can be held back by a few doors, by the way. What in the world were they thinking about when they locked them inside?

«Here stays the King's personal Mage,» he explains. «My father might have had many flaws, but he knew how to value real power. He had invited a few Mages in his court; that caused the distance with the Church to grow. But this person here isn't just that simple. He worked for my father for a decade.»

«And then, he decided to help his enemies kill him.» So, we're talking about a man. Male Mages are rare, and, most often, their powers are feeble. I've already met an exception here, the High Priest. And I'm going to meet the second one. So many, in such a small place. What will be next?

«I'm sure he had his reasons,» Ignis points out. «The late King wasn't a nice person overall. And he had the vice to order around a powerful Mage as if he was a pawn.»

«Why did he listen?»

«You'll find out everything, Veronica.»

«But I can't understand! A Mage this powerful wouldn't just listen. He could go anywhere. Why stay here and meddle in politics.»

«Because he's not as you're imagining him right now.»

When the last door, finally, is opened, we walk inside a dusty waiting room.

«Come here. He doesn't let the maids clean this room because he doesn't like visitors.»

«Visitors,» I scoff. With a dozen doors between him and the rest of the world? Who would come all the way here?

«What do you want?» I hear a voice. It's of a young boy, maybe Marius's age... What?

This person served the late King for a decade. That's ten years. How can he be younger than me?

«Come here, Flavius. There's someone I want you to meet,» Ignis shouts back.

«No. I'm busy.»

I release the magic I've been hiding all this time. I started repressing it at the doors; it was a natural reaction to the barrier. But, once stepped in, I can feel the power I have never caught a trace of. I've lived in this Palace for almost two months now, and I have never sensed any trace of power.

«This is a soul Mage,» I say. Just like Aida, but way, way more powerful. This person... Flavius keeps a barrier up at all times, and not a single trace of magic escapes from it.

«Is it that bas...» he starts, but then he sees me and shuts his mouth. He's just appeared from a side door.

Flavius is Marius's age, in the end. Maybe even younger. His curly dark locks and black eyes stare back at me with utter surprise.

«You're not that bastard Priest,» he says, matter-of-factly.

«No, I am not,» I reply.

Who would mistake me for a Priest, for goodness?

Flavius walks closer, inspecting me with a keen eye.

«You're stronger than him,» he states, in between awe and unhappiness. He doesn't know whether it's a good or a bad thing.

«I believe so, yes. But the High Priest hides his powers, so we might have missed some detail...»

«Oh, no. You are more powerful. Who are you? Oh...» His eyes fly on my belly, and he looks at me and then at Ignis. All while surprised.

How can he know Ignis is the father? Aida says it's too early to sense anything yet. The child isn't yet developed, and the heart isn't beating.

«You got a wife!» he exclaims, frowning at the King. «Why didn't you tell me earlier!»

«I wanted to, but you didn't reply to my letters. Were you sulking because of something?»

«Is this the woman you went to fetch in Narith? Oh, do you have any eyes?»

Am I that ugly?

«You chose someone I can't protect you from!» he continues. His flaw of words hits Ignis without a break, and I wait for a little.

Why is this lad so furious at my husband? And why in the world is he allowed so much closeness?

It's my husband. Mine.

His energy wraps me at some point, but without any real threat. Still, I try protecting myself. I have a baby in my belly, after all. It's my first instinct to keep every strange magic far from it.

«And then, as if it was all right, you married this loose woman,» Flavius continues.

At these words, Ignis moves his head back and glares.

«Flavius, pay attention to your words. You're talking about my wife.»

Loose woman? What about me is loose?

«She spends time with the High Priest! She's loose!»

«Flavius,» Ignis repeats.

«How in the world can you know that?» I wonder.

The last time I met Adelphium, was so long ago... Oh, also, how will Ignis react now?

In fact, his eyes are now on me. They're pleading to explain, hurt as if I back-stabbed him. But I didn't spend so much time with the High Priest. Not since after the announcement... That's the last time I saw him!

It's so long ago, yet Flavius could sense it. He's another powerful Mage in the capital.

As of now, I know about eleven excluding Aida and me: the kids, Adelphium, the mysterious prophet, and, finally, Flavius.

«Hey, how do you sense something happened more than two weeks ago?» I ask Flavius directly.

Ignis is glaring at me in between jealousy and pain. He feels hurt as if I was going to abandon him forever. I'll take my time to hearten him later; I'm too curious now.

Also, I'd like to see a jealous husband. If only it wasn't painful also for me to look at his hurt expression.

«Oh, Ignis, don't listen to him!» I say. «I haven't talked with the High Priest since the last time he visited me. And I thought about you for the whole time, I promise!»

I press a hand on my heart and wait for any reaction. Why is he doubting me now of all times, in front of a stranger? At least, for me, it is a stranger. For Ignis, Flavius seems like... some sort of friend.

«Ignis?» Flavius scoffs. «You're really lost, Ignatius. Don't you discipline your woman when she behaves like this? What are you? A loyal dog?»

Oh, this brat is making things more difficult for me. And I am innocent! I've done nothing to betray Ignis, and I always think about him during my days.

«Veronica, let's go,» he sighs. He offers his hand to me, ready to turn and walk away.

Oh, what a pity. I was curious about this Mage. I guess I'll ask in the future again if I have some time.

Since I'm ready to follow, Flavius frowns.

«Hey! You two just came here!» he complains. «You can't leave immediately!»

«You're the one who doesn't want to show respect to my wife, Flavius. If things stand like this, we won't force our presence on you.»

«Can't you send her away and stay here to talk a little?»

«I don't want to. Bye.»

«No, wait, wait!»

In a panic, Flavius starts walking in circles, moving his black eyes from me to Ignis and then back to me. He pleads for help, but I don't know what to do. It's not like I know him, nor do I care to stay if Ignis wants to go. My husband's feelings are more important than my curiosity or investigations.

«I won't... I won't say anything like that anymore,» he tries.

«I want an apology,» Ignis says.

«I'm sorry, Ignatius. I won't do it again,» he says, bowing his head and pouting a little. How childish can this brat be?

He's standing in the middle of this sitting room, alone and sad. As if he was being lectured by a stern parent or teacher.

«It's not me who you should apologise to, though. I am not the one you offended.»

«But...»

«We'll go.»

«No, wait... I don't even know her.»

«I was going to introduce you two, but you don't seem willing. I won't force our presence on you.»

«I'm sorry!» he exclaims, looking at me with more angst than real sorrow. «I won't say anything like that anymore.»

«Like what? That I'm loose?»

«And that you make Ignatius act odd. I won't comment anymore. Is that better?»

«So,» Ignis says, attracting all my attention to him. «What shall we do?»

«Hey, I apologised!» I hear in the background.

«It seems interesting,» I say.. «If you deem it's all right, I'd chat with this person.»