The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

Even if Ignis doesn't seem to notice, I silently stand by his side and support him without asking anything. Small things: I ask the maids to bring him food, I warm his bed when he's late, and I hug him when he has nightmares. I have managed not to wake him, so he doesn't know how desperately he cries sometimes. And he doesn't know how he calms down when he can get his hands on me. Maybe, if he did the same while awake, his nightmares would fade away.

Yet, I don't want to push him too much. He will know when he's ready, right? All I have to do is be there. And I have nowhere else to go, so it will be fine. Eventually.

Then, at some point, his nightmares seem to disappear. It's been the fourth night without, and I don't like this sign.

There are two reasons for fear to disappear, right? Either the danger is far away, or it's so close that being scared doesn't help anymore. The worst part of fear is when it's approaching. When it's here, it's not as terrible, all in all.

I don't have much time to wonder because we receive good news first thing in the morning. I've just woken up, shamelessly clinging to my King, when someone knocks at the door and then barges in.

I don't like that people can come in and out of here... My room ensures more privacy! But, lately, it's been difficult to lure Ignis there...

«Your Majesty! Oh... ehm... Your Majesties,» the secretary says. «The Queen's family is arriving at the Palace.»

«Oh, right... It's time,» I murmur, turning to the side and nesting next to Ignis. «They should be here before lunchtime.»

I can feel my mother if I focus, even if she's hiding it from the others. We're of the same family and will always feel each other, always. She's far away but not enough to be untraceable... Meaning, she'll be here soon but not too soon. I can sleep some more.

«Uhm, yes, your Majesty... They warned us that the carriages crossed the bridge on the Bearill yesterday morning, and we received the message this night. If they didn't take any break, they should be here soon.»

«They didn't,» I say.

Who can take breaks while racing to see their first grandson? My parents, not for sure. Oh, also Lucia! She's become an aunt; I bet she's excited.

«I can't wait for them to be here...»

Ignis rubs my back and pecks my forehead while slipping out of bed.

«Just a few hours more,» he reassures me. «I have to go, though. You can sleep here if you like my bed so much.»

Needless to say, I roll on his side and sink my nose in his pillow. His bed really is the best! Also, I've fallen asleep late because I was worried and checked on Ignis every few minutes. In the end, I could avoid it since he didn't have nightmares.

Is it over? Really? I do not dare hope.

«Where are you going so early in the morning?» I ask him.

«King's duties. Borea has definitely stopped any communication with us... It must be a sign they're siding with Ventis. And, also, that whatever they're planning must be imminent. We shall move faster with our own tactics, and that means the King has to do his job...»

While he talks, he wears simple clothes. Something so similar to a guard's uniform that it's embarrassing. He's still so handsome, but goodness! He's a King!

Oh, but this is how I fell in love with him... If it wasn't for his taste for simple clothes, I would have never married Ignis, the guard, and eloped with him towards Narith. All in all, that part was the funniest.

Even the assassination attempts were just regular. Here in court, everything is either dramatic or clumsy.

I know that, actually, it's just that Ignis doesn't have time for the dressing ceremony. And that he hates those clothes too much to focus on right now.

But I'm blessed to look at his back while he changed his shirt... Oh, we haven't made love in so long, now that I think about it. I've spent so much time with my hands on him, and I didn't even consider touching him a little? Something must be wrong with me.

Oh, but I can make the wrong things right tonight, maybe... If he's not too tired to listen to his wife.

«I will rest a little more,» I say. I need to be full of energy.

First, to greet my family in the afternoon. And, second, to entertain my King during the night. Even just a little... We don't need to make love, but I want to pamper him.

If he doesn't push me away, of course.

«Bring me the peignoir,» I order, forgetting for a second that the secretary is still here. One isn't supposed to order a King like this in front of people.

«Here, my Queen,» Ignis comments, bowing down to peck my forehead again.

Then, he turns to leave as if I haven't just shown disrespect in public, and I sit on the bed while considering what to do. Lars will soon call for me with his loud voice, so I better avoid getting too comfortable.

«But I can take my time,» I decide in the end.

I can list down what I'll do to Ignis this time in the few estimated minutes I have before my son wakes up because of hunger.

Will mother be happy when she sees him? I hope so... I also wish she finds my work so far acceptable, even though I know I made a mess out of it. Starting from befriending people from the Church to the way I failed at collecting Mages in the capital...

Oh, the Mages in the capital!

I get up, wearing the robe, and walk back to my room. I have to send Marius to get Aria so that she can meet mother. Also, what to do with Flavius? He's kind of a riddle... On one hand, I'm worried about making him meet mother. I want him to stay by our side, mine, Ignis's and Lars's. But, also, he deserves to learn how to be free... Maybe mother can help him understand. She can also see whether he needs teachings to develop his magic to a new level.

When Lars starts crying, I'm already next to the cradle. Since I sleep in the King's room, I've arranged for Lars to stay here. It's more comfortable than his sleeping room, especially the maids guarding him.

«Good morning, little Prince,» I say while picking him up.

He calms a little after hearing my voice, but morning hunger is too powerful to have any hope of soothing him without a meal.

I sit on my favourite armchair and feed him, uncovering just one half of my chest. It's so nice to feel how he reacts to me: to my voice, the warmth of my skin, my scent. He rubs my breast with his little hands and closes his eyes while greedily sucking as if he hadn't eaten forever. It's been just a few hours, really!

I've also learned when to feed him so that he sleeps longer, and I reach Ignis's bed after Lars's midnight snack. Sometimes, I'm even earlier than my husband.

«You know how much your mommy and your daddy love you, right?» I murmur while he falls asleep.

Already done? Oh, he can't keep his eyes open for a few minutes to talk with his mother? What a lazy child... But he's growing, and that means he uses his energies for that!

«Don't think that you can play as you want with your daddy, by the way! You shouldn't try killing him like that anymore. You're becoming a big boy, and big boys don't strike their family with lightning!»

Oh, but I know he's not doing it with evil intentions. It's just his way of playing.

«You can still play with Flavius, right? He seems to like electricity...» And he won't die if you use too much energy.

This little meatball is so sleepy, but his red eyelashes flicker every time I talk. He stares at me and seems to smile. Is he so happy to see me, or is it just because of our energies intertwining?

«You're going to steal so many hearts as you grow up,» I say. Anything is fine as long as I have a reason to talk. This little thing likes my voice, and he snuggles closer to me before returning to his first, primal job: sleeping.

«Oh, I better make sure to protect you from those little vixens. They'll try stealing you from me, but my son won't forget his mother just for a wife, right?»

Uhm... Am I being too much?

Ah, no. No way. I'm just protecting what is mine. Also, how can this little thing live without me? But he also will need to find happiness just like I did with Ignis.

It'll be hard to let him go, though.