The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

«The Church sent an official statement,» says one of the secretaries working for me. Oh, rather than for me, he works in my place.

Even though I need to become less lazy and learn the job, especially now that I might need to do it in Ignis's stead.

«Yes?» I say, rummaging through the correspondence. So boring, everyone invites for parties and events, but I'd just stay in my chambers and play with my baby.

«They want to test his Highness. Also, the naming ceremony should be held before the war becomes more savage. Now might be that right moment.»

«Laurentius will become the Crown Prince official, with the title and all the perks of it, only after the naming ceremony, right? It's a way to greet babies into this world, and they can have titles and properties only after being assigned a name.»

«Yes. The Church will choose one of his Highness's names.»

Everyone has the right to choose, I guess.

«So, till now we have four. Laurentius is his first name. Then he has his father's royal name, Aurelius. His child's name is Caio, even though no one uses it anymore. And finally, Julius is his second name, chosen by the Queen's family.»

I let my parents decide since I've used all my brain to come up with Lars.

My son has four names, and the fifth one will be decided by the Church. They might also assign a royal name for when he becomes King, just like it happened with Ignis's brother.

That would make it six. Who was supposed to choose the seventh name? Oh, it's written in the family's register! Now, I remember. Every newborn has a name based on... Based on things. Place and date of birth, whether they're firstborns or not, and so on. Every child in the royal family has it, so even our second kid will. Ignis didn't because he was a bastard prince, not fully part of the family and also half a commoner. No one assigned a second name to him, let alone a third.

«How weird, though.» They should have chosen one. He did have the right to sit on the throne, after all. No matter how much no one wanted him there.

«The... The official statement, your Majesty,» the secretary reminds me. «The Church wishes to set the date. And, also, to discuss the name.»

«When?»

«Someone will discuss it with his Majesty today. As for the test, they've just mentioned the possibility without too much pressure.»

«They want Lars to become one of them,» I realise. «That's why they're testing him. They want to check if he has enough magic to make the difference, and then to make him one of their pawns.»

Too bad, I won't let them get to my son.

«What does the King say about it?»

«I'm not sure...»

«What do the rumours say?»

«His Majesty agreed to set a date for the ceremony but not for the test. He said it's because of the war, but some people think he won't accept to test his son. What if the Church insists on keeping his Highness away? We wouldn't have a Crown Prince in the Palace!»

«The Church can't keep him with them,» I point out.

«But they can pressure the royal family to let go of him. Especially if his Highness is as powerful as everyone says.»

«And... Aren't you concerned?» I wonder.

It's normal if my maids aren't afraid. They're used to weird things. But the secretaries?

«Is it because you're used to dealing with Flavius?»

«Oh, no. His Highness will be our King, one day. Concerned or not, he has to stay here.»

«What I meant is... Aren't you afraid of a Mage seizing power?»

«Does it matter? Also, it's a baby. Even though he's a Prince and will become a King, his Highness can't even walk yet. What can I be afraid of, your Majesty?»

«Ah, yes. That's true.»

«Mages aren't good or bad. Just like everybody else: they can do scary things, or they can protect others.»

Has Ignis selected people like this? So that I'm surrounded by unbiased individuals who won't shout at the first sign of magic.

«Mages aren't bad,» Lola agrees. She's embroidering, sitting on the sofa in front of me, while the secretary is standing. He's here to report and will leave.

She's feeling better, lately, just like Ignis. I hate to say it, but war does miracles to the people around me.

«They're just people,» I point out. «The Prince might become a good or bad person, but it depends on us around him, and not on the magic alone.»

We have to make sure he grows up well. It would be too easy to think magic alone can decide his destiny.

«For this reason, we can't let the Church have him,» I say. I wouldn't have any kind of control over his growth if the Church brought him away from me.

«They won't give up,» Lola sighs. She's still gloomy, but, lately, she has talked a little more. She even smiled at me, once.

After receiving a decoration for saving my life, she also was promoted from chambermaid to head maid. Bea still is the chief, but Lola has the title and salary of a head maid.

It means she can sit with me and have tea. She can talk with me when I'm bored... Stuff like that. It's a little lower than being noble, but not too much. Most barons won't have the chance to chat with the Queen, actually.

«I don't care if they insist. I won't let them have my baby. Not after all the hard work of giving birth to him!» I say.

The secretary leaves after finishing the report, and I spend the rest of the day reading letters on the sofa and eating snacks.

«His Majesty won't allow them to hurt his Highness,» Lola says.

I smile at her, and she blushes.

«Nor your Majesty,» she adds. She doesn't specify whether she means that I wouldn't let anyone hurt Lars or that Ignis won't let anyone hurt me. Not that it matters because both statements are true.

«The High Priest hasn't visited in a lot of time, right?»

«It's correct,» I say.

«Isn't it suspicious, your Majesty? He would come here so often before. Why is it that now, when the Church has an interest, he doesn't visit your Majesty anymore?»

Not only Adelphium didn't come here, but he also didn't write anything. I knew it could happen, so I didn't worry. If he is tricking me, it's too early to use my trust for his purposes. But, if he's not tricking me, he must be cautious.

«He will come when something happens,» I say. After all, he's been around at the relevant times. His friend will tell him when that is, and he'll appear in the Palace and pretend it was fate.

«I'm just worried, your Majesty. Is his absence a piece of good news or of bad news? What if he's planning something?»

«He certainly is,» I explain. «He's planning something, and I can't be sure what. Yet, I can't worry about him all the time. I know he'll come here when it's relevant. As such, we can rest assured. If he's not around, we're safe.» Or, at least, I hope we are.

Also, the High Priest isn't the only one I need to watch my back from. The Queen Grandmother has been silent, and I'm starting to think it's because she has her own agenda. The Queen Dowager officially retired from politics, leaving all her influence for the tea parties she rules... Not that it makes me sleep sound nights.

The royal family is a mess, just like always. However, I now stand in front of a challenge. If ever Ignis leaves for the front, I'll be left to rule in his stead. Alone.

I don't think the other Queens will just accept it. Nor the rest of the family: they hate me. I did my best to be unfriendly, to be honest, but it's their fault for bullying my husband.

«The Palace doesn't stay calm for too long,» I say, reaching out for a cinnamon pastry. «Something will happen soon enough. Either some drama at the court or news from the Church. But I can't worry about it all the time. I'll be concerned after it happens, not before. Right now, I have the King defending me and our son.»

«That's right,» Lola says, nodding her head.

It's not as energetic as it would be before, but she's reacting. It's a relief: I thought she would stay silent and trembling forever. Her improvements are so slow but every little change makes me happy.

«His Majesty will protect your Majesty with all at his disposal! And he won't allow the Church to take his Highness away.»

Ignis also seems to be back to his tender self. He sleeps with me, hugging my body tightly. He plays with Lars, always paying attention not to get fried by magic.

However, I'm afraid his change might be temporary. What if who I say these months was the real Ignis, and the tender man I love surfaces only when there is a crisis to solve? Oh, but I can't think like this!

But, if that was the case, I could just make sure there's always an emergency to solve. I can send diplomacy to hell and make things worse faster so that Ignis doesn't suffer.

Or I could learn how to behave with this other part of him. No matter the reasons, it's a part of him I will meet again at some point.. It's better to accept it.