The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen

Contrary to my expectations, I fall asleep like a lamb.

Ignis doesn't let me go, so I settle in his arms and find a comfortable position. At the same time, I have to ignore the hot sweat running on my back or between my legs until my body calms down.

When all the excitement and the thrills disappear, I can finally relax.

The mattress is comfortable, and Ignis's breathing is calming and regular. I close my eyes and lose myself in this cosy situation.

When morning comes, the birds start singing, and the wind moves the tree leaves outside. The world wakes up, one creature at a time.

Me too, I do wake up. But I can't move an inch to get out of bed.

Is this what happens when people fall asleep while hugging? Oh, not that I have anything to do out there. Not without Ignis nearby, for sure.

We weren't this close when I fell asleep, by the way. And I fell asleep after Ignis, so it wasn't his fault either.

I try freeing my leg stuck between his when I feel something pressing on my thigh. Oh.

I try escaping without waking him up, but Ignis senses my frantic movements, and he catches me before I can roll away.

«Where are you going, wife?» he inquires while dragging me back.

I clutch the sheets out of instinct, even though I don't know what I'm nervous about. It's not like he'll eat me.

«Good morning, husband!» I reply, realising it's pointless to resist. «I need some help from you.»

«Yes?» he says, this time awake and on alert. «What is the matter?»

«I need to use my magic, or I risk losing control when I do it in the future. I haven't been this long without using magic till now, so I don't know how to behave. I never needed to hide for this long.»

«Oh, I understand,» he murmurs while hugging me again. «I didn't know you needed to use magic regularly, by the way.»

«Actually, a small spell once a week is enough to keep it under control. However, I didn't dare to do it in the Palace. I was too afraid of being discovered.»

«What do you think would have happened in that case?»

«I would have been burnt at the stake, and my whole family would pay the price for my recklessness. I don't want my father to lose his title, nor...» I stop before mentioning my mother.

I haven't told Ignis about this before. He might have figured out on his own, though, that I got my powers from my mother.

It's rather evident if someone considers all the details. From the moment my father married an unknown woman, he rarely travelled to the capital. It was as if he was hiding something.

Most people assumed it was because he married a commoner, so we didn't have trouble later.

«What are you thinking about, Veronica?»

«Ah? Nothing.» I'm not sure of what I've made Ignis realise, both now and when we're children. However, I shouldn't involve my mother like this. Just in case.

«What do you need to use magic?» he asks, returning to the topic.

«I'm worried it'll get out of control, so it's better if I'm alone. Also, I prefer natural elements, so a forest or a river would be just perfect.»

«Can you make flowers bloom? Ill trees revive or something like that?»

«I can try, but it doesn't always work. If the tree is dead inside, I can't revive it. But if it's just ill, I can help it gain some life energy.»

«There is a tree in the garden. It looks dry to everyone, but the Count doesn't want to remove it because it was planted by his dead wife. Maybe, you can try reviving it?»

«I can try. But I have no guarantees it will work.»

«Sure. It's worth a try, though. It's very important for... for us.»

Why is Ignis referring to his parents in the third person? By title, at that: the Count and his wife.

It seems that, even if their familiar relations are friendly, they haven't accepted each other yet.

«When did the tree start to show signs of illness?»

«A few years ago, when Fernard enlisted. His father thought of it as a bad sign and tried everything to revive it, but human techniques couldn't help.»

«I don't think I can do anything, Ignis. Magic isn't made of miracles. There are limits to my powers.»

«Just give it a try, will you?»

«All right, but people might suspect if I get close to the tree and it's revived as of tomorrow.»

«They won't mind if it works, Veronica. The Count really loves that tree.»

«All right,» I sigh. «But I want to be alone in the garden. Can you arrange it?»

«Leave it to me. I'll come up with something.»

«Good! Now, should we get up?»

«Not yet. It's early. People will wonder how a loving, freshly-married couple can be up at such an hour.»

«How so?»

It's not like we fight at night, come on. People won't think anything.

«Because loving couples use their energy during the night, Veronica. At least at the beginning.»

Oh, that's what he means. But I don't think it's as exhausting as making people sleep longer.

«I don't want my in-laws to think I'm lazy,» I point out.

«They won't think that, don't worry.»

«Ah, if you're so confident, all right: I'll sleep more!»

I close my eyes and pretend to be snoozing. Ignis observes me for a while: I can feel his eyes on me.

Then, he decides to hug me tighter. Oh, is he going to sleep too?

«Well, you don't need to force yourself to sleep,» he says to my ear.

His breath on my neck is accompanied by a shiver. Everything can cause such a reaction now. After yesterday, Ignis's proximity causes a different effect.

I can't help but desire his lips on me.