The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen - Chapter 185

It’s dinner time, and I’m sitting at the table with my whole family. Father and Antonio joined in, finally, and they’re asking me questions about everything. Their interrogation becomes quite insistent when it gets to how Ignis treats me. They want to be sure I’m safe, comfortable, and taken care of.

They also insist that Lars resembles me and that we’ll be even more similar when he grows up. I don’t mind my son being just like Ignis, though. Moreover, with his grey eyes, he’ll steal hearts. I haven’t known very well about how pretty they could be until I’ve seen them on someone else. On me, they looked pretty ordinary in the mirror.

When Marius reaches us, it’s late. He sits next to mother, and she smiles at him with her usual calm. They must have met before if he’s not jumping on Antonio right away.

«How are you?» mother asks.

«I’m doing well,» he replies, filling his plate and eating two portions of meat at once.

He’s hungry because he worked for the whole day. This reminds me… If Marius finished early, maybe Ignis will come too. Oh, fat chance. He’ll let me have some time with my family.

He doesn’t come to me when nothing happens; now that there are people, he’ll use it as an excuse to avoid me like a plague.

«And how was work?» I inquire.

If Marius didn’t have time to eat, I can’t imagine Ignis. Was there someone looking over him? I wish I could send Tobin to check his meals, but the captain isn’t allowed to leave my side.

«Not good,» he replies, drinking some water like a castaway.

One would think this kid has been on a deserted island for days and not just working with the Council for a few hours. He’s hungry, thirsty, and also tired. It makes it easier to believe Flavius’s stories about how the Royal Family mistreated him in the past: they have it in their blood!

«Yes?» I add.

Not good is not an answer. I want to know more, especially regarding my husband.

«I don’t know whether I should tell you or not, but… But the situation is so bad. We’ve tried our best to stop it, but it happened.»

«What happened?»

«Ventis sent the declaration of war this morning. We’ve sent back a peace offer, but it was rejected. Their troops are already at the border, and the King is still managing the last formalities with the army.»

«Wait,» I murmur. «A declaration?»

«Yes, sister. We’re at war.»

So, it did happen, in the end. Since the moment Ignis stopped having nightmares, our fate was signed. He knew it, but he still tried stopping it.

«And… What will happen now?»

«The army will stand in front of them and protect the cities nearest to the borders. We also will look for allies and friends. It will be bloody and expensive, but we don’t have a chance. They’ve been waiting for a chance for decades, and they finally found an excuse to start a war and invade our territory.»

«We have a plan ready,» I sigh. «But it’s too soon, maybe it’s not enough time to activate all the phases!»

«I don’t know that,» Marius sighs, shrugging.

I turn to father and wait for his advice. Mother will also tell me later what she thinks when it’s just the two of us. She’ll instruct me about how to use my powers in this situation.

A Mage can turn the tables just like that, but we also can’t just fight humans. It wouldn’t be fair unless the disadvantage was evened by something else. Like numbers.

«I know how to fight,» I try.

«Nonsense!» father exclaims. «You’ve just given birth. You can’t fight at the front now.»

«Oh, I see…» But it won’t be now. In the future. We’ll need time to organise our defence and place the army.

Even if I became a relevant figure to move, it wouldn’t happen so soon. I’m almost healed from childbirth, and I will be able to train my body like before in a few days’ time. Maybe just a week or two.

«A war is indeed a scary thing, but it’s not the end of the world. There has always been one, raging somewhere. Ventis has always been a difficult opponent, even if their influence and abilities are no different than ours. They wouldn’t start a war alone, so we better find out who’s backing them up. Or, most likely, you’ve already found out.»

He moves his eyes from me to Marius and back.

«We have,» I say. «They’re communicating with Borea.»

«Borea? Ah, interesting. They don’t have any particular enmity with us, but they might be eyeing part of the territory as well. Or they’ll just exchange another region with Ventis at the end of the war? Oh, no… This isn’t that feasible.»

«Do you think they’ll attack together, father?»

«Borea and Alba share a border. It means their soldiers can walk on our soil without crossing other countries. It’s less expensive and easier to attack directly than sending reinforcements to another country.»

«I think the Council already predicted this,» I say.

I turn to Marius, and he nods in a sign of agreement. They know this, but that doesn’t mean they know how to stop it.

«Tell me,» father says, «has the Council started talks of an alliance? I don’t need to know with whom, I can try guessing and it’s not relevant. I just want to know whether there’s a chance to win or not.»

«We are exchanging missives with a potential ally,» Marius confirms.

Oh, yes: Akasite. We’ve been exchanging information and possible tactics, and we didn’t need to promise them much in return. Ventis has part of Akasite’s territory under their control. We pointed out how it could be the right moment to take it back, while they’re busy at our border.

Borea wasn’t involved yet, but it doesn’t change much for Akasite. They will take what they want and leave us to cope with the alliance of two countries neighbouring us.

They won’t continue to fight just because we have a deal: no one would risk their people for that. They will give up with the first chance of a deal with Ventis, but that would buy us time.

«It’s not easy, I agree,» I say. «But we’re ready. More than this is impossible. The King prepared for every eventuality, and he also talked with the generals about our strategy so often that they know him better than me. The Council has explored different routes before choosing who to make an alliance with. If we lose, father, then there’s nothing we could have done from the start.»

«War isn’t all about strength and strategy, daughter. Anything could happen, even by chance. Never let your guard down because, when you regret it, it’s too late.»

It’s as if something happened and changed our lives forever. I don’t know what, yet. I’ve just heard it, unofficially, from my brother. Yet, nothing will be how it was, right?

We’ll have to defend our place with weapons, and that’s something I never wished for. Even the Queen Dowager wouldn’t suggest a war.

I don’t know how it will be: I’ve been sheltered for my whole life. All I know is that people will love lives, houses, food and health. Even when we win, it won’t mean we’ll have less pain.

Everyone has prayed, someone in the open and others in secret, for the war to be just a story someone lost control over. Yet, now that it’s done, we don’t know what to pray for anymore.

«I’m worried,» I say. «I fear I won’t be able to do my part. What if I’m incapable? Alba will suffer because of that, and I wouldn’t forgive myself ever. Isn’t there any way to stop it? Not even one?»

«You can’t stop something that was written long ago. If not now, it would have happened in the future. At least, it didn’t come as a surprise. His Majesty is ready, and we all should be firm by his side.»

«What can I do, as a Queen?»

«There’s a lot you can do, daughter. First of all, use your funds for the people and the soldiers. Instead of buying yourself expensive things, you can donate that money. You can buy food and send it to the front, or you can build hospitals for the wounded.»

«I can help,» I say. It’s nice to hear it.

«Yes, you can. A Queen isn’t there just as decoration. His Majesty knew it when he chose you: you’re an asset for Alba. Even without international connections or standing in social circles, you’re quick at making decisions and knowing the difference between good and bad. You will be helpful, daughter. I’m sure of it.»

«Oh, thank you, father. Your words comfort me a lot.»

«It’s the truth.»

«Maybe, but hearing it from you makes it feel more real. It’s believable!»