The Cursed Tyrant and His Reluctant Queen - Chapter 190

Marius comes back from his mission soon enough, and he snuggles in my chambers just like usual. Aria follows him, silent and a little worried.

«Hello, Aria,» I say.

«Your Majesty,» she says, curtseying perfectly.

I bet Marius helped her with this! I was right: these two have been seeing each other way more often than what was necessary for our mission.

«There is someone I’d like you to meet,» I say while walking toward the sitting room.

«Yes, your Majesty.»

«My mother is here…»

«Mo-mo… Her Majesty?» she says, opening her eyes wide.

«You can call her, her Highness, Duchess Bursio.»

«Oh…»

«It’s the same, her title is hidden, either way. She’s meeting another Mage right now… Well, other two. I felt it right to introduce you as well. You can ask her about anything troubling you, and my mother will know the answer. She’s more powerful than I am, and she’s wise.»

«Master said that you would accept to become the King’s wife and that our Queen would send you to a mission here.»

«Your teacher was a wise man.»

Are we so predictable?

«My maids are inside, but they’re not pretending to be oblivious,» I explain. «A lot has happened… I don’t know whether you’ve heard about my son.»

«Oh, right! Your Majesty, congratulations! We are all so happy to hear about the Prince!» she says, her eyes and face shining with happiness.

«Thank you… Lars is a Mage.»

«Lars? Is that the name?»

«His first name is Laurentius.»

«Oh, what a coincidence!»

«Rather than a coincidence, we have a brave King,» I chuckle.

We walk in, and mother moves her eyes away from Flavius to analyse the girl next to me.

«Mother, this is Aria. She’s a Mage from the city, and she knows the only few others living here. They’re a family, now.»

«How… How many?» mother inquires.

«Including me, eight, your Majesty.»

«You can address me as the Duchess. It will be less confusing for everyone,» mother comments.

«It’s a pleasure to meet you. Master had taught me a lot about our Queen… He said you are wise and guide us carefully.»

«Who is your Master?»

«His name was Mateus, and he died of old age months ago.»

«Mateus? I was wondering where he was hiding… It turns out he came here to the capital while every other Mage fled without regrets. Veronica told me about you and the other kids. You’re doing a good job, surviving in such a place.»

«We don’t have any other choice, your M-ma… Highness. This is where we were born, and we know no other place than Mavale.»

I let the girls talk, and my eyes explore the room. I already know enough about Aria’s Mater, but I’m not surprised mother knew him personally. He must have been powerful, hence they must have met.

The maids in the room are doing their usual job. I’ve started preventing access to my lodgings to anyone else but the few maids I trust since the day we became so open about magic. We talk about it as if it wasn’t a grave sin and potentially a crime.

Marius is listening to the conversation in silence, moving his eyes between mother and Aria. He would smile a little while looking at the girl, and he would then look back at mother and wonder what she thought. Will she like Aria? I can read this question on his face.

There’s another one, though, who seems interested all of a sudden.

His black curls are still dancing in the air from how fast he has moved his hair, and his eyes don’t move a millimetre away from the blonde girl. He stares, in awe. It feels like the first time Flavius sees a woman, for goodness’ sake!

He follows every move, interested and intrigued. She removes the cape when she’s asked to sit, and she looks around as well. It’s at this moment that she notices Flavius. She smiles, timid, and the boy blushes.

I would have never imagined I would see this kind of scene. Was Flavius even capable of blushing? Oh, this human weapon is becoming more and more a person every day.

What makes me worry, though, is Aria’s reaction. She also blushes, and she looks Flavius in the eyes for a long second.

Is this how love is born?

Marius isn’t yet aware of it, but he feels something is happening. I can tell he doesn’t like the atmosphere, all of a sudden.

Those two were friends! They learnt to understand each other and would hang out together in the Palace. I hope they won’t fight for a girl. Especially because Marius, even though charming and getting handsome as he grows up, wouldn’t be able to battle with a Mage like Flavius. He’s strong and dangerous, and he might not understand that hurting the opponent wouldn’t bring him any extra points…

Also, Flavius is like a doll! He’s pretty and cute when he’s not acting like a crazy kid.

I would be confused as well if I were Aria.

Oh, maybe I’m overthinking. Love isn’t this easy to create. And it’s not like worrying would solve anything. I better stay out of it and let the kids make their experiences. I’ll comfort my brother if he’s rejected, and I’ll teach Flavius to let go of grudges if Aria doesn’t like him back.

Goodness me, has there ever been a teenage love more dangerous than this? Two of them are Mages, rather powerful at that. And the third is my brother!

I was so lucky: I got married to the best man in the world without doing it on purpose, so now I don’t have to think about choosing my lover anymore! I have my son, and that’s all I could ask from life.

«Am I right, Veronica?» mother asks me, all of a sudden.

I don’t know; I wasn’t listening. I knit my brows, trying to find a way out of this situation. Should I just say yes after pretending to be thinking about it?

I shrug. I’m not sure nodding is the right answer. Like this, with the expression of someone agreeing with mother, I get out of it. But I should focus on the conversation rather than on love matters.

They will solve it on their own, after all. Just like I did when it was my turn… More or less.

«Being a Mage is difficult at this very moment, but things won’t stay the same forever. One day, you will be able to show your talent without fear. And, who knows? Maybe you’ll find a better job thanks to it.»

«It’s not that I don’t believe you, your Highness. It’s just so difficult to imagine it. My parents were burnt because of Magic…»

«It won’t happen to you. We found you in time. Whatever happens, you only need to call for us, and we’ll find a way to rescue you. Be it by barging in the Church and claiming you as a servant of the Crown!»

«Oh, that’s me!» Flavius said, raising his hand.

He’s happy to have something to say, finally.

«I serve the crown and can use my magic without hiding.»

He even raises his chin, all proud. To him, telling her he’s Ignis’s court Mage is a big honour… Does he know that most of us will think he’s a plaything for bored nobles?

«That seems so good,» Aria comments. «Not hiding, I mean.»

«Yes, it is. Why would I hide, though? They can’t get to me. You can become like me, and you wouldn’t need to hide either.»

I knew it. This brat is so smooth all of a sudden! Marius, you have to move faster if you want to stand a chance.

«Aria doesn’t want to become a weapon,» I point out, warning him with my expression not to over-talk. I’m sure he won’t get the message, but it was worth a try.

«How do you know?»

Aria widens her eyes, turning to me with a wary expression.

Is that how one talks to the Queen? I know, she must be worried about the consequences. Oh, Flavius should learn some proper etiquette.

But I’ve grown so used to him that I realise how impolite he can be only when there’s someone else listening. He doesn’t do it too often, though. And Ignis told me it’s not his fault.

The late King was very strict about manners, so he would punish him often. Ignis decided to do the exact opposite and let him grow a loose tongue.

«I mean… Your Majesty, how do you know what she wants? I am the mind reader here.»

«Well then, does she want to?» I sigh.

«No,» he murmurs, pouting.

Aria widens her eyes even more, clenching the armrests.

«A mind reader?» she exclaims.

«Not exactly but almost,» I say. Mind readers as humans imagine them don’t exist. No one can read a thought, but some mages can get glimpses of it.

Flavius is a Mage of the soul with some control over water. He’s so good at reading the soul that he can understand someone’s mind.

This is something Marius can’t beat, unfortunately. This brat is one in a million, and he seems settled on using it in full to his advantage.

«He’s a soul Mage. He can feel how you feel, what you want, and whether you’re dangerous,» I say. «Also, he can get glimpses of thoughts and tell whether a person is lying. That’s so close to mind-reading, right?»

Aria nods, glancing at Flavius with admiration.

I’m sorry, brother. I don’t know what you can do here….