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Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 397. The Queen First Day III
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 21:16:17 +0000 UTCThird Arc (Fallen Heart) - 397. The Queen First Day III
Rose blinked once, slowly.
The chancellor went on, as though explaining the weather. "The people have faith in King Angelus, but they also think about the future. A royal heir would not only secure the royal line, but it would also—how shall I say it—ease the minds of nobles and citizens alike."
In other words… the sooner she got pregnant, the better.
Rose suppressed the urge to groan into her hands.
She managed a composed smile. "I understand, Chancellor."
He looked almost relieved. "It is not intended to pressure you, Your Majesty. Only to inform. You are, of course, still newly wed. No one expects an announcement immediately. But..." His eyes twinkled just a little. "Sooner would be preferable to later."
Claire coughed lightly behind her, clearly fighting a smile.
Rose ignored her.
"I appreciate your honesty," Rose said, keeping her voice light. "I assure you, my husband and I are well aware of our... responsibilities."
Chancellor Allan chuckled politely. "Very good, very good."
They moved on quickly after that. Rose could feel it—a huge expectation placed squarely on her shoulders. She had known. She wasn’t naive.
Still... somehow, hearing it aloud made it real in a way that all her lessons, all her political training hadn’t quite prepared her for.
She wasn't just expected to rule with grace. She was expected to create the future of the kingdom.
As the meeting wound down, Chancellor Allan stood and bowed once more. "You have my support, Your Majesty. And the kingdom’s."
"Thank you, Chancellor," Rose said, rising to her feet with him. "I’ll do my best."
"I am certain you will."
When he left the room, Claire moved up beside her, offering her a wry look.
"Well," Claire said dryly, "that was subtle."
Rose groaned softly and rubbed her temples. "If I hear the word 'heir' one more time, I might scream."
Claire laughed quietly. "You'd better not. They'll think you're going into labor."
Despite herself, Rose chuckled too.
She straightened, smoothing down her gown, and looked out the window at the bustling city below.
Her kingdom.
Her people.
Her future.
The thought settled heavy in her chest, not painful exactly, but heavy enough that she needed a moment just to breathe through it.
Her hand rested lightly on the cool stone edge of the window as she watched the merchants setting up their stalls, children darting between them with laughter, banners flapping lazily in the warm breeze. Life continued, ordinary and bright. None of them knew she was standing here.
Claire shifted beside her, noticing the way Rose’s posture changed, the slight stillness that wasn’t there before. She tilted her head. “Something happens?”
Rose shook her head slowly. “Nothing… I just feel weird.”
Claire raised an eyebrow. “Weird?”
Rose exhaled through her nose, a soft, almost-laugh. “I fought against the king on the battlefield,” she said quietly. “Not long ago, Euphorion was my enemy. I stood, drew my whip thinking I was fighting for my home, against a tyrant who had to be stopped.” She let out another breath and turned to look at Claire, a crooked, almost disbelieving smile tugging at her mouth. “And now... I’m their queen.”
Claire didn’t say anything for a moment. She just watched her.
Rose let her hand fall from the window frame and gave a soft, humorless chuckle. “Ironic, isn’t it?”
Claire’s lips quirked into something that was half a smirk and half something gentler. “Maybe. But isn’t that how life works sometimes? The enemy becomes the ally. The stranger becomes the home.”
Rose thought about that, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the carved patterns along the windowsill. “Still feels strange.”
“You’re not the only one adjusting,” Claire said. “The people are too. And from what I can see... they’re willing. They trust you.”
Rose glanced back at the city, her reflection faint in the glass. Not just a princess of Zephyrus anymore. Not a prisoner. Not a political pawn.
A queen.
Maybe even a symbol of something new.
Her fingers curled slightly against the stone. “I’ll earn it,” she said softly. More to herself than to Claire.
Claire smiled and gave her a light nudge with her elbow. “You already are.”
