WITCH - The Queen

Bonus 1

The wedding proposal Charlotte received was more than unromantic. Did Cleo kneel in front of her? No. Were there flowers? No. A ring? No. Not even that.

How it came about was another matter entirely.

Charlotte's parents urged her to marry an older wizard who, like all immortals, still looked young, but was actually an old man. Older than Charlotte. Older than her parents.

Her father invited him to dinner. Cleo spent the weekend with them and therefore took part in the solemn event. At the dinner table, her parents discussed the wedding with him and expected Charlotte's approval. After all, it was about the family. It would benefit them all.

Cleo listened calmly to the disaster, while Charlotte was ready to throw her cutlery at someone. And then, just as her parents were about to set the date and Charlotte threatened to emigrate to the vampires again, Cleo stood up and turned to the parents of her best friends.

"Do you know the word 'no'?", she asked, taking Charlotte by the hand, and pulling her out of the dining room. The two took a carriage and drove to the small village near their parents' house. There they sat down in the only café, drank coffee, and scolded about it together.

"I don't understand it!", grumbled Charlotte. "I said 'no' over and over again and they thought I'd just go along with it? As if I would change my mind just because they put him right in front of my nose!"

"I know the problem very well." Cleo rolled her eyes. "My mother has the same idea. Your parents see a big advantage. But I'm sure they want the best for you. And they think he's best. Unlike my mother. She wants the best for herself. Just for yourself."

"Your mother lost her mind!"

Cleo stared at her in shock. "Don't say that too loudly!"

"Why?" Charlotte grinned. "No one here knows you. No one knows who we are talking about. And it's the truth."

"Now, I agree with you..." Cleo sighed. "My goodness..."

Charlotte crossed her arms. "I'd rather marry you!"

"Me?"

"Yes. I would know what I'm getting! There are no surprises! And neither of us can be married off to some fool." The thought made her laugh. "Just imagine it. Our parents would rage."

"Well. Why not?"

"What?" Had Charlotte heard that right?

Cleo smiled. "Why not? Charlotte? Would you like to join me in upsetting our parents?"

"What? Cleo! That's not funny!" Charlotte almost spilled her coffee as she picked up her cup. "A very bad joke!"

Cleo just shrugged. "Will you marry me?"

Charlotte's mouth remained open, and she put her cup back down before she could spill the dark drink onto her yellow dress. "Cleo? Are you really asking me that?"

Her best friend, her dearest, best friend grinned mischievously. "Yes."

"Yes!" Charlotte jumped up, ran around the small table, and stumbled into her arms. She tripped over a table leg. "Yes! Yes! And yes!"

Cleo laughed and hugged her. "Me too."

The two then stayed for a week with Karlo, their old school friend from the academy. He told Charlotte's parents that he didn't know where Charlotte was when they looked for her. They wanted to check on Cleo's estate next, Karlo told them later. But Cleo's estate was far away. The two had quickly hidden in one of their guest rooms when Charlotte's parents knocked on his door.

Karlo helped them plan the wedding, which took place at the end of the week. Secretly. As their best friend, he did his best to give them the perfect little wedding. And it was perfect.

After that, chaos broke out. The queen was furious but eventually relented as the people celebrated for days. One of their friends had told the press about the wedding and they published a large article two days after the wedding. Their union was considered a good sign by the people. Good years lay ahead of them. But Charlotte's parents did not want to be convinced. The two friends, no, the newlyweds didn't care about this.

They were happy.

And in love. Presumably, they had been for a long time...

(c: sasi)