Love Hate, Hate Love

6.

{Author's Note: I've realized I've neglected  to mention that I do often time-skip between chapters. If that wasn't apparent  in my writing already. I do try to give ages as often as I can so that you, darlings, know the general timeline of events. Enjoy, darlings.

- SilverFlarePlays <3}

The following six years, the 20-year-old Linterna spent her time carefully leaving her home to socialize with the townspeople. She gathered new information about all sorts of things. New events, the latest gossip, and of course on the people she has met. King Eclius also got married in those six years. As Linterna predicted, he married that particular woman who captured her full attention for a sixth of an hour without speaking a word to her. Nine months ago, Linterna had heard the news of the Queen's pregnancy. Oh, how excited the kingdom became at the announcement. Starbridge would have a new prince or princess. However, tragedy struck the Queen. She had passed away from the birthing process. The entire kingdom was both devastated by the loss of their Queen and relieved that not one but two baby boys were born and healthy. Linterna herself was a bit shocked at the news of the Queen's death. She made sure to record her unfortunate demise in her section of the dull red covered book she had.

"I do wonder who will care for the princes... They need a mother do they not? Will maids care for them properly? Will the king nurse them? Mmm... Not likely something King Eclius would do now that I give it more thought... Surely the king will need time to grieve the loss of his wife. There's no doubt in my mind that the princes need someone who can be a replacement for their mother... For the kingdom's success in future generations... For the princes' health..."

This made the wheels in her mind turn. Linterna started to formulate a plan. One that would guarantee the well-being of the new princes as they aged to adulthood. After all, as Grandfather Beasleye told her once, who better to ensure the well-being of the kingdom than herself.

Over the next few weeks following the death of the Queen, Linterna would hear from other women around her age that the king was searching for a new wife. Naturally, Linterna was a bit confused on why the king would move on so quickly. Her father practically went insane because of the death of her mother, and after two decades has yet to have a new spouse. This confusion quickly shifted to a window of opportunity. Linterna could begin her plan. She would pretend that her father was interested in setting her up in arranged marriage with the king. Her father's former relations with the late king and young Eclius would establish some of the trustworthiness of her family's name and intentions. She would specify that she was willing to take care of and protect his sons no matter what happened. She is simply there to care for Eclius' sons to insure the future success of the kingdom. Linterna felt if she included anything that implied that this marriage was anything but contractual the king wouldn't accept it. The man did just lose his wife. Plus, Linterna didn't have any romantic feelings toward King Eclius. It would benefit her if the marriage was nothing but contractual as the king had no need for new heirs.

Linterna over the course of a few days had a series of a dozen different explanations on why she would make the ideal suitor. She was sure many different women also offered to take the position of queen. However, Linterna was likely the only one neither interested in the title or in Eclius' love. All she cared about was that her kingdom has a strong and capable leader for when it is Eclius' time to move onto the next life. All she had left was to wait for Eclius to make a decision on which woman would be lucky enough to marry the 26-year-old.