A simple and sweet sapphic romance between a young princess and the powerful witch entrusted with curing her from a dark curse. A soft, medieval fantasy slice of life... with dark clouds on the horizon.
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After the unstoppable rush of events subsequent to Verina and Kara's first encounter, life seemed to placate itself; days went by leisurely, as the two young women started sharing their life in the castle.
Anyone who knew just the name of Lady Verina, a strong woman whose incredible abilities forged legends, would have imagined her ruling over the servants and the ministers like a second queen; the witch however proved the palace's servants entirely wrong. As the princess strolled at her side, she treated everyone like equals, standing out in such a place where orders were given day and night. Every time she could do something herself, she would, despite Kara's and the maids' insistence; and when she couldn't, she would usually slide a few coins in the servant's hand, causing light -and happy- panic attacks.
The new image that Verina quickly painted in their minds rendered the wild gossip about the new couple strangely favorable. A same-sex relationship was already unthinkable; while the existence of them in society was silently implied, seeing one as blatant and obvious as theirs was impossible in normal settings, let alone with a princess! Their displays of affection, from the sweet nicknames to the bold kisses, were the main topic of discussion among all servants and visiting officials, talked about in strange, melancholic tones. A sane envy encompassed their words: ah, to be this happy! ah, to be like them! ah, to not care about the world!
The other two residents of the castle had wildly different approaches to that situation.
King Kaster seemed to avoid the pair whenever he could. While most of the time his appointments were real, as he met his trusted men and guided his nation, anyone could tell he was actively trying not to be in the same room with his daughter and the witch, always together like conjoined twins.
As the two enjoyed their meals and their hobbies, a keen eye would have noticed the ruler's figure take sharp turns around corners, disappearing from sight as quickly as he appeared. The witch had become aware it of soon.
Queen Lizàr, on the other hand, seemed to have fun meeting the two and teasing them. It was usually during supper, or while visiting the garden; the three women would usually laugh at the queen's funny remarks, which baffled Verina every single time. She would have never expected such a reaction from what she could describe as 'her future mother-in-law'.
«Have you always been this way, Lady Verina?» asked once with a smile, bringing the teacup close to her lips.
«Which way, my Queen?» replied hesitantly the other, reaching for a biscuit, as Kara watched intently.
«You know... 'Like my daughter'.»
Her fingers stopped before reaching the sweet. She waited a moment, pondering if that would be the right time to tell such a story to Kara...
«I have never been uncertain about it.»
«And you never thought of marriage?»
«Just once, but with a woman.»
Kara moved her chair closer to the witch, captured by such an important detail «Tell me, my beloved.»
"I knew it..." Verina sighed, adjusting herself, ready for narration.
«You already know it, but when I was 15, I left Tardeburgo to go to University. At the time, I was more interested in magic than anything else: having spent my whole life in my little village, learning true spells instead of the silly tricks I had invented until then... it was a great time, and I cherish that period greatly.»
«After a few years, when I was... your age, Kara... I met a wonderful girl. In class, she was clumsy, but her magic skills were peculiar, and stood out among the others for her beauty and courtesy. She was funny, always ready to joke and break rules... Her name was Gloria.»
Kara frowned a little, and gave a special look to her mother; the Queen, just as surprised, responded with a secret gaze, one that the princess had learnt to understand perfectly: 'don't speak'.
«As we... continued our studies, and she relied on me more and more to pass her classes, we... came to be close. She was stubborn and determined, and when she... confessed to me, I gladly accepted.» The other two gasped.
«Among magic users, deviance from the norm feels written in our blood... Many change their bodies, their appearances, and homosexuality is not uncommon. So I thought we could have... had a normal relationship, in such a context... but she was a duchess, and... she wanted to live our love in secret. Only our closest friends 'knew'.»
Kara, speechless, kept rotating her spoon on the spot, every piece of the puzzle making her doubt her sanity. Lizàr, on the other hand, was trying her best to keep her cool and not to say anything. This thought of hers... she would bring it to the grave, if she had to.
«We spent two years together... No one knew about us, and it felt both sad and exciting. I even had innocent fantasies about... living our lives together... But as time passed, and the end of her studies was approaching, she realized her feelings for me had changed, regardless of the secrecy we were forced into... Once she graduated, we chose different paths.»
The Queen finished her tea, now focusing on the biscuits. All three women avoided eye contact, looking at different things. «Then..? What happened?»
«We kept in contact, as friendds... a few letters, once in a while... a couple of parties... she was happy to invite me to her events, and I was just as glad to see her. While I continued my studies in Shendu, mostly focusing on my sword fighting skills... she met a prince, and they got engaged. I was at their wedding, even.»
«So, we are talking about Queen Gloria of Elisia, for real?» exclaimed the princess, breaking her silence. Verina nodded shyly, a bit embarrassed.
The Queen sighed, smiling at her child, trying to convince her not to push it further. Lizàr had guessed right: the witch hadn't figured it out yet.
«After the Chrome Dragons, I... left. I went to live permanently in Shendu, needing special treatment for my wounds ... Then I got trapped in the Library and forty years passed and... things have changed indeed.»
Verina finished her tea, and bit a biscuit. Despite her embarrassment, it was something that needed to be said, at least to Kara.
«I met her again, last year, at the party for my return. She's now 64, she has had children and grandchildren, I don't really know... It was a pleasant reunion. Nostalgic, but sweet. She explained me a few things, and told me a bit about her life... Only then I understood her love for me had just changed form. It was healing. I haven't seen her since, but that's ok...»
The Queen stood up, with a pleasant smile, ready for another witty comment «This story boils down to the fact that you 'have a type', am I correct?»
Verina's words stopped in her throat, leaving her body as a muffled sound. Kara couldn't contain her laugh no more, as she hugged the witch with sweet tears in her eyes «Royal girls with magic powers, is that it? Hahaha!»
«I really don't understand you, Queen Lizàr. Your reactions are... never what I expect. With all these jokes and teasing...»
The Queen laughed, leaving the scene «Just as my daughter has always liked women, I have always been like this. I guess it's my mother's fault, after all...»
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