Tears

Part 22~Rulers

People were not happy. The group slid through the crowd, watching them cautiously. The people screamed as Eris held her head up high. "Everyone be silent. Tell me why you have a problem with this outcome?"

Amongst the crowds, the loudest and most frequent was that the knight of Bluethorn was female. "How could you let a lady compete at all?"

"Quiet! We spelt out the rules clearly on the first day. Anyone of noble blood can compete, and if they should complete all the challenges, they will get my hand in marriage. Lady Laeratta was the only person of noble blood to complete the challenges. Therefore, she has won my hand and proven herself to be a suitable ruler of the kingdom. If you disapprove of her, you disapprove of our kingdom's traditions."

Moc grinned from her place at the back. "All hail the future queens!"

The rest of the group began cheering it, slowly turning the crowd until the entire kingdom was praising their future queens.

~~~

"I cannot believe that worked," Eris sighed as she collapsed on her bed.

Star and Moc hovered around her with a soft grin. "You shouldn't doubt Marco and the others. They can be scarily smart."

Eris nodded as Janna walked in. "Well, I don't know what I made, but it's a drink."

Eris snorted, taking a cup from her tray. "I still don't believe my kingdom will approve."

"It'll be okay," Star promised. "She has proven herself, and you will continue to prove yourselves, bringing the kingdom into a new age of prosperity."

"I hope so. I know Learetta will be an amazing queen."

"She'll be an amazing wife," Moc added as Eris chuckled.

"I can't wait to be able to sleep in the same bed," she cheered as Star smiled.

"You've earned this. Now, let's wow your kingdom!" Her hands glowed as Eris jumped up.

"Bring it on."

~~~

"Hey, stay still," Marco warned, running the brush through Laeretta's hair.

"But what if I'm a terrible queen? I could ruin Eris's kingdom." Laeretta tried to stand up, wanting to pace as Marco pulled her back on the bed.

"Stay."

"She's not a dog," Solar chuckled, painting Learetta's nails as Marco rolled his eyes.

"No, a dog can stay."

Tom smiled, bringing out the dress. "You shouldn't worry. Every heir panics about their role in the kingdom, but if you listen to your people and you care about what they say- well, the constructive stuff- then that's enough." He paused, "what about this dress?"

Marco and Solar glanced up, answering together. "Not her colour. Try something lighter."

Tom held the dress up, looking confused, before returning to the wardrobe.

"He's right, you know," Marco added as he added a pin to her hair. "Just believe in your people and yourself, and remember you're not alone. You have your advisers and your wife. They'll help you through it all."

"She's not my wife yet," Learetta squeaked as the group chuckled. "Besides, what do you all know, you've turned down your kingdoms?"

"I'm not royalty," Marco corrected, "but I do lead an elite fighting force and have to go to way to many diplomatic meetings."

"And I'm still a prince. I'll be inheriting when my parents step down," Tom added. "I've been trained in this sort of stuff."

"Apparently not how to dress well," Marco chuckled as Tom looked at the dress in confusion.