Queen Zezanna

Queen Zezanna - Chapter 37 (Final)

Several days later...

"What the fuck do you mean?" I ask, exasperated.

Cistax sighs. "Nobody liked Vinill, sure, but... They still don't like that you ran off with a witch. If you want to appease them, nothing short of a public execution would do it for them."

"No way in hell!"

"I know. The only other choice, really, is to just have the commoners angry at you forever until they riot."

"Then what the hell am I supposed to do?" I groan.

I look over at my advisors, expecting an answer.

"Well?"

"I have no idea." Brokk sighs. "It's dangerous to keep your citizens upset. You know that pretty much everyone hates witches. You could just keep living in perpetual danger, I guess. You have a witch and several kickass guards to protect you, after all."

"That sounds so stupid." I sigh.

"Clearly you can't give your girlfriend up." Emma states.

"Obviously."

"Then what choice is left?" Glorion asks.

"I..." I pause.

"What?" Emma asks.

"Tzeeru did say... That if I ever needed a place to stay, his city would be more than happy to welcome me. Ingrell's brother, Markus, has agreed to help them out until they are independent. We're also helping them out however we can."

"So you're suggesting leaving again? Becoming the queen of a new independent nation?" Brokk asks.

"I think it's the only way that I can stay with Ysana and be happy."

"I support you in your endeavors, but who would the throne here be passed down to?"

"Either you or Heroth. You two can figure that out."

Those two are loved in the country, plus Heroth is my cousin, so it makes sense. Brokk is really wise, too. Neither has a next of kin, but once one of them becomes king, they can figure it out.

"Like my father, I have no interest in the throne." Heroth tells me.

Both of Heroth's parents died in battle, and Heroth has admitted that he only truly feels close to them when in the heat of battle. I can understand his reluctance, but one of them has to take the throne.

"My interest lies entirely in what is best for the nation and Zezanna." Brokk says. "If it is what you request, I shall take the throne, my queen."

"Great. You'll do amazing." I tell him.

"It will be best to allow me to inform the public. In the meantime, you should head to Oldport with Ysana... Though it does leave one question."

"What?" I ask.

"That island needs a name. What would you call your new nation."

I smile at him. "Yzanna. Pronounced like Ysana, but everything after the Y is spelled like my name."

"A beautiful mixture of the names of two wonderful women. I wish you luck."

"We'll need it."

Ysana and I leave the castle at midnight, followed by Emma and Heroth. Both have decided to join us in the new nation. Emma, since she is in love with Hailie, and Heroth to act as my personal guard.

"You're quite noble." I tell him.

"I try."

"You would make a great king. Are you sure you don't want to go back and-"

"I'm certain. I've made up my mind."

I nod my head. "You have my wholehearted support."

When we get close to the city that we're departing from, Ysana disguises us as commoners, and we bribe a merchant to bring us to Oldport. She's heading by there, anyhow, so it isn't a big deal for her. Along with the money, we help out as much as we can on the ship, and when we prepare to get off the ship, we make sure to leave everything tidy.

There's still work going on to fix the part of the docks that were destroyed, but we manage to find an empty spot where the docks have been fixed. The merchant drops us off, and we turn towards the kind man coming towards us to say hello.

"What brings you travellers here?" Tzeeru asks.

Ysana drops the disguises, and Tzeeru just about has a heart attack.

"Zezanna! Everyone! What are you doing here?" He gasps.

The people working on the docks stop to see the commotion, and smile when they realize its us. Slowly, a bit of a crowd starts to gather.

"We're here to take up your offer. From here on out, Ysana and I are the queens of the newly established nation of Yzanna."

Everyone on the port cheers, and thanks us for helping to lead them into a new era.

It will take time to establish a castle, and to carve out a place for ourselves in international diplomacy, but as the old queen of Asios, I've certainly got a pretty good start. The whole mess I got in that ended with the death of two kings from different countries, both of which now support me, helps, too.

It will be interesting to see how things turn out.