Amy

“That’s… I mean, I um… that is to say… The bunny ears are May’s fault?”

“May?” Queen Katherine asked me, arching an eyebrow even as Firanna and Clara let out twin sighs. “As in the alchemist who produced my Daphne’s potion?”

“Yes, well, she wouldn’t join our adventuring party as a gatherer if I didn’t agree to allow her to brew my mana potion, so… I um… allowed her to?”

“You’ve created an adventuring party?”

“I-it’s just something she does in her spare time,” Firanna hurried to say. “Father must have told you about the condition of her core, yes? She needed to form a party in order to get her hands on mana cores.”

“Ah, yes, he did mention something about that,” Queen Katherine murmured. Her brow remained furrowed, though. “Still, I must question your choice of members. Does she even know how to properly identify and harvest materials? Or is she simply familiar with them in their processed state?”

“I… she seemed familiar enough, in the field?”

“So you never actually questioned her on the matter?” she pressed. “Certain magical plants can be dangerous when not handled properly, you know. I myself can name several that look utterly harmless, but are in fact extremely poisonous to even touch if not first processed properly.”

“She wasn’t in any danger with me around,” Pauline spoke up. “I would have healed her.”

“That’s all well and good,” the Queen replied, “but I’d rather she avoid the need for healing in the first place. I understand that you are a powerful healer, and your pride in the matter is no doubt well deserved, but from what I’ve been told you have a bad tendency of treating your healing as the first and last line of defense, rather than a safety net.”

“It’s the only power I have,” Pauline replied, shifting uncomfortably.

“Then I suggest you rely more on the powers of those around you, rather than trying to take care of everyone yourself,” the Queen replied, before turning sharply about. “Now, I do believe I’d like to return to tea and cookies. Clara, would you be a darling and fetch more of both now that Amy and Pauline have deigned to join us?”

“Of course, your Highness” Clara replied, turning and walking back to the kitchen. I couldn’t imagine her being happy about receiving orders from someone other than me or Amelia, but not the faintest hint of discontent showed in her face or voice as she left us.

“Come along,” the Queen commanded, glancing back at us. “I don’t have all day, you know - I still need to speak with Daphne. Not to mention figuring out what her older brother has gotten off to. I swear, he was right behind me on the way here - but no matter. Right now there’s a more pressing topic to discuss.”

“There is?” I asked, reluctantly following her into the dining room. Firanna gave me an apologetic look as I passed her, before falling into step behind me and Pauline.

“There is,” Queen Katherine confirmed, sitting down and gesturing for us to do the same. “Specifically, your lack of confidence in yourself. I heard what you said earlier - about how you think all these girls are only interested in you because of the body you inhabit. I won’t deny that you’re pretty, but do you really think that’s all there is to it? Because I’m fairly sure the original Amelia would tell you different, were she here to speak. That girl couldn’t even get one theoretically straight man to take interest, and yet you’ve managed to assemble the beginnings of a lesbian harem.”

“Auntie!” Firanna protested, her cheeks flushed. “I hardly see myself as part of some harem!”

“A polycule, then, if you’d prefer,” the Queen replied. “The fact remains that no less than three different girls are interested in you, Amy, and not one of them could even stand to be in Amelia’s presence.”

“What’s your point?” I asked, crossing my arms. “That Amelia squandered her physical charms by pushing everyone away?”

“That’s certainly one way to look at it,” Queen Katherine said, “but I’d prefer to take it as proof that the person inside the body matters. Especially to these girls, who’ve taken interest.”

“She’s right,” Pauline said, sounding almost surprised to be agreeing with the older woman. “I… I won’t say that your body doesn’t matter. I don’t think I would have fallen for you if you didn’t at least look like a woman… But now that I have, I… I think I’d at least want to try, even if you returned to being a man.”

“That…” I didn’t know why, but it felt odd hearing that from her. There was warmth at the idea, but also a bit of queasiness when I tried to imagine it. “I don’t intend to turn myself back into a guy - or even claim to be one, I suppose, since… Even if it’s just the influence of this body, I must admit that I… I can’t see myself wanting to be one again… but… but surely I’m not… You couldn’t possibly-”

“I like you,” Pauline said, reaching out to grab my hand from her seat beside me. “I like you - not Amelia, not Daphne, you.”

“I mean, I think anyone would look good compared to those two - err, no offense meant, your Highness.”

“None taken,” Queen Katherine replied, letting out a sigh. “I know full well what sort of person my child has grown into - and though I’ve long hoped to see her grow out of it on her own, I’ve begun to think that nothing will change so long as she has assurances of gaining the throne… But again, that is not what we are here to discuss. Right now the issue is your lack of self-worth.”

“My… what?” I asked, baffled. It wasn’t as if I didn’t know what she was talking about - I knew full well that I could be a little hard on myself, at times. I wasn’t that oblivious. I hardly saw why someone as distant from me in relation and status alike would care, though.

“Your self-esteem,” Queen Katherine replied firmly, dashing any hope I had that I’d simply misheard her. “You happen to be engaged to my niece, in case you’ve forgotten - and while I do not know what quality of yours drove my husband to such a decision, I do know that it wasn’t a choice he made lightly. Nor one he was willing to revoke, even after her mother and I froze him out for a week for making it without our knowledge. You clearly have value of some sort to the kingdom, and that alone should mean you have something to objectively feel prideful about. If that’s not enough, though, there’s also the small fact that you’ve gotten both my child’s love interest and childhood friend smitten with you, and while I have no intention of interfering with either relationship I won’t have you treating Daphne as a being so low that just anyone could defeat her so handily.”

“But - but earlier, you said-”

“I know what I said,” Queen Katherine replied, rolling her eyes. “And now I’m taking it back. Queen’s prerogative. If you must insult your fiancee, then do it by standing above her and being actively worthy of the love you receive, not by treating yourself as dirt and her as something even lower.”

“I don’t understand,” I admitted, shaking my head. “Why do you even care about me?”

“Because you’re engaged to my niece,” Queen Katherine replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “The daughter of my husband and lover. Did you think me some heartless being who’d stand back and let her niece be tied to a sinking stone that can’t even be bothered to try and fight to reach the surface because she’s so convinced she can’t?”

“If you care that much about her, then why doesn’t she bear one of the royal family’s screenstones?” I retorted, only to immediately regret it when I saw Firanna’s face pale.

Queen Katherine didn’t even flinch. “Politics, mostly, if you must know. As I’ve told Firanna before. No matter how much I care for her, I am still required to put the stability of the realm first. Which occasionally means putting on a front when surrounded by nobles who’d be happy to harm her if my affections were to come to light.”

“And yet you’re telling me this?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. “In front of Pauline, and Firanna, and even Clara?”

“Bridgette’s in the kitchen, too,” Queen Katherine replied. “But yes, I am. And do you know why?”

I hesitated a moment, suddenly unsure I wanted an answer. It didn’t help that Firanna had buried her head in her hands, and was now shaking her head back forth.

Unfortunately the Queen didn’t give me a chance to decide.

“It’s because it’s too late for you,” Queen Katherine said. “All of you have already become entangled with the affairs of the royal family. Bridgette’s allegiance is unquestioned, as is Clara’s loyalty to you. Pauline has stumbled her way through solving quite a few issues alongside Daphne, as I’m told you’re aware, and at this point sits in a position where between her value as a healer and the knowledge Daphne has no doubt imparted on her over the years we can hardly afford to let her go, even if we wanted to. The same holds true for you. There is no disentangling yourselves from the royal family. If you try to run you will be hunted. If you try to betray us, you will be discovered and punished accordingly. But if you’re willing to work alongside us, then I think we can build a better future for everyone involved - though that does mean trusting you with some basic information, and hoping that you’re smart enough to make the proper choices.”

I was silent for a moment after that, just staring at her. Pauline was the same, though she at least took the initiative to squeeze my hand and shoot me a reassuring look.

“What do you want from us?” I asked, after a moment.

“I want you to live your best life alongside my niece. I want you to make her happy - and Bridgette, and Pauline. If you could somehow lend a hand to Daphne that would be even better, but I know it might be asking too much. Eventually, you may be called upon to bring benefit to this country - but right now you are a student, learning your way in this world. Still, make no mistake - you’ve already begun to make an impression upon the people around you, and your place in this world will in no doubt be impacted by the way you behave while you’re here. So stop beating yourself up, stand proud, and try your hardest to figure out a way to make everyone - most particularly my niece - happy.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” I confessed, shaking my head. “Did you really come here just to tell me all that?”

“I came to get your measure,” Queen Katherine replied, “and to see if I could glean what my husband sees in you. So far, I must admit that I’m failing - but I trust that he made his choice for a reason.”

“I…” I didn’t know what to say to that.

“I’ve said my piece, for now,” the Queen said, pushing her chair back from the table and standing. “Which means I’ll be on my way.”

“So soon, your Highness?” Clara called out, walking out of the kitchen with a plate of cookies in one hand and a tray of teacups no doubt full of steaming liquid balanced on the other. “I was just about to serve snacks.”

“I’m afraid I must,” Queen Katherine replied, with a small smile. “I really must find where my nephew has run off to, after all. Though before I go, there is one more thing I’d say to your Lady.”

“Y-yes?” I stuttered out, a little worried about what else she might have to say to me.

Queen Katherine smiled. “Wecome to the family.”

~~~

Author's Notes

Hey everyone! My girlfriend went home, and I've been more or less recovering from her renewed absence. Took me a couple days to work on this as a result - I hope it's decent? I'm honestly not sure...

Next up will probably be some Naughty Magic (from Katrice) and then more MOV. Maybe not in that order. We'll see how things go.