Alexia
Nights of storms and thunder.
The sky was dark and it had been raining for days, without understanding how everything seemed calm and yet a thick cloud bordering on sanity challenged sanity, making everyone look tired, stressed and pensive.
I continued every day, sun or rain flying over the surroundings, watching Zaim, the sea and no sign of any change.
Had Zaim's alliance with Torrem really happened? General George's death was something that should have reassured me and Estevan, but the dragon was still in Torrem even after his death, on Charlotte's throne, causing a cold chill to run through my stomach, making me anxious.
Acácio was distant, locked away day and night and meeting only with people he trusted. Now that practically all the councillors had been killed in execution, the others were restricted from meetings about the war, which was limited to me, Estevan and Acácio.
My voice seemed to become more active, I felt that we could work together while I understood every step taken and every variant felt colder every day.
Mariah and Soraya were the only ones distracting me from the long meetings, between the sword training now in the open and my libido not changing, I was always exhausted, swapping cups of tea for pure, strong coffee.
Vomiting a few times and observing my belly every day, I began to notice the difference. It had been a week since the execution of the advisors and every day I felt new changes in myself and my body, subtle but noticeable when I opened my eyes and paid attention.
Estevan must have known he was going to be a father soon, but given the circumstances I preferred to hold back and wait until the confrontation and tension between the kingdoms had passed.
I felt stressed, overwhelmed with feelings that were more intense than usual, I just wanted to sleep until everything passed, but it wasn't that simple, so I got up early in the morning and didn't go to bed until midnight every day, feeling the rigidity of the days and the tension over Olimper, everyone knew that we were expecting a war, all the soldiers were on alert, just as the city seemed to be feeling, so I sat down in front of Soraya and Mariah.
"There's the mother of the year" Mariah said and I gestured for silence, I looked around nobody knew yet, she looked at me and said in a low tone of voice "I'm sorry"
"Soraya, nobody knows yet, only you"
"Mariah is your closest friend, if you can't tell her something like that, who will you tell?"
I nodded.
"I think everyone should know, I know how upset you've been to have a child," Mariah said, believing that more than anyone she understood what it was like to be pressured to have a child.
"I want to tell Estevan first"
"Acacio already knows"
I looked at Soraya in shock.
"Soraya"
She smiled and brought the drink to her lips.
"I remember when I was pregnant, all three times I couldn't drink, that part was bad" Soraya said, smiling incredulously.
"When are you going to tell Estevan?" Mariah asked.
"After the war"
"What do you mean after the war? You know that sometimes a war can last for years."
"When the child is running around the castle, she'll tell him," said Soraya in a mocking tone.
"I liked it better when you were my enemy"
"I didn't, and we both know it," she said firmly.
We laughed together.
"Do you know what name you want?"
"I don't know yet"
"Esmeralda" said Soraya, making me and Mariah look at her, she took a long sip of her drink, looking at her glass "We still don't know if it's going to be a girl or a boy, but it's a good name"
"Yes, it is. Esmeralda sounds perfect"
--------------\\\\\\\\---------------
Charlotte
There was a lot going on under the curtain.
Exchanging letters with Octavian while I maintained my mourning, everyone questioned my position on the throne, saying that a woman couldn't reign alone.
"Majesta, you need to choose a new husband soon," said Councillor Carlos. "Torrem is at a standstill, no one will let you take over the political affairs of the kingdom and they're talking..."
"What are they saying?" I asked, leaning over the throne. "That because I have a vagina instead of a penis I can't rule alone?"
One of the guards choked on his own saliva as he heard my words. By now I didn't care who heard me, I just wanted to be heard. I was tired and irritated by the pressure and I knew that the councilors were plotting behind my back and that Octavian was already on his way to Torrem, much to my relief.
Soon I would put the whole council to flight, I would silence the nobles, I would be so big that no one would oppose my leadership.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, it's just the things I've heard."
"Do you think like them?"
I waited for his answer, his delayed pause only made my blood run hotter.
"No matter what you think, I am the queen of Torrem and no one is going to take my crown!" I said angrily, "A week ago today, my husband died and they already want me to replace him."
"You have no children, you need to hold on to your crown. It was the first time anyone had been so direct with me about what was going on at court, which made me nervous, things were starting to go to extremes.
"I'll find a husband in my own time," I said.
"No need, I'm already here," said Octavian, entering the throne room and raising his arms, "I've arrived at the right time."
"King of Zaïm, what are you doing here?" I looked at him warningly.
"I've come to ask for your hand in marriage" Octavian seemed to be serious. He knelt down in front of the throne and pulled a box from his pocket, opening it to show a shiny ring.
"Queen Charlotte of Torrem, I understand your grief and I'm sorry for your great loss, but I've come a long way with only one question on my mind. Ever since I saw you in Zaim, I haven't been able to forget you. You won my heart as an exemplary woman and a great housekeeper, and now I can't help myself because I think we were made for each other. He looked at me as he waited for my answer.
I didn't feel anything and I knew that Otávio didn't either, we hadn't had much contact but I knew exactly what he was doing, he was demanding a promise I'd made to marry him.
I stood up from the throne and felt my stomach churn, I was anxious, every step I took made me feel more powerful, as I walked towards him on his impeccable performance and his appearance at the moment I needed him, that was it, we needed each other, together.
I stopped in front of him, my smile wanting to break out as I tried to contain it.
"King Octavian, I'm surprised... Your request was rather unusual" I looked at the advisor who seemed to be waiting for my answer and then at Octavian "I'm still in mourning, but I need a new king, so yes, I'll marry you".