Amity and Enmity

Chapter 46

Day: 1231

Days Left: 4249

Lives Saved: 6

Queen Corinna IX stared at the seventy photos of all of the marriage candidates that had attended the party; all spread out on the table.

"Oh, isn't this fun!" squealed Duchess Sophia Vipond, giggling as she pointed at the princes she found particularly awful. "Which ones should we keep- I mean, which ones does Your Majesty believe would be suitable to move forward to the next round."

"Next round? How many will there be?" asked the queen tiredly, hoping it would not be some long, drawn-out competition.

"As long as it takes for Your Majesty to decide," answered Councillor Triggs. "We must not rush this process, as one of these photos will be the future King Consort."

"And your baby daddy," added Sophia, shaking her head at the photo of Prince Viggo, who had attempted to impress with his piano skills and his pride squashed by the queen's photographic memory. "Oh, do you think he'll still want to marry you?" Sophia laughed.

There was a slight twinge in Cori's stomach. She regretted embarrassing the prince, creating a mockery of his whole life's passion. Though, in the moment, she had enjoyed destroying that annoying arrogance of his, there was perhaps a more tactful method of doing so. Or maybe she could have just not chosen him for the next round of candidates.

"Prince Viggo is from a country of little consequence," said Councillor Triggs. "It is on the other side of the globe; we have little gain from an alliance. Everything they export, we already have contacts, nor are their allies particularly strong."

"Goodbye, dear Prince Viggo," sang Sophia, tossing the photo aside.

Cori decided from then on to make a more vocal effort in narrowing down the candidates; otherwise, Sophia and Triggs would beat her to it.

They discarded a few more photos of candidates that left little to no impression or were from countries and bloodlines of no consequence, according to Triggs' counsel, and then kept the ones that a marriage alliance would be incredibly beneficial.

Outside the drawing room, they could hear the clashing of swords and muffled bickering; Prince Fiorenzo and Princess Natasa had been duelling almost every day with no winner yet determined as they continued to even the scores. Both appeared oblivious that they were trespassing into forbidden parts of the castle for guests, but the queen had deemed them both harmless.

"Are those two still fighting!" grumbled Councillor Triggs, shaking her head in disapproval. "Your Majesty, we can order them to desist-"

"No, no!" objected Sophia. "Let them continue! After so many days, we have to know the victor!" She added aside to her cousin, the queen, "and who has the better stamina, yes?" She giggled, glancing at a photo and immediately throwing it over her shoulder. "Definitely not!"

"Not that one," said the queen. Then, with a wave of her hand, the photo was enveloped in a shining blue light and flew back onto the table.

"Really! You want to keep him!" Sophia shook her head in disapproval. "He got all snappy when I tried to ask him questions."

"I agree, Your Majesty," said Councillor Triggs hesitantly. "His magical bloodline... it is rather thin. I looked more into his family, and he was telling the truth that some of his relatives are non-mages."

"Why would you want to move him into the next round!" scoffed Sophia.

Cori stared at the photo of Prince Elis, at the white and green mask of leaves. Then, she recalled Rhea's advice to choose someone with whom she could be friends or, at the very least, possess the qualities she would want in her children. The queen was unsure yet which advice to take, to go for a magically powerful partner, political connections, or a friend... but she did not have to decide yet.