"Welcome to Earth, Your Highness!"
On the square in front of Schönbrunn Palace, Margaret stepped forward to greet Frigga, the Queen of Asgard, who had just arrived in person.
Just yesterday, Kamar-Taj, acting as a neutral party once again, had informed Josh's side of the Queen's upcoming visit.
Since this was a private visit, it was Margaret—not Carol, the Queen of Austria—who came to receive her.
As for Josh himself, unless Odin showed up personally, he would never appear in person for such a meeting.
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Kahn!" Frigga said warmly.
"Please come with me. I've prepared some snacks and afternoon tea—we can sit down and talk properly," Margaret replied with a soft smile, unfazed by Frigga's familiarity.
She and Josh had already guessed the reason behind this visit the moment they received the news.
It was also one of the reasons Josh didn't want to be present.
"It's an honor!" Frigga nodded.
Once seated in the garden parlor, Frigga went straight to the point.
"I came this time mainly to talk about our children. I only recently found out that Loki and your daughter have feelings for each other. I'd like to know how you all see their relationship?"
"I don't have any strong opinions. I've always kept an open mind about Carol's love life. As long as she's happy, that's what matters. But her father has a much stronger view on this," Margaret raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh? Why is that? As far as I know, Loki and Mr. Kahn haven't had much to do with each other," Frigga asked in confusion.
"Yeah, exactly! But Loki doesn't have a great reputation in Earth's legends, does he? And Josh only has one daughter, Carol, so it's understandable he'd feel a bit protective," Margaret said with a sigh.
"I see… but those are just stories. I raised Loki with my own hands. I know him better than anyone. While his personality can be a bit... unpredictable, deep down he is kind. And in over a thousand years, I've never seen him care so much about a girl!" Frigga said in defense of her son.
Kind-hearted?
Margaret glanced at Frigga with a complicated expression.
Was she really saying that with a straight face?
"…Is something wrong?" Even Frigga, who was usually calm, began to feel a little uneasy under Margaret's gaze.
It was true—"kind-hearted" wasn't exactly a word people used for Loki.
"I understand those are just stories, but Loki will need to do something to prove himself. Otherwise, Josh won't agree to this so easily," Margaret said, shaking her head slightly.
"Prove himself? How?" Frigga asked.
"Simple. Can Loki give up everything he has now for Carol?"
"Give up everything he has now?" Frigga frowned.
"Yes. His title as a prince of Asgard, his status, even his right to inherit the throne," Margaret said while sipping her tea.
"...You mean, have Loki marry into the Kahn family? That's absolutely out of the question!" Frigga's expression changed instantly.
"Nothing is out of the question. Carol is the Queen of Austria, and Austria is one of the Kahn family's core territories. If Loki wants to be with her, he has to make sacrifices. There are many examples like this in history. If Loki can't accept this, it's better they part ways now," Margaret said firmly.
"Is this Mr. Kahn's opinion, or yours?" Frigga asked, her face tense.
"Josh's—along with Carol's decision," Margaret sighed.
"What do you mean? Carol agreed to this too?" Frigga felt a surge of dread upon hearing that.
Just like she had said before, she knew Loki very well. She knew that he actually cared a lot about his right to inherit the throne, but he usually didn't show it because Thor's brilliance always overshadowed him.
Now, the Kahn family wanted Loki to give all of that up just for Carol... That might be too much.
"And not just that," Margaret continued, "if the two of them get married, Loki can't marry Carol as an Asgardian. We will prepare an identity for him as an ordinary Earth citizen."
These words struck Frigga like a heavy blow to the heart.
If the first condition—giving up the right to the throne—only made Frigga worry that Loki might not agree, she still didn't think it was too unreasonable. After all, giving up the throne might not be fair to Loki, but for her other son Thor, it might actually be a good thing.
But now, asking Loki to give up his identity as an Asgardian and live as a commoner just to be with Carol—that was too much for Frigga to accept.
What? Is being Asgardian something to be ashamed of?
Did it harm your dignity?
Since when has Asgard ever been treated like this?
"Your Majesty, I know this condition might sound harsh, but I hope you understand—Earth is not the same as it was before. We don't need a Godly Kingdom suddenly appearing and standing over us. If Loki were to appear as an Asgardian, it would cause chaos in the current world structure..." Margaret explained, seeing the unhappy look on Frigga's face.
"I understand. I will go back and discuss this carefully with Loki and his father... I won't disturb you any longer," Frigga sighed and nodded, then said goodbye.
In her heart, if what Margaret said was true—that both Carol and Josh agreed to these two conditions—then the marriage was pretty much impossible.
Because Loki would never give up his right to the throne, and Odin would definitely never allow his son to become a commoner and marry into a mortal royal family.
Even if Loki was only adopted, even if Odin thought highly of this royal family, which was essentially made up of mortals, it wouldn't matter.
"Don't blame me for being harsh, my child. It's just that your identity is different now. Every move you make has to consider the whole of Austria."
On the balcony of the Schönbrunn Palace's royal chambers, Josh gently patted his daughter's shoulder as he watched the rainbow light of the Bifrost fade in the distance.
At first, his strong opposition to Loki and Carol's relationship came from his stubborn impression of Loki—and the anger of a protective father whose little girl had been taken without his knowing.
But after calming down and thinking it over for a few days, he eventually came to terms with his daughter's feelings—if she liked him, that was enough.
However, just like he said, Carol wasn't just an ordinary girl anymore—she was the ruler of a country.
From the moment she took the throne, many things could no longer be based on what she simply wanted.
Even her marriage—while not as strictly political as in ancient times—still couldn't be treated like a private affair.
To protect the royal family's position, her future husband would have to give up his past life and fully adapt to her role as queen.
Just like Prince Philip of England did.
But with Loki's personality... would he really give up everything for Carol?
That chance was slim.
"No, Father, I understand. If Loki won't accept it, then I'll just treat everything that happened before as a dream," Carol said with a faint smile.
"If you really can't let him go, giving up the throne is also an option. Our family doesn't completely need this royal title either," Josh softened as he saw the pain in his daughter's eyes.
"No, I am the queen of this country, and I will always be. That will never change," Carol said firmly.
Though young, she showed the grace and strength of a true queen.
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