Eirian's choice was certainly beautiful. Zhao Yunli carried herself like a queen already and seemed at ease.
Or at least, she could make herself look so.
"You've traveled far for ambition's sake," Eric commented.
Yunli chose her answer carefully. "Not ambition, your grace. Necessity."
Thoughtful, Eric studied her. "You speak well."
Yunli raised an eyebrow. "Did you expect otherwise? I can assure you, your grace, the residents of the Camelia are well educated."
"I know little of them, despite being their king." There was a tone of bitterness to his words.
Yunli worried she had mistepped. "Your absence is suffered, not celebrated, your grace. We thought highly of your father, and we are eager to see in what direction you take the kingdom now."
Eric could help but be impressed by her redirection. "The Camelia and the Crimson Army have served the kingdom loyally for many decades. I look forward to visiting and seeing it with my own eyes as soon as things here calm."
Yunli seemed to resettle. "They would be most pleased to see you."
"Eirian certainly speaks highly of it," Eric said casually. "She seems to be enjoying herself."
Yunli stared into her tea. "Princess Soliel seems to thrive in challenging situations."
Eric snorted. "Indeed. Even when she was small, she was like that. My father and mother were always making excuses for her." It sounds critical, but he says it with the fondness of someone who was right there with her for every one of those moments.
Yunli managed a small smile. "Not much has changed then. But she has done great things for the Camelia. I'm sure you heard about the Battle of the River Fork and the great fire."
Eric's lips pursed in anger. "Yes, and the Land of Song and Snow will be made to pay for their crimes."
"I think your cousin already did a good majority of that. They cower behind their borders now." Yunli couldn't help but let a bit of smugness into her voice, proud of her family and her people.
"Eirian will be celebrated for her achievements. As will the Crimson Army." Traditionally, the King would have arrived within days of the victory to allocate rewards and medals, but things in the capital were only just beginning to calm, and Eric had been afraid to leave. Francis was still causing trouble, and his mother had tracked down the last responsible party for his last brother's death and had nearly upended high society in her revenge. Eric had been treading a fine path, turning a blind eye and reigning her in.
"Princess Soliel has been worried about you." Eirian had not said much on the subject because she didn't know Yunli that well, but she had at least said that.
The small smile Eric offered was soft, real. "We have always looked after one another. She wrote highly of you in her letter. I consider her my most trustworthy ally, and she knows this."
Yunli nodded. The closeness between the cousins was well known.
"She believes you are a suitable choice for Queen." Eric paused. "She knows how dangerous this position is. Do you?"
Yunli froze. She thought she had some idea. She'd enjoyed her history tutors when she was younger, reading about the great kings and queens who'd shaped the kingdoms that existed now. And those who'd failed to do the same and died in terrible, terrible ways. There had been good kings and queens who had fallen, too. Bad luck, trusting the wrong person, the nature of the Rock. Those were the ones that had always stuck with her. The unfairness of it all. Humans loved tragedy. "I have…some understanding of the nature of power. My family has commanded a portion of the Crimson Army for many generations. I understand it is not the same, but I do know it is unpredictable. That others covet it."
"Yes, they do," Eric said tiredly. "Obsessively so."
"I will not lie and say I dreamt of marrying you." Yunli squared her shoulders. "Until Princess Soliel came to me, it was not something I ever imagined was possible. My family is noble, but not that noble. It would have been a far-fetched dream. I do not generally waste time on those."
Eric couldn't help but be impressed by her pragmatism.
"I want to protect my family," Yunli added. "I assume…Princess Soliel has told you what is happening."
Eric nodded. "She has been sending me updates. I cannot do much about the situation right now. I am under too much scrutiny to show anything that could be construed as favoritism."
Yunli set her tea down. "I understand. Lord Ye made it clear that even if I did marry you, there would be no guarantee it would help anything. I love my brother. I would go to great lengths to help him."
"Including marrying a stranger?"
"Yes. If I knew it would help. It would be an easy choice make."
"I can admire your drive. And your loyalty. Would your family always be your priority?" That could be dangerous for a Queen.
Yunli smiled. "Yes." When Eric frowned, her smile grew. "You need not fear that, your grace. If we were to marry, you would become my family. You would be that priority as well. As would the people of Sorrow."
Eric relaxed a bit. "That is understandable."
"Your priority will always be the kingdom."
He sipped his tea, set it down. "Yes. I no longer have an option where that is concerned."
"I understand."
Eric's smile was brittle. "You say that now, but I know many who have thought that and changed their mind once they experienced the reality of it."
"May I speak of a sensitive subject, your grace?"
Eric nodded, gestured for her to continue.
"I do not feel attraction. I have no desire for intercourse with anyone."
Eric sat up a bit straighter.
Yunli poured herself another cup of tea and took a sip to steel herself. "I have never felt that kind of desire, and I have loved before."
"That is…interesting. I did not realize you could have one without the other." Eric frowned, mind spinning.
"I have tried before. I would not be a virgin bride."
"I couldn't care less about that." Eric snorted. There were some nobles who still adhered to that ancient tradition, but he was not one of them.
"Good. I find it a useless construct." She sipped her tea. "I want children. Many. My own if it turns out I am capable of having them."
"But you do not enjoy sex?" He asked to clarify.
"No, I find it quite painful, but I accept that it is necessary for me to have children. My family is known for being fertile, and there are healers that specialize in that sort of thing."
Eric nodded. "So you would only accept sex to make children."
Yunli nodded. "I understand it is different for others. The…appetites of the Soliel family are unfortunately well known."
The corner of Eric's mouth ticked up. "Yes, they are. And I do share them."
Yunli didn't look surprised. She was unsure how to reveal that Eirian had told her about Eric's… attachment.
Did she just come out and say it?
~ tbc