ㅤㅤWhen Quilliene woke up in her room, she found the first words that came from her mouth to be something along the lines of, "I feel like a child that needs special care, and that is not who I wish to be."
ㅤㅤShe wanted to leave and escape to somewhere other than the room that soon came to be looked upon as a prison. Though, after she spotted Kyrana who was sitting on the stained couch - courtesy of Neo's abilities - she knew that it was impossible to convince her to let her leave. No matter how much persuasion she would try. Kyrana looked at her when she spoke, and smiled lightly. Her metal helmet was sitting on the side table and her straight black hair was still in a ponytail.
ㅤㅤ"Good afternoon, your majesty," Kyrana said chipperly. "How did you sleep?"
ㅤㅤQuilliene pursed her lips. "Peacefully," She finally answered. "I wasn't plagued by any nightmares this time, so you could say that it went well." She sat up, puffing her hair out of her face as she glared at the plastic tube in her arm. "How long have I been out? And where is Neo?"
ㅤㅤ"Neo is… taking a watch, your majesty," She answered. "He is at the front gate - a guard got sick. Christopher said he was the only replacement, since I was occupied with you." She twiddled her thumbs. "I do hope he is alright. He placed him with Raemith, so we can only hope they do not strangle each other."
ㅤㅤThe queen stifled a giggle. "Gods, it's as active as ever. I feel as though I've been gone for months, but…" She shook her head. "Neo could handle himself for an hour at most, with how Rae drives him insane."
ㅤㅤ"Yes, well, it's been a bit more than an hour," Kyrana smiled. "Hopefully they will get off watch soon and never have to do such a thing again." She paused, tilting her head with a curious look. "If you don't mind me asking, your majesty - Christopher mentioned having other royalty attend your birthday gala. He said it was for the purpose of you finding a… match."
ㅤㅤQuilliene hummed. "Yes… the traditional, ah, bullshit we have to do." She rubbed the bridge of her nose, sighing at the thought as it threatened to give her a headache. "He doesn't like it much, either, but we've been convinced to hold a ball for that reason this year. And then next year… we've made a deal that we can have regular parties. With a DJ and better food and no royal theme. But trust me, I will spend all day this year rejecting every man and woman that comes my way."
ㅤㅤ"A… normal party?" The guard captain pondered on it for a moment. "So there will be no ball gowns, nor suitors?" She paused, then peered out the window closest to her. "It will feel as if we are entering a new era for once."
ㅤㅤ"Yes," The queen turned to her. "I've always thought about entering a new era and getting rid of all these traditional balls, or at the very least making them more fun for everyone else. I may be wealthy, but that does not mean everyone else who is not doesn't deserve to party. Whatever image they have of my family, I will diminish it."
ㅤㅤ"I see," Kyrana turned to her, smiling. "I'm glad, your majesty, that you are allowing the family to ascent to something new instead of trailing back to the olden days. I think it is mature of you to want to move on."
ㅤㅤ"Some aspects of history are better to be left behind, and to be renovated and reinvented." Quilliene leaned back, resting her head on the pillow as she changed the subject. "Do you know what is on the agenda for today?"
ㅤㅤThe guard caption chewed on her lower lip. "I am sure Christopher will fill you in when he comes to return Neo and retrieve me, your majesty. Which should be soon…" She glanced at the door. "At least, I hope."
ㅤㅤThe queen laughed at that, smiling. Then she paused, clearing her throat, preparing herself for her next inquiry. "Kyra… having disappeared and every-thing, I have not gotten the chance to sit down and have a discussion with you about… what happened last time we saw each other."
ㅤㅤKyrana's soft smile turned more serious as she looked at the ground. "I figured it could just be an accident we would never talk about again."
ㅤㅤ"Kyra," Quilliene said soothingly. "You have known me for some time now. Things like that stick with me." She paused before continuing. "I've pondered over it and it wouldn't be right for you or me if we had not talked about it at least once." Leaning forward, she gave Kyrana her undivided attention. "But we do not have to talk about it if you don't wish to. However, you have been so jumpy since the incident that I would rather release the tension from the room before we both lose our minds."
ㅤㅤThe guard captain interlaced her fingers, forming an almost braid-like appearance with them. "In truth, your majesty," She began slowly. "I had my hopes of furthering our relationship, and… there is really nothing that may come of this." A sad smile spread across her lips. "You are my contract holder, and it is written in the rules that no romantic relations can be shared between the contracted and the master. I have already been able to deem the accident valid with the rising emotions, but I cannot bend the rules any farther."
ㅤㅤThe queen sighed. "Well, when you put it that way, I'm almost… disappointed, I guess. You have been indebted to me and my family for three years now, nearly four. I understand what you are saying, and I respect it. If that is your decision on the matter, then that is mine."
ㅤㅤKyrana nodded solemnly. "I hope you find a good match one day."
ㅤㅤQuilliene nodded and held a hand out towards her, and she took it. "I hope so, too, but I cannot say that is on my to do list first. However, it is still nice to think about. Though I will make a promise to you…" Her eyes grew serious. "That my duty as queen will come first and foremost. I pray I can be the queen you envision for others and for yourself."
ㅤㅤThe guard captain hummed, then grinned and chuckled. "That is a good promise, your majesty… but you are already the perfect queen."
ㅤㅤQuilliene paused as she said that, her mouth hanging open as if to say something but nothing came out. Then, she smiled, chuckling a little before pulling away. She simply nodded, acknowledging what her friend had said. Then, she looked out the window - she could see the top of the hedge maze below. It made her warm inside… for someone to think of her as the perfect queen already. Then a strange thought came to mind. She wondered if Neo thought that, too. For some reason, she hoped he did.