Reka's Point of View
Completing her love's education had proved strangely fulfilling.
She'd spent the past term nurturing him, developing his potential as an engineer, all to mold him into the wise consort he was always destined to be. It was no work, but play to spend such time with her dear boyfriend, and if the other students in his classes benefited from the instruction, so much the better, though the classes had become rather crowded of late.
Reka was high in the favor of the university, and a general acclamation followed her wherever she went. Their daily procession to class required the avoidance of overenthusiastic supplicants, among other obstacles.
It will be good practice for Brad, though, she thought. He would have to get used to cheering crowds and interacting with their subjects sooner or later.
Reka was about to escort him to the one class she couldn't supervise directly when she detected a certain reticence.
"My love, what's wrong?" she questioned him at once. It wouldn't do to let these sort of feelings fester in him. "Are they mistreating you in the rulership class?"
"No, no," he waved off her concerns. "I've just been thinking, you know, about our future."
It was well that Brad's mind was bent towards her, but she sensed he wished to say more.
"Brad, you needn't fear my displeasure," she reassured him, taking his hand in her own. "Your heart is known to me; tell me your wishes and I shall grant them."
Her boyfriend inhaled slowly to steady himself. "Reka, what do you think about...marriage?" he asked in a small voice like he was afraid of being overheard.
The word was known to her, though she wasn't exactly clear on the particulars, so focused she had been on Brad and her magical studies.
"Is it not a mating ritual? Similar to becoming boyfriend and girlfriend? What need have we of this?"
Brad's eyebrows rose and his forehead wrinkled charmingly, an uneasy smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. "Reka, are you being serious right now? I really can't tell sometimes."
"I'm always serious," she said seriously.
He snorted. "Right," he said, pausing to gather his thoughts. "Not much would change in our daily life; it's more about how the world sees us."
Reka was intrigued. "Explain."
"Think about it like a progression," Brad began. "Becoming boyfriend and girlfriend is something we agreed to in private. Getting married is something you do in public, with witnesses. It's a whole big thing."
If Brad wanted this he would receive it. "When can we arrange to get married?"
Her boyfriend froze. "Ah well, that's why I'm talking to you first. Asking a woman to get married is called a 'proposal'. I was thinking of when to ask you."
Was that all? "Brad," she said easily, "you don't have to worry about things like this. I accept your 'proposal'. What arrangements must be made?"
A huge grin and a soft blush painted his features in warmth. Reka was pleased to grant his desires.
"That's not all, my love," he said in a voice with slight tremors. "A proposal should be in public too. I'll get on one knee and present you with a ring. That's an 'engagement ring'," he clarified.
Brad held up a hand. "Okay, let me explain this in plain English. When I propose I give you a ring, and that means a promise to get married. At that point we're not boyfriend and girlfriend anymore. We're engaged. The words are 'fiance' and 'fiancee'. Later, we'll have a big ceremony where we get married. That is called a 'wedding'. At the wedding we each present the other a 'wedding ring' which is round, symbolizing infinity, being together forever. Once we're married the words are 'husband' and 'wife'."
Reka loved it! Not one, but two rings would she receive! All would see them together! The date of their 'wedding' would be a worldwide holiday!
"This pleases me much, Brad!" she said enthusiastically. "How soon can you propose?"
"I was thinking graduation," her boyfriend suggested. "That would be big and public enough, but I didn't want it to be too much of a surprise. Sometimes proposals are surprises, but I thought you'd like to prepare in advance."
Brad thought right. She couldn't wait, but accepting his ring in front of that huge crowd would be delicious. Anticipation was already making her heart flutter. This coming semester would be sweet pain, waiting for the chosen day.
"I also have to buy the ring," Brad interrupted her thoughts. "If the proposal isn't a surprise then at least the ring should be. The first time you'll see it will be when I propose to you. But, well, I'd have to leave you for a bit to go to a jewellery store..." he trailed off.
Ah, Reka understood the problem. They'd have to part for a time, an unpleasant prospect. What to do?
"Take Julie with you!" Reka said at once. Yes, a brilliant idea indeed, Reka thought. Julie was reliable enough to escort Brad on an outing to the ringcrafter's shop. If anything happened Julie would contact her speedily and she'd rush to their aid.
"If that's what you think is best," Brad assented easily, as he always did. "There's just one more thing," he said after a while, seeming nervous again.
"Whatever it is, the answer is yes, my love," Reka told him. She was in the mood to spoil him today. After class, their lovemaking would be draining indeed. She would pleasure him every way a woman can please a man.
"Don't answer yet, not until you hear all of it," Brad said. "When a couple gets married, usually, but not always, the woman takes the man's last name, at least in America."
Brad wanted to give her his name? She was touched.
"Now Reka, I understand you're really famous now. I could even take your name if you wanted..."
"Brad, stop," she commanded. "Do you wish for me to take your name?"
He looked away and was silent for a time. "Yes," he said shyly.
"Granted," she agreed instantly.
Her boyfriend blinked. "Really? You would be Reka Regis from now on."
Reka Regis?
Reka could remember being the Demon Queen, mistress of the Twelve Realms, bane of the Free Peoples, et cetera, et cetera. She really wasn't her anymore. "Reka" was what her love called her. It was the name he cried out in ecstasy in the passion of their lovemaking. It was the name he said with such love and trust that it all but stopped her heart in joy. She was "Reka" for true. But "Fekete"?
"Fekete" was nothing to her, the house name of a dead girl whose body she claimed when she came to this world. If Brad wished to claim her in this way, to mark her as his, she would never deny him. Let it be known, then, the House of Regis shall rule!
"Reka Regis," she repeated, trying it on for size. "Reka Regis has a certain music to it. The Regis name will be passed on to our heirs in the fullness of time, I promise."
Brad liked that, she could tell. Making him happy was so easy. She would never tire of it.
With light hearts, Reka escorted him to his class and waited for Julie to come and socialize. She did not look well.
"Blimp is going to be president again," her friend complained. "That creep Trask bought out all the socials and turned them into propaganda outlets for him."
"Ah, you refer to the recent succession crisis," Reka said in acknowledgement. The manner of the princes in this world was passing queer.
"That's one way to refer to the election," Julie chuckled. "But don't laugh too much. Trask has been shit-talking you on natter."
The collection of electronic signposts owned by the perfidious bard, she recognized the name.
"What is he saying exactly?" Reka asked.
"Only that you're arrogant and difficult to work with and other thinly-veiled misogynistic comments, also called your technology unproven and unreliable," Julie explained indignantly. "At least he's getting lit up in the replies!" she laughed.
Julie was faithful indeed to take offense on her behalf.
"Let the fool talk all he wants," Reka dismissed him. "Trask will not have my crystals."
"It's not just talk, Reka," Julie said warningly. "Elron has poisoned the well for us, putting out the word for other VCs not to back you, or else."
"It's not like I need their money, Julie," Reka said casually, sipping her latte. "I can make the crystals myself, though one a month is about my limit. I'd only need the money to increase production."
"And just how are you producing them, Reka? Even with your CAD files nobody else has managed to duplicate your design. People are talking, you know, saying you are holding the world hostage even."
"It's a secret," Reka winked. "Brad likes it when I wink, did you know?"
Her friend was flabbergasted. "Be serious, Reka! Are you holding the world hostage?"
They'll know when I'm holding them hostage, Reka thought ominously.
"Certainly not," she said primly. "One a month is my true limit, and I've been giving them away. I plan to charge a fee once Brad is finished with school and we need a higher income to maintain ourselves. Speaking of which, I have need of your expertise."
"I guess it's nice to be needed," Julie said doubtfully.
"Come now, my friend, I think this proposal will be to your liking," Reka alluded to her intentions.
Julie gasped. "He didn't!"
"Not yet," Reka said. "Brad has expressed a desire to purchase an 'engagement ring' for me. I would take it kindly if you would escort him to the maker of fine jewels. Mark you, if anything untoward happens you are to contact me immediately by text, and I will fly to you."
"Right, right," Julie was nodding, all business now. Reka was glad to see she appreciated the gravity of escorting her beloved.
"Any preferences on the ring? Cut of the diamond?" she asked.
"Whatever Brad likes," Reka didn't particularly care, knowing she would love it regardless.
"Reka Fekete, sometimes I wonder if you are really a woman at all," Julie said in exasperation.
*****************
Brad's Point of View
They were walking side by side downtown, making their way to the highest rated jeweler in the city.
"So, what's your budget?" Julie asked excitedly.
He whispered in her ear, "fifty thousand."
Julie jerked back in alarm, "American dollars?"
"Yes," Brad said simply.
"Where did somebody like you get that kind of money?" she asked suspiciously.
He let the "somebody like you" comment slide. "I don't have bills, Julie. The government pays for my tuition, books, and a housing allowance. I live with Reka anyway so I can save a lot of money. I saved a lot in the military, too, put my whole enlistment bonus into an exchange-traded fund that has nearly doubled."
"Reka isn't materialistic, though," Julie said, still dubious.
"All the more reason," Brad replied. "She might get the Nobel Prize in Physics next year. She's world famous. Anything less than the best would look bad. Reka is getting the biggest diamond they have, period," he said emphatically.
"Some girls have all the luck," Julie said under her breath, but Brad caught it.
"I have to have some sense of my position, Julie. If Reka, a legit celebrity, has an underwhelming engagement ring, then I, her fiance, will be roasted online like you can't possibly imagine. Besides, she's worth it."
They walked in silence for a time until Julie's body language became wary and protective, angling her body to screen him from something. "Don't look now," she whispered, "but we're being followed."
Who the hell would follow him? "Do you think Trask is fucking with us?" Brad whispered back.
"I don't know," Julie said, picking up her phone and bringing up Reka in her contacts. "I'm going to try and steal a glance again before we do something drastic."
She surreptitiously scanned the area behind them. "Oh thank god," Julie deflated, relaxing her body. "It's just one of Reka's fanclub."
Wait, what? "Reka has a fanclub?"
"Dude, are you being serious right now?" Julie asked incredulously.
"Point taken," Brad said. "But why follow us?"
"They want to know more about her, I guess. Speaking of which, I think we should try to lose her. Seeing Reka's boyfriend going into a jewellery store will have them squeeing and gossiping for months. Good thing it's the quiet, mousy one, not the real obsessives."
"On three," Julie instructed.
On three they ran for it, breaking contact and ducking into a random department store after a few twists and turns. Fifteen minutes later they left the store, satisfied they were no longer being followed. Eventually, they made it to the jewellery store.
"Now if you want a woman's touch..." Julie offered.
"Of course," Brad agreed. "You can help me pick out a tasteful, stylish ring. But it's going to be a big expensive one. Deal?"
"Deal!" Julie echoed.