Side Chapter: Lensa

I don't love that we're picking between our children. I love them all, but I know they aren't all ready to rule a Queendom. However, I'm also going to have to figure out how to let someone eventually take over for Shimmer, Elora, and Elo, and I'm happy that Azula is losing her crown. But I have to deal with Lensa again, and it feels a bit bad that I'm picking a kid.

"Selphie is the best choice," Lensa says.

"No," I say. Of course, she goes for the most aggressive daughter. Selphie cares about her family, but I know the family stemming from her line will be more assertive. "She's too aggressive. In two generations, we'll have a war. Almithara is the better choice."

"You're doing this on purpose," Lensa says. "Selphie is perfectly fine. She'll grow the Queendom more aggressively and into a strong nation."

I'm glad I convinced Lensa not to do this with the children in the room. A number of the kids don't want to be the Queen, but it would still hurt to know they're not even in the running, and then there's the fighting we'll have to do to decide who it'll be. She knew I would want a different kid from her and hoped I would give in, just so I wouldn't have to fight with her in front of the kids.

But I still have the right to get her pregnant from my chain of helping her give birth to my kids, so she didn't have much of a choice but to listen to my wishes about the venue.

"I agree that she would be a good Queen," I say. "But I have to look to the future, and she isn't the best choice for long-term stability of the lower realm. Almithara will provide more stability and growth for everyone."

"No, you want to get me pregnant again," Lensa says. Are her eyes tearing up? "I won't go through that again. Not after you tricked me into two more pregnancies. No. Selphie is the best choice, and you know it!"

"She's a good choice, but not the best," I say. "We have a number to select from, so we can't just think about aggression and building up the Queendom's strength. We have to think about other aspects, like their ability to help the commoners, how they will handle relationships with other Queendoms, how they are raising or will raise their children, and what temperament their children have. Almithara fits all of those aspects better than Selphie."

I do love watching her squirm about in her chair. Unfortunately, I deal with pregnant women too much to have the chairs in my office be uncomfortable; I'd just be hurting my wives most of the time. But it seems the threat of more pregnancies is doing enough to weigh on her soul.

"You're messing with me," Lensa says. "Selphie is able to do all of that. Her husband is kind as well. He dulls her just enough."

"No, men still don't have much of a say in their household," I say. "Selphie will not be the Queen, but if you won't go for Almithara, I can let Taenya be the Queen instead. She's a good mix of them both."

"Bitch," Lensa curses. "You- Fine. Just fine."

"Good, you can always make Selphie your next Queen, but I would recommend she fully understand how to work with others. She's always struggled with that."

"Shut up," Lensa says.

Well, she isn't stupid, but she really hasn't been keeping up with me. I'm not as naive as I once was.

"I'm just happy that I'm done talking with you," I say. "Well, I'll start the preparations for the transfer of power."

"Good," Lensa says. She rises quickly and storms off as I chuckle. If only everything were this easy.