7-23: Agreement

Why? Why would the Queen be in Veronica's chambers? At least she was wearing a nightgown instead of a full dress, which let Veronica not be nearly as nervous, as it meant that this wasn't going to be an official thing.

"Uh, Your Majesty?"

"Priscilla is fine, dear."

"Then, Priscilla.... What are you doing here?"

"In three short days, you have somehow managed to make my eldest daughter, Celia, so madly in love with you that she can directly to me to tell me all about her feelings." Priscilla said with a slight smile.

Veronica's response was just a nervous laugh and the rubbing of the back of her head.

"W-Well..."

"I've no idea how you managed it. But, she also requested that I should have you two get married. I assume you intended for this to happen?"

"No! Well, not particularly."

Priscilla laughed, trying to hold back the sound by covering her mouth.

"I did ask you to marry her, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did... I just... didn't tell any of the girls yet. I mean, I'm sure Cass would probably kill me if I suddenly got married without telling her."

"So it's a matter of communication then? Well... Celia and Eleanora would need to be married first before you'd be able to take on any extra mistresses. But, it can at least simply be a political marriage to start with. After all, that's what it was supposed to be. Though, there are complications."

"What do you mean?"

"To start with, only a handful of people know that you can father children. The rest of nobility don't. So, to them, it would be an odd marriage of two women without a way to officially continue the royal bloodline."

"So, what you're saying is..."

"We'd have to go official about you. Everything about you. You'll no longer have any secrets. And you'll have plenty of enemies."

"How long could we hold it off?"

"Let me think... I can have you two secretly engaged, but it would need to go public before an official wedding ceremony. I would only be able to delay before people starting asking incessant questions for so long. If I had to guess, at least another five or six months before an engagement needs to be announced."

"I see. That gives me enough time to prepare myself at least. And enough to talk to the girls. Though, it would be an immediate surprise."

"So, you agree then?"

"I honestly don't know. Don't get me wrong, I do like Celia, and I have imagined being with her in a more... romantic way. But my... harem... is starting to get a bit large. And I don't think I'd be able to love them all equally. It's all quite conflicting."

"Dear, I think this is a good chance." Lilith said, Priscilla unaware of her presence. "Having access to royal decrees and whatnot could give us an advantage against Amaranth. Not to mention, it would put Amaranth on a steep disadvantage if she were to try anything."

Putting that Goddess at a disadvantage would be rather useful. And, it could hopefully give Veronica and everyone else more time to grow more powerful. It was a rather good deal when Veronica thought about it that way.

"Fine. I'll marry Celia. Just, give me enough time to get everyone to understand it all."

"That's fine by me. Thank you for the answer. Goodnight." Priscilla said, getting up and leaving. "Oh, and we'll go down to the treasury tomorrow to pick up your more... immediate reward." She finished, then left completely.

Veronica sighed as she fell onto her bed.

"And now I'm a consort. I never expected my life to go this way. Ever. Adventuring was one thing, but this is so much more..."