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"Are you sure about this?"

Church bells ring right above them. The sounds of the crowd murmuring are heard throughout the entire cathedral- children laughing, one or two babies crying. It smells softly of old wood and stone, mixed in with several fancy natural flower perfumes spread across the entire entrance hall. Maids rush around desperately, holding small combs and hairpins, some with more bottles of perfume or forgotten jewelry still waiting to be attached to the beauty standing in front of the closed inner church doors.

Right there stands a beautiful woman, dressed from top to toe in a large red gown. It sparkles under the candlelight, decorated with small golden pieces sewn into the thin outer layer of fabric. Within it there are at least five layers of red fabric in the deepest and most expensive possible color. It spreads out over the floor, and up to her chest and neck, with long sleeves over her hands. On her head she wears a long red veil, see-through all over. Her chest piece is covered in patterns of golden flowers, specially tailored just for her. And finally, on her head she wears a large golden crown, embedded with diamonds, a selection of small rubies and one large blue sapphire. The blue does not match the rest of her clothes.

"I would say that you're worrying for nothing but... honestly-"

She giggles, the maids quickly glaring at her. She can't wrinkle her makeup too much, nor can her eyes water and ruin the color they have put on her eyelids.

"I'm surprised you've let me marry him at all. Thank you, brother"

Adelio sighs, biting her lip in worry. She can't deny her sister the love that she wants, for her sister has the right to marry whoever she wants no matter what the law says. Adelio swore that she would never force her sister to marry anybody. Not to mention how beneficial this marriage truly is... She really shouldn't worry at all. But she just can't help it. Adelio still holds a grudge over his brother-in-law-to-be.

"Don't thank me, you're allowed to marry whoever you want. But are you sure you love him? I mean he's Makai, you used to hate him"

Alisiah looks absolutely beautiful today. Just like her mother, in fact. Adelio sees the resemblance now more than ever, and she realizes how much she is going to miss her sister. She has two more sisters still living at home, of course, but having to let one go already hurts her heart. Alisiah has always been the one who understood her when nobody else could, and before Maud came into her life she was dependent on Alisiah's advice and company to feel sane. But they all have to leave at some point, don't they? The young women who marry. Now it's her turn to say goodbye to her sister, last time it was Makai's turn. Not that it probably hurt him as much as this is hurting her now.

It's not that Makai is a bad person, not at all. He might have been, at some point, Adelio isn't quite sure how much of it was real and how much an act of intimidation towards her. But Maud and Makai seem to get along now, somewhat. They've gotten over the past and are working to better the relationships between the two kingdoms. The other three brother's be as they may be, they are not of any importance to Adelio, as long as they stay in their lane. But Makai has played a more active role in her life recently, as her brother-in-law, and as Alisiah's fiancé. They've eaten multiple dinners together, went hunting, even fought in a common war one year ago. Still, Adelio can't help it. She still holds a grudge towards Makai, for not treating Maud right. She is very sensitive when it comes to her wife.

But that should not get in the way of Alisiah's happiness with that man. Makai is a respectable man, especially around Maud and Alisiah. He wouldn't dare to hurt his sister anymore, and he wouldn't bear to hurt his fiancé. But it feels like it was just yesterday that he and Alisiah were constantly glaring at each other, arguing and sending insults across the dinner table. Suddenly all of it turned around, almost as if in a second. It's been three years since Makai met Alisiah, and only one year since they stopped arguing. But now they seem almost more in love than Maud and Adelio do, if that's even possible. Adelio can't deny that her sister is madly in love. She just doesn't like letting her go, especially to that Makai.

"I love him, Adelio. We've been interested in each other ever since we first met at your coronation"

Adelio shakes her head, looking at the crown on her sister's veil.

"Blue doesn't suit you"

It's petty enough to be funny. Alisiah giggles again. The maids don't even have time to frown anymore. The music coming from the cathedral hall stops.

"It's time"

Adelio takes her by the arm. The music starts playing again. Alisiah leans to the side to whisper.

"Thank you Adelio, you've been the best sister I could ever ask for"

It's a little funny, even though it shouldn't be.

"He'll be a great ruler one day, won't he?"

Adelio leans back against the grass, one arm under her head, the other resting by her side. Maud sits instead, her baby pink dress nearly stained green by the plants below. In front of her she keeps a hard watch on her growing son, finding it endearing when his curly brown hair keeps falling in front of his eyes. He plays with quite simple toys compared to what Adelio probably played with, a small horse made from wood and a stick-man as its rider. Maud recognises the game. She used to play the same with hay from the field. Her old toys are probably still there, actually. On the shelf above her small bed next to the fireplace.

"As long as we raise him right"

Adelio's answer is calm. Her eyes are closed, hiding from the bright sun above. It's hard to enjoy the spring weather in Red Lion, when it is always so hot outside. But today is one of the earlier days of the season. It allows them to take a short break from palace life and enjoy some alone time on the many green fields outside the capital. Fields that will surely become victim to the city expanding, soon enough. Maud likes to look at it from a positive viewpoint, though. It will give their people prosperity.

Alaric is now three years old, although perhaps his real age would come closer to three and a half. He can speak, walk and play. Sometimes he is a bit wild of a child, running around everywhere, making his babysitters tired of him in an instant. But his face shines with the future of the empire, he is of the people and he will be for the people. Not to mention how lovely he is, sweet and kind, despite only being three years old. He's quite the smart boy too, thankfully. He is quick at learning languages, picking up two other foreign ones aside from his Blue Knight mother tongue and his Red Lion father tongue, already at this age. Maud couldn't be more positive about their future, she has not doubted it for a single moment since the coronation.

"I just hope he turns out to be a righteous, kind and honest king. It's what the people deserve, and he would be loved by them"

Adelio opens one of her eyes, squinting at the sunlight. She sits up slowly, partially, so that she leans against the palm of her hand, her body turned towards her wife. Maud takes a break from watching her son, turning to the king who she knows is watching. Adelio's eyes are glinting with amusement, and he feigns a hurt expression.

"What do you mean by 'honest', darling?"

She blinks her eyelashes, smiling up at a seated Maud. Her dark eyes shine under the stark sunlight, the queen feels warm all over. She gets ready to roll her eyes.

"I'm the biggest liar of them all, and you love me"

Maud sighs, rolling her eyes just like she prepared. Adelio bursts out into a fit of deep toned laughs, leaning back against the grass again. Maud side-eyes Alaric as he continues to play sweetly, and focuses the rest of her attention on the two girls walking through the field further out. They seem to be farmers, wearing simple clothes that look oh so nice under the unforgiving hot weather. Maud watches them with a smile growing over her face, as they laugh with each other, completely unaware of the royalty that sits further up hill. Adelio lets her eyes shut as she enjoys the soft wind against her cheek, really milking her one day of rest, away from work for once.

These are the days Maud appreciates the most. When she can enjoy the weather and her wife without having to think about work for once. Just take part of her family like a normal person. The last three years as queen have been busy, there has been so much to do towards bettering the kingdom. But things are looking better now, and Maud hopes that as the situation gets even more successful she and Adelio will be given more free time together. More alone time. Or just family time, she does enjoy watching Alaric grow up. He is such a sweet child.

The marriage between her eldest brother Makai and sister-in-law Alisiah will also help the kingdom. The two large empires will help each other grow economically and trade with each other freely. It's only been two months since the wedding and the situation is already improving in both countries, just like they did when she and Adelio got married. Maud is happy for her brother. He used to be so cold and mean, but slowly all those walls broke down, and he turned out to be the most loving man of them all. A helpful brother and a kind husband towards Alisiah, not to mention, an increasingly warm leader towards his serious and cold people. They can't reveal the truth to anybody, the truth about Adelio. But what they can do is lay the groundwork, make their kingdoms prosper and evolve. So that sometime in the future, another generation of young people will be able to do whatever they want, and be with whoever they want.

"I'm just glad Alaric won't be the heir to Blue Knight for much longer, I always worried it would be too much of a pressure on him to be the crown prince in two large empires"

Adelio hums.

"As long as they have children, of course. Makai and Alisiah"

Maud holds back her laughs at how bitter her wife sounds about the prospect. Even after all of these years, she still doesn't seem to like Makai. They never did seem to get along, not even in the beginning. Maud remembers the cold expression on Adelio's face with much fondness, the one she had when she first came to the Blue Knight empire to marry her. SO much has changed since then. Maud has gained a much deeper understanding of that one-thousand-page-novel-of-a-woman. The man who used to be a mystery turned out to be a woman she could read openly. Maud, who used to be so unsure about their marriage, relationship and even them having a child, is suddenly so extremely sure about all of it, and their future. It's something which the poor, farmer woman in Blue Knight, could never even have dreamed of. That is lucky, indeed.

"You're going to have to get over that soon, you know"

Maud giggles halfway through her sentence.

"It's not long until your other sisters will want to get married too"

Adelio's eyes seem to snap open at that, and she visibly shudders. Maud shakes her head, still smiling, and turns back around to gaze down the hill. The farmer girls are laying on the grass now, staring up at the bright blue sky. They point at some of the small clouds and talk, their chatter nearly reaching all the way up to Adelio and Maud. Happiness comes in so many different forms, relationships and riches are not the only ways to get it. Adelio grumbles about something behind her.

"Over my dead body..."

"I just don't understand why you were so unforgiving towards your own men, when they merely raised their hand at me"

Suddenly Adelio raises his hand, and Maud feels her heart jump to her throat. This is it, this is the moment she was waiting for. She flinches and looks down, waiting for the impact. But it never comes. After a few seconds, the princess confusedly lifts up her head again to see why he didn't hit her. His eyes are cold but calm, not angry like they should be before hitting a person. His hand is still in the same position that it was, he hasn't moved an inch towards her face.

"You don't want to be hit, do you? So why do you act as if that soldier trying to hit you was such a trivial matter?"

Maud understands. It's so hard for a woman to be sure that the man she is marrying turns out to be a good guy. That day Adelio got angry when she thought she would hit her, that day was when Maud realized that she had hit the jackpot. She got lucky. But most women aren't as lucky as she is, and the thought of marrying off your sisters with that small chance of happiness and safety possible, is probably not very nice for Adelio. Still, each to their own lives. Maud is positive about the future. Everything is going to be fine, no matter how protective Adelio can get.

"This might seem a little sudden, but..."

Maud looks back at Adelio.

"Do you think there are more couples out there? Couples like us?"

Adelio smiles.

"Like two women?"

Maud nods. They are not seen or heard, but if she and Adelio exist, so must they, right? Adelio sits up again, rather quickly. She scoots closer to the queen, a fond look glimmering in her beautiful black eyes. Alaric laughs to himself in the background, playing with his wooden toys. But Maud is completely engrossed in her wife, eyes wide with wonder. She lets Adelio come closer and closer, until the moment their noses touch, and eyes are filled with each other. She lets her wife kiss her, their lips connecting like they have so many times before. Adelio stays there, for a moment, her hands gently moving over Maud's hair as they kiss. Once they finally let go, there is a small hopeful gaze in the king's eyes.

"If a woman can be king, and a queen can marry a woman, then two women liking each other doesn't seem very impossible in comparison, does it?"

Maud smiles.

"No"

Please consider this a letter of justification for future generations.

I, as queen of the Red Lion empire, am writing this letter to prove that we have always existed. We who are poor, we who are without a voice. Most importantly, we, who are women. Today is the day the king signs off the treaty of equality together with our neighboring nation Blue Knight. It shall eliminate poverty and work towards an equal society between all. This is our way of taking responsibility for those who do not have a voice, and those who live in smaller kingdoms, refusing change.

Those who will bring forth the change, are first and foremost, the people.

But those who have signed the treaty are three women, and one man. My brother Makai, as king of the Blue Knight empire, has committed to signing this agreement. His queen, my sister-in-law, the great queen Alisiah, has also committed to signing this agreement. Finally, the two of us that have worked on this since the day we were able, me as queen of Red Lion, and my wife as king of Red Lion. Three women, one man.

Those who read this in the future should remember, we hide who we are, but we are not ashamed. This treaty will make our society more equal, and with every step, we come closer to revealing this truth. Whether it be in our lifetime or in the next. I am Maud, peasant and queen, Adelio is king, a woman of great strength. In us and in the people, I believe in a future worth fighting for.

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