“Your Majesty, I have His Royal Highness here.” the butler announced. 

“Thank you Aston, that would be all.”  

Taking a deep breathe, Nicola walked into his mother’s sitting room, immediately feeling goosebumps develop on his arms. Guess this is going to be a frosty encounter, he thought. 

“Hello Mother. I was told you called for me.” 

One look at his mother and he knew this meeting was not going to be different from any of the others. Raising from her chair and turning her back to her son, Queen Agatha pours herself some tea. 

“Jaxon tells me that you have been down to the nearby towns. Sighters happened to see you fraternizing with the likes of … farmers and fishermen.”

“That is true. I wanted the chance to get to know more of those who are part of the kingdom but do not reside within the city walls.”

“Hmm,” stirring her tea, Agatha slowly turned around and looked directly at her son. “If you want to learn more about the people of Minalima, you can spend more time with the Royal Historian or any other member of the Court instead of consorting with those beneath you.”

“Beneath me? Those people are the very core of Minalima. You do realize that you are nothing without them? That we are nothing without them? This kingdom is not just what is found within the city’s walls.” 

Agatha continued to coldly stare at Nicola. He couldn’t understand. His mother wasn’t always like this. He had distinct memories of her, good memories of her. Smiling, laughing, enjoying life. Who was this woman that had fashioned herself as his mother; wrapped up in her gowns and tiaras? What exactly occurred that turn his mother into a total and utter bi—

“And what of this dark-haired man that the Sighters speak of?”

–tch. 

Wide-eyed, Nicola opened his mouth several times in an attempt to speak. How could she know about that? 

“Yes… I knew there was another reason for your visit to these so called ‘cores of Minalima.’ Nothing gets passed me, Nicola. Nothing.” 

“I– I’m not sure what the Sighters told you but that’s exactly what happened, nothing.” 

“Make sure that nothing does. You may be able to live with your… affliction but Minalima would never have a king like that. She needs someone strong, valiant. Someone who can continue the bloodline and run into battle when needed. Not someone… someone …”

“Someone like what, Mother? Someone gay?” Nicola’s heart had never felt like this. He imagined this is what it sounds like as a thousand horses gallop through an empty, narrow valley. And while his stomach may have dropped into the dungeons of the castle, he knew he had to continue. 

“Yes, Your Majesty, your son is gay. This is not an affliction. The future king of Minalima is a gay man!”

“The future king of Minalima is no such thing! Someone lied to you several times if you believe that to be true.”

“And who else would it be, huh!? You have no other children, Mother. There is no other choice as your successor!” 

Suddenly, Agatha began to smirk. “And that’s where you are mistaken, Nicola. Laws can be overturned and rewritten. New rules can be put in place. I would tear down the city walls myself before I see someone like you crowned.” 

Nicola took a step back as if he had been pushed. She wouldn’t… she couldn’t. 

“I am your son; your own flesh and blood! I can’t believe you would say something that is so hurtful.”

“Well I did.”

*I hate writing dialogue and this was honestly a real struggle. HELP!*

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