Stalling is her first technique.
Her father meets with six dukes and their daughters over the course of two days, each girl blander than the next.
The seventh, a rather plump, abrasive girl named Lauren stalks in and orders the servants around, perches herself across from Quinn and Russell and proceeds to eat the entirety of the danishes put out for the guests. Quinn stares at her with wide eyes.
"Thank you for your time, your majesty," Duke Zises bows, "We hope you will consider our offer"
"Hey, you" Lauren barks at one of the servants, "Get me more danishes for the road"
Quinn stares at her in fright as Duke Zises ushers his daughter out the door.
"Not her," She says quickly, whirling around to face her father, "Please, father, not her"
Russell glances at her amusedly, "Alright," He says, "Not her. But you have to pick one of them"
She doesn't want to pick any of them. She remembers her father's warning about running away. If she tried to run, she'd be kept in a cage and forced to the coronation. If they caught Rachel leaving with her… she shudders to think what they would do.
"Duke Pierce will be here soon," Russell says, taking a sip from his goblet, "I hear his girl has blossomed quite nicely"
Quinn sighs and flicks a grape to the other side of the table, "When do I have to decide by?" She asks neutrally.
"This is the last girl," Russell says, "I expect an answer by this evening"
Quinn gasps, "This evening? Father, how can I possibly—"
"If the task is too much for you I will decide myself," Russell says shortly, "I want an answer by this evening, Quinn, or I'll decide for you"
Panic heaved within her and she opened her mouth to protest, "Father—"
"Duke Pierce!" Russell exclaimed suddenly, "Come in, come in"
Duke Pierce, a hearty, blonde man walks inside and bows accordingly, "Pleasure, your majesty," He says, "My daughter," He gestures to a pretty blonde girl who follows in behind him, by her side is a tan-skinned girl, a sour expression on her face.
"Brittany Pierce," Russell gestures for Quinn to stand, "My daughter, Princess Quinn"
Brittany smiles brightly at Quinn, "Hi"
They sit, and Quinn watches the girl with the sour face pull out Brittany's seat for her. She supposes that she's Brittany's handmaiden.
"I had a deal lined up with the Karofsky's" Duke Pierce goes straight to business, his voice deep, "You know the guards son, David? Well, we met with them last week; I had concerns about him though – he seems rather a brute and my Brittany's so... delicate"
Quinn glances apprehensively at Brittany who is staring ahead into space, as if she is not apart of the conversation at all.
"Of course, two women Russell? That is... rather unconventional"
Russell isn't fazed, "Perhaps for the better" He says, "Although, if you'd rather have your daughter marry a guard than a Queen—"
"No, no" Sir Pierce corrects, hurriedly, "That's why we're here of course"
Russel beams, "Quinn, perhaps you'd like to escort Miss Pierce to the garden. See what you have in common"
Begrudgingly, Quinn rises and gestures Brittany to follow her, throwing a dirty glance at her father on her way out. She doubts she'll have anything in common with this girl.
"Your garden is bigger than ours," Brittany says absent-mindedly as Quinn leads her to sit by the fountain, "More room for the nymphs, I suppose"
Quinn just stares.
"So, you will be Queen?" Brittany asks pleasantly. Quinn nods mutely and the conversation lulls. "Mother says you will make a good queen," Brittany continues, "She says you are just the right amount of headstrong"
"I don't mean to be rude," Quinn says shortly, "But I doubt your mother knows anything about me"
Brittany's handmaiden shifts at Quinn's tone and glares at her with angry eyes, letting out what sounds like a growl. "It's okay Santana" Brittany places a soothing hand on Santana's forearm, "Quinn's right"
At this, Santana seems to relax. She doesn't take her eyes off Quinn though.
"We saw your stables on the way in," Brittany says brightly, "They're huge. Much bigger than ours, right San?"
Santana nods, not taking her eyes off Quinn.
"Do you ride?" Brittany asks easily.
"Y-yes," Quinn answers, "My father taught me when I was younger"
"Oh," Brittany sighs, wistfully, "My father never taught me" She stares out into the garden dreamily, "Do you think that if we get married, you could teach me?"
With a sharp intake of breath, Quinn sits up abruptly, alarmed at the mention of marriage. She stares at Brittany, wondering what the easiest form of rejection is when Brittany has her own personal bulldog by her side.
She eventually gives in to defeat, "Perhaps," She replies half-heartedly, "If we wed"
If possible, Santana looks even angrier. How curious.
"Your majesty wishes you to come back to the throne room," A servant stammers as Quinn whirls around to see him. Quinn nods, "Come on," She gestures Brittany to follow.
Russell and Duke Pierce are laughing heartily by the time she gets back and she takes a seat next to her father. "There you are," Duke Pierce says to Brittany, "We best be off," He turns to Russell, "I hope to hear from you soon"
"I hope so too" Russell smiles warmly.
"Goodbye, Quinn!" Brittany waves brightly, trailing behind her father.
Quinn feels Russell's gaze on her, "Well?"
She doesn't know what he expects, but a wave of anger rises within her, "I'm going for a walk," She mutters and pulls away from him, steam almost billowing from her ears. She doesn't know if she can go through with this. How can she choose someone over Rachel? It doesn't matter that her heart's not in it. It doesn't matter that someone will be chosen for her. How can she be with someone else when she's so in love with Rachel?
"…I hate this, I hate having to share you"
Quinn stops abruptly in the middle of the corridor, glancing around. The corridor is empty, and she hears Duke Pierce outside prepping his coach. Who said that?
"I know, San, I hate it too"
She recognizes Brittany's voice and her heart thuds. She takes a peek into one of the empty trophy rooms. Brittany stands there, her arms wrapped around the waist of her handmaiden. Quinn's eyes widen in disbelief. "Can't you do something?" Santana pleads suddenly, "Can't you tell your father you're not ready yet?"
Brittany smiles sympathetically, and strokes her fingers along Santana's cheek, "You know I would if I could" She says, "But no matter what, no matter who I marry, you're always going to be my number one. You know that right?"
Santana smiles, her hands gripping either side of Brittany's cheeks as she leans in and kisses her. Quinn's eyes bulge, a quiet gasp escaping from lips. She stumbles backwards, staring in shock, before turning her heel and swiftly walking away.
Brittany and Santana, she thinks, her heart hammering, they're together. In a romance forbidden by status, the same as her and Rachel. And her father wanted her to marry-
Her father wanted her to marry a girl that was in love with someone else. A girl in the same situation as herself. A girl who would understand.
She halts and changes direction immediately, her new destination being the throne room. Her father sits by himself, sorting through paperwork as she reaches his side and breathlessly announces, "I've decided, father, I've decided who I want to marry"
