Yura closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh smell of the ocean. She had just woke up and sat down on the chaise longue at her chamber's balcony. The blue elf loved the view there, the first hours before the sunrise. It was cold so she put on a heavy coat with black fur. It was her favorite. It reminded her of Shuichirou.
He had learned his lesson and started to write for his bride every week. His letters were long; he always had many questions about her and full of details about his day.
The letter on her hand arrived a couple of hours earlier. Her fiancé wrote about the trip to Alani and how Sakuno was well received there. She apologized to everyone and helped them to rebuild the festival area, so they could have a new celebration together with her Yura giggled as reading about how Shuichirou and Ryoma were worried as seeing the queen lifting heavy wood, even with one arm only.
The new winter festival happened on the night before. Everything was beautiful; the children made blue stars and snowflakes with paper folding and offered to the queen. There were also many colorful fireworks. The general finished the letter saying it was a lovely night, he wished to share it with her and that he missed her very much.
"I miss you too." She whispered, closing her eyes and pressing the paper gently on her chest, wishing those days apart from him would come to an end soon.
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"Thank you for your hard work." Ryoma said, putting her long red hair aside and kissing the spot between her shoulders. They were on the bath, warm sweet scented water around them. The elf queen leaned on his chest and she smiled. It was the first hours of a new day and they had returned from the festival
"Thank you for your help as well. Everything was perfect!"
"Hm."
"I was so afraid…" she looked at her reflection. "That they would hate me."
"Do not worry about what happened anymore. You were not yourself."
"I have to." She smiled sadly to herself. "I always have to worry about my people and the way they see me. A feared or hated ruler will transform a country into a bad place. Did you see the way those children were smiling? I want to protect those smiles forever. Just like my mother did before me."
"You will. I am sure of it."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because it is you. I know you would do anything to protect what is important to you." His forehead touched the shoulder of her amputated forearm. "It is scary sometimes."
"Being a queen is scary too." She took a deep breath, but smiled after, separating the wet strands of her hair. "But, having you with makes things a little bit easier."
Her words were extremely sweet. Ryoma held her tight.
"Marry me." It was all he was able to whisper, his lips on her neck.
"Eh?!" she turned around quickly. "What did you say?"
Ryoma touched her face and the golden eyes were so kind.
"Let's get married, Sakuno."
"But…"
"I don't care about being the husband of the elf queen or the father of the heir. I just want to be with you and create a family together."
"I…I…."
"Can we?" his expression was so hopeful.
"I do not know! But I can ask Syuusuke when we return home. Do you really, really want to do that?"
"Hm." He showered her a small smile.
Sakuno kissed him deeply and seriously, her whole body pressed on his. Before Ryoma could hugged her, she stopped it and looked at him with a big smile.
"I am going to ask the general!" she jumped out of the bathtub. "He must give me some hint!"
"Put some clothes on first!" he shouted before she left the bathroom. Shuichirou would probably die seeing his daughter nakedness first thing in the morning.
###########
Sakuno put a robe on before leaving the room. She was dripping wet, a wide grin on her face. The possibility of being Ryoma's wife was almost making her heart explode in pure happiness. Crossing the hallway, she stopped as listening to Shuichirou's and Kayo's voices. Taking a peak, she noticed they were sitting around the fireplace and Kayo was drinking some tea. The first colors of the sunrise were already entering the room.
"The festival was beautiful, right?" she smiled at the general.
"Very much."
"I am so relieved to see her well and happy after everything that happened to her." She drank some of the liquid again. "But, it is a shame, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"Sakuno-sama went trough something so horrible and she was able to free herself from such husband, but, her child will not have the same freedom. Even if she does not marry again with a human from the tournament, the peace pact still exists."
Shuichirou's silence made the queen realized the truth of Kayo's words.
"I assume you did not talk to her about it."
"I could not." He admitted. "She is finally genuinely happy. She lost her first baby. How can I tell her that her second child is at risk of suffering everything she did?"
"I agree with you, General." She smiled kindly at him. "Let's permit our queen to experiment some joy. Hard days will be here as soon as she is expecting again."
###########
Ryoma turned around in bed as listening Sakuno return to their room. Her face was taken by pain and big tears ran down her cheeks. She sobbed as he ran in front of her and held her face, the golden eyes filled with a deep concern.
"Sakuno, what happened?!"
The elf queen could not respond to him. Her hands grabbed him tightly. She felt small and foolish in believing those untroubled days would last forever. Her speech about being free and choosing her love and the father of the heir was just a big talk. She still could not protect her child and the realization of such fact was ripping her heart apart.
