This was the first time that Soul was striding into the throne room without fear and anxiety tightly winding in his gut. He wasn't sure if he could necessarily claim that there were conviction and valor in its place, but it was something at least close to that. It would at least be behavior that he knew Maka would qualify as old Soul actions and as he strode towards his parents he was hoping that there wouldn't be anything old about it anymore.

At this point it was just his mother and father along with a few counselors and the steward, all the rest of the court kept at bay because he knew this was the part where his mother was going to put her foot down. He wasn't even at the foot of the dais when she started. "You'll choose Clarissa."

Soul could hear Black Star stifle a laugh behind him and Soul had to bite his tongue to stop from copying him. Instead, Soul adopted a smirk that he was starting to remember as his own as he stood staring up at his mother. "No, I won't."

"There isn't a better candidate, not after all those events," the Queen started to reason as her hand came to tap her husband, trying to encourage more than just a nod from him.

"Then you and I watched different events, mother," Soul loved the even, true tenor of his voice. "Because Clarissa could barely recite anything before the fourth generation in your stupid heredity lesson and I while I'd love to just rehash each and every one of my useless observations from the other contests, I don't have to. I thought I made myself clear when I said I was choosing my bride."

"Really, Soul, you have to see the sense-"

"I won't because there is no sense," Soul had to squash the rise in his voice, instead letting the tension in him break with a soft laugh. "And there is no discussion. I'm choosing my bride." He turned his head away from his mother, feeling her anger storm towards him though it only worked to strengthen his grin. "Steward, bring the girls and the court in."

"Absolutely not," the Queen snapped.

"Are you telling him to disregard a prince's order?" Soul raised an eyebrow but instead of approaching his mother walked towards the steward. "Who do you think you should listen to?"

"My prince," the man stammered.

"Soul, this is absolutely uncalled for. Your father-" the Queen started to wave her hand towards the King who had uncomfortably shot up in his chair, a grimace on his face.

"Is still King, yeah, sure, and his order should trump mine but I think you've all forgotten something." Soul snapped his fingers and Black Star untucked the book from beneath his arm, opening to a page that Soul had read at least a dozen times. "You had me crowned as soon as Wes died, something I didn't want to actually pay attention to at the time. But did you know, a crowned prince, once betrothed becomes an equal shareholder with the King? I guess it's supposed to make sure power transfers but…"

He allowed the interruption from his mother, "But you are not betrothed."

"Actually, I am," Soul shrugged. "As of yesterday I had permission from the lady in question as well as her guardian and since that guardian holds the title of Lady she fulfills the requirements of ties to royalty to notarize the event." Each word out of his mouth was alien but his studying had paid off. "And don't worry, I had a second witness, the captain of my guard, who can attest to the process."

Black Star shot him a wink as Soul threw a glance over his shoulder. While that was technically a lie, Black Star had thankfully waited outside the door with his ear pressed to the wood, it's not as if his mother would ever know. "So, steward, please, bring in the girls and the court as your crowned prince ordered you since I have just as much power as your King." Soul brought a casual glance back to his mother, finding her fuming with her mouth agape. "I'm sorry that this upsets you, mother. But if you speak once during my ceremony, I will be forced to further test the boundaries of my new power."

As the eerie silence continued, Soul motioned to Black Star who brought the book up to the King, dropping it in his lap as planned. "Grab the crown while you're up there." The amusement, the absolute freedom of the moment was surging through his veins.

Black Star took the order, grabbing the bejeweled tiara from the pompous cushion and trotting back down to the steps to Soul. "You're having too much fun ordering me around. Don't think I'm going to let that finger snapping go. I'm beating your ass later," Black Star whispered next to his ear as he eased the crown into Soul's hands.

"Look forward to it," Soul laughed as he let the crown spin once on his finger. "Thanks."

Black Star offered him a strange smile, one that Soul rarely saw on his friend's face, that strange mix of nostalgia and maybe a little pain. "Listening to you right now, that was…"

"I know," Soul nodded before he clasped a hand to Black Star's shoulder. "And get used to hearing it." As his hand slipped away the hall started to fill, lords and ladies and the rest of his father's various counsels first before one by one the ladies entered and dropped to their knees. Dresses flared and heads bowed but Soul's eyes were waiting on the door, his expression remaining cool but his heart starting to race underneath.

He just barely refused the smile as Marie entered first, his anticipation skyrocketing as he clutched at the circlet in his hand. Maka was draped in another purple gown and while he was able to resist smiling again the hopeless sigh did sneak from his lips. I wonder if that's her favorite color because it's most definitely becoming mine to see her in. And that pin in her hair… fuck, she's wearing it again. His gut trembled as he watched her fall to her knees like the rest but it was far from nervousness.

"Today, I choose my bride," he spoke to the room, letting his eyes skim the crowd. "I'm choosing not just for myself, but for this kingdom which means I'm not just picking some pretty face to birth me sons," a cluster of gasps popped in his ears and he could just envision his mother's reddening face, "since another prince will do no good for this place, just as I have. With this promise I give my future Queen today I made another one to the rest of you, that I am going to protect the people and give them what they deserve: a prince, a King who listens, who plans, who never turns a blind eye to suffering."

Soul let his feet move forward, each step bringing him achingly closer to Maka. As he reached her, he took his free hand and lifted her chin. "Stand up."

For the first time in their entire lives, Maka listened to an order from his lips with a smile.

He waited for her to be on her feet before he dropped to his knees, watching as her eyes popped open wide. Again, the gasps surrounded him but Soul used them to feed his smirk. "I'm not going to place this on your head and claim you as mine. I'm going to offer this crown to you because this King will be a partner with his Queen."

Just as he expected her voice came out strong, no weak whisper to get lost between them but a compliment to him and a show to the room. "Then stand, since we're equal, not one bowing to the other."

Soul shuffled quickly to his feet and held the tiara between them. "Take it, please."

"I will." Maka took it gently from his fingers and Soul held his breath as she sat it on her head.

"Prince Soul."

Soul turned with rage already starting to color his throat at the sound of his mother's voice. I warned her. I said to keep her damn mouth shut and now- Some of the color drained away as he saw Medusa leaning over his mother's shoulder, sure that venomous whispers had already passed between the two of them.

"If your concern is this kingdom, then let me remind you that with this girl's absence of family history there is no proof that she can produce the heirs necessary to be the next queen." The Queen waved a deferential hand to Medusa.

"My prince, as I said in the review the best assumption is that this girl could never produce a suitable heir."

"How dare you," Soul started but he felt the warm fingers tighten on his arm.

Maka pushed past him, the same smile on her face but a new fire in her eyes. "I'm sorry that is the assumption," her voice rang true without a hint of fear, "and I will allow that there are things that leave my history uncertain but let us think of the future. Here, in front of all of you, I pledge that I will conceive an heir within the first year or I will forfeit my life. I assume that comes as a tolerable compromise."

"What?" Soul let the word drop powerlessly from his took a moment to whisper to the Queen again and those words looked like a noxious cloud to Soul. He took a step closer to Maka, getting near enough to whisper in her ear. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure I am Queen," she murmured back. "I'm sure we'll discuss it later but for now, please, let me stand up for us now."

He forced his jaws closed over a groan as he watched his mother's eyes shining. "What an excellent start to your rule to come to such an agreement. I look forward to the joyous day."

Which day? The one where she dies or gives birth? Soul wanted to spit but he forced a slow breath instead. "If there are no other objections, I would like to present my bride."

"No, of course, Prince Soul," his mother cooed.

The darkness in him stirred, feeding at the lapping rage and for a moment he was sure the voices would come back again but her hand, bare now of her gloves, touched his arm to once again send that soothing message of warmth. "I present to you all your future Queen, Princess Maka," he boomed quickly before turning his eyes to her, finding more solace in the soft blush that had risen on her cheeks.

Cheers and 'all hail' filled the room but his attention was only on that dangerous promise that seemed to come right at the end of a wonderful one.

It was a strange meeting table, Black Star and Soul on one side while Maka and Marie populated the other. Silence had prevailed for the first few minutes until Black Star leaned across the table towards Marie. "I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to Soul remembering what it's like to fight with Maka."

Marie laughed but Maka scoffed, "We're not going to fight."

"Like hell we aren't," Soul shot back.

Black Star started to cackle.

"My mother baits you and you take it? You offer your life like it's nothing?" Soul snapped as he punched a fist into Black Star in hopes of stopping his amusement. It did not achieve its goal.

"It is nothing," Maka laughed. "Really, I'm almost glad it happened. You and I learned a lot just from that moment."

"I learned that my wife could die in a year," Soul hissed back.

Not rolling her eyes was the most difficult of all feats so Maka forced herself to produce a long, low breath instead. "Soul, listen, please." He crossed his arms like a petulant child, making the urge grow strongly again. She forced another breath before she reached a hand across the table towards him. "Medusa is obviously aware that something is going on and she's certain I'm a part of it, hence her trying to get me out. She sees you and me together as being dangerous to whatever her plan is, so now we know both of us have to be careful since she is going to be more active."

"On top of that, apparently the Queen is not above siding with Medusa. I'm sure the Queen thinks she's using Medusa for her schemes, but we can both assume it will be the other way around. So, unfortunately, your mother has become an extremely useful pawn." None of this was coaxing his hand across the table but Maka knew to be patient. Sometimes he's just as stubborn as I am. "But, realistically, you and I are healthy. It's not something you probably will ever remember but I was born right at the start of the Witch Wars and since both of my parents were fighting, they had very little time or motivation when they were home together to have another child after me. It wasn't a situation of being unable to. Not to mention, I promised one, so if that's all my mother was actually able to produce and that's somehow been passed on to me, then we're still safe."

"You should be happy," Black Star interjected with a mutter as he leaned into Soul. "Really that means Maka will have to spread her legs for you every chance she gets."

"Black Star," Marie moaned as Maka cheeks and neck turned something close to maroon.

"Idiot," Soul hissed as he punched him again, only eliciting more exuberant laughter.

"I did not plan to have to…" The words fluttered from her lips as the color refused to drain. "I did assume that there was a lot to get done before children were necessary but, well, it's not the end of the world."

Soul sighed deeply before he finally let his hand travel the distance to hers. "So I'm going to guess that Medusa is going to interfere somehow with that process."

"Yes," Maka let some of the nervousness drip away, her mind better suited to planning than any more bedroom talk. "Neither of us can accept potions now, which is going to make it doubly difficult unless we're going to outright refuse her, but that might lead her to act recklessly. I think it's in our best interest to try to play nice until we're officially married."

Soul sat back in the chair, letting his head crack against the wood as he still stretched to hold onto her hand. "The kitchen girls." He rolled his head to the side, eyeing Black Stars. "Which ones haven't you slept with?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Black Star scoffed.

Soul let a sharp laugh tumble from his throat. "We're going to need help and I don't think I trust girls that you've most definitely turned against you by sleeping with them."

"I always leave each and every one satisfied," Black Star spat. "But, if you have to know, Liz and her sister, Patty. They're too stuck up for me anyway. And Tsubaki, not to say I haven't tried but she's a little too shy, prudish to let me get my way. And Kim, she's more interested in Queens than Kings, if you catch my drift."

"Four," Soul sighed. "Have them sent to Maka. Give some lame excuse that she's looking for more ladies in waiting or whatever."

"And I do what with them?" Maka blinked at him.

"Well, I'm fairly certain Kim's an amateur herbalist," Soul paused to search over the memories of those nights in the kitchen. "I say I appoint her as an apprentice to Medusa. Split Liz and Patty. One stays with you while the other stays in the kitchen. This way the two of them talking, secretly or otherwise, will never be suspicious. They're sisters, that's what they do. Tsubaki stays in the kitchen as well to give you two sets of eyes there. If Medusa thinks we're not willingly drinking, she'll make sure it happens one way or another. The next best place is our food." Suddenly, Maka's glowing smile was there, blinding and disorienting him even in all the seriousness. "What is it?"

Maka shook her head softly, "Nothing, you just… you sounded like yourself." She leaned closer, letting her other hand meet his so she could cradle it. "It's been so wonderful today to just get to see you like that."

"Plotting is more like me?" He smirked as he moved towards her as well, bringing his other hand in not just to make a pile but to caress gently from the top of her hand past her wrist.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, you're both making me sick," Black Star groaned. "Can you save the cute stuff for tonight in the music room? You know, when you're alone and the rest of us aren't forced to gag down your romance."

Marie cleared her throat, "About that. The two of you must really be more careful. No more secret meetings. No music room, no climbing walls."

Maka blushed as she stammered, "I wasn't."

"The grit on your dress spoke otherwise," Marie rolled her eyes. "Honestly, this betrothal has to be completely by the book. We've already had one thing come into question about Maka, we cannot have her honor be next. As far as I know, they still expect that bloody sheet on the wedding night, so Maka has to remain-"

"Marie," Maka hissed.

"It's embarrassing but it's the truth," Marie urged. "No time alone just to avoid temptation."

"I agree," Soul muttered as he pulled his hands away and pink started on his cheeks.

So quick of an agreement. Does that mean he's tempted? Her mind instantly spat back, Are you really that foolish? You think he looks at you and sees a fifteen-year-old girl? And even then, you know you saw a few heated glares. A few touches that maybe weren't entirely innocent. And now it's just like Black Star said, he'll be your husband, he'll have the right to and you'll both need to if you're going to survive.

"Don't look at me that way," Marie nudged her. "Normal betrothals last three days. One for you, one for him, and then you're binding ceremony."

"Then the wedding night," Black Star cooed and the two of them erupted into shoving.

Soul could do nothing but hiss back at him, his face turning red, "I'm getting that damn assassin."