Chapter 8 part 2
"Besides, will the council really accept her as the next queen?" She gasped when Bartleby dropped her hands, his eyes flashing with lightning.
Bartleby glowered at the young cat. "And why not? Why wouldn't they want her?" He challenged her, getting in her face. "Go ahead, say it. I dare you."
Drina trembled but looked away and hurried to her mother. Bartleby's lip wobbled as he looked around. Sonia was already on her way, having stopped playing of rushing to comfort him. The orchestra took up the mantle once more. "It's okay my darling. Ignore her. I don't need them to approve of me." She kissed him and led him away to be alone.
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The next day, Robotnik was not surprised when an old goat arrived at the palace, accompanied by a white-haired pony and a stocky buffalo. "Councilmen, to what do I owe such a pleasure this morning?"
"Your nephew's outburst, last night… in regards to Lady Sonia…" the goat stated as they sat.
Robotnik shrugged. "He was defending his fiancé's honor. I would be most concerned if he had not had an outburst, as you call it. I call it putting a jealous harpy in her place. Would you allow anyone to speak of someone you loved in such a manner, Honorable Lord Mayberry? Or you, Lord Edincot? Lady Guinevere? And why should the council object to Lady Sonia as our future queen?"
The buffalo, Lord Edincot, sighed heavily. "Sire, people are concerned that the hedgehog royal family will use this as a foothold to get back into power." He said.
"And it looks as though that is what you're encouraging." Lady Guinevere, the pony, said with grit teeth. "Sire, first, you must understand. The prince cannot be speaking in such a manner. It makes people fear he may become a tyrant who doesn't believe in freedom of speech. Second, is Lady Sonia really the best choice. Surely she is a sweet girl but…"
"But what? She wasn't even raised by her parents." Robotnik pointed out. "She was raised by Lady Wyndermere and I dare say that I had a hand in her rearing. She has been taught alongside Bartleby. And on top of that, her IQ is 275. That's 25 points below me."
The pony nodded. "That's exactly it. It's as though you've planned all along for the hedgehogs to resume power." She explained. "We know you haven't but that is how it appears. And you remember the last time…"
"Yes, and you'll remember the conditions I had when I agreed to be king." Robotnik leaned back. "I was so insistent on them, that they are written in our constitution that the heir has the right to choose his or her own. So, now that Bartleby's choice is Sonia Wyndermere, daughter of Queen Aleena, is the council withdrawing their agreement to that condition? Now that the condition has become… inconvenient?" He asked.
The councilmen all shook their heads. "No, sire, that is not what we're saying at all…" Lord Mayberry insisted.
"I would hope not. Because if I ever hear it implied again, he and I will both be gone the next day." Robotnik threatened. "Then you and yours will have to deal with the rest of the resistance and the consequential civil war on top of it."
They each nodded defeatedly. Lord Edincot and Lady Guinevere left while Lord Mayberry laughed a little. "Maybe instead as stubborn as a goat, it should be as stubborn as Lord Robotnik."
Robotnik nodded. "I'll remind you, Lord Mayberry, if this condition had been in place prior, the coup might not have been necessary." He suggested. "So, yes, I am stubborn about it and I will remain so." He pulled out a pocket watch, looking at it thoughtfully.
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At breakfast in the Wyndermere manor, Manic looked at his three-minute egg with curiosity. "Ma'am, why don't people like our sister?" He asked as he looked over at his sister. Her eyes were still exhausted from the night before.
Sonia looked at Lady Wyndermere and answered for her. "Manic… you see… you know that our birth mother is Queen Aleena. When the royal hedgehogs were in charge… Our grandfather declared humans to be second class citizens because humans caused the destruction of the world. He ordered all humans to be rounded up and killed. The nobility disapproved of these laws. They believed that humans were not inherently evil and they tried to shelter them. Many lost their lives trying to protect the humans. They were only able to save one, however. Our father was a tyrant towards the aristocracy. The moment he and mother took the throne, he just started passing stifling law after stifling law. And any who dared to question at all… were executed." She looked down as she heard the doorbell. A servant went to answer the door.
Sonic took a deep breath. "Wow, what about our mother? She didn't stop it?"
Lady Windermere put a hand on his. "Aleena was a lovely person, with great plans. But your father held some power over her." She looked up with a grin. "Julian, I'm so glad you could make it."
Robotnik sighed and sat down. "Thank you for allowing me a place at your table. I had to deal with some council idiots."
Bartleby looked away. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I shouldn't have lost my cool. Lady Drina was just trying to get a rise out of me."
"You did better than I would have," Robotnik said as he dished up his meal. "Don't worry, brat, I handled it. I am only sorry that you're getting this backlash, Lady Sonia."
She shrugged. "I expected it. I don't care. They can say what they want. I will not be driven away." She vowed. "I'm not my mother, I don't run when it gets hard."
Robotnik nodded. "No. But… know this, were you like your mother, this kingdom would still be getting a hell of a queen. Your mother was a good person. Your father was my enemy." He said sincerely. "So, what are your plans for this weekend, Baroness?"
Lady Wyndermere smiled. "I was thinking of taking them to my estate in Wyndenburgh for the weekend. You should come too, Julian. And you, Bartleby. The shepherds have asked me to come to inspect the wool."
Sonic looked at her. "Wyndenburgh? You mean, this place isn't your only house? You have two of them?"
Wyndermere laughed. "Yes, I have two homes. I tried commuting but dear Julian just needed me too often." She said teasingly. "So, we'll pack and be ready to leave in an hour or so."
Robotnik nodded. "We can fly in my new mini-airship. I've been looking for a reason to test it out."
AN: Alright, short chapter to establish the upcoming story arcs.