A Magical Evening (Chapter 13)
I want to thank Luiz4200 for suggesting that Hildegard might have to produce an heir. This chapter starts covering that.
Cleo stood in a cemetery in Corinthia. She was standing at the grave of her parents. She looked around, and saw nobody around. It was just her. Cleo then looked at the grave of her parents.
"Mom, Dad" Cleo started. "I'm sorry your gone, but there is something you need to know. Your precious daughter ... your precious Cleo ... is gay. There! I've said it! Now live with it!".
Cleo suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned around to see her brother, Michael, standing there. Cleo gasped in shock.
"It's alright" Michael gently said as he hugged Cleo. "It's alright".
"But you heard what I just said" Cleo said, worried.
"Yes, I did" Michael gently said. "Don't worry. I don't damn you. Your my sister, and I love you".
"Your taking this awfully well" Cleo observed.
"Inside, I've never shared Mom and Dad's viewpoint" Michael revealed. "I'm not gay ... but I do have some gay friends. They are among the nicest people you would ever want to meet. And now I find out that your gay. It must have been hell for you, having to live under the same roof as Mom and Dad who were very anti-gay".
"It was" Cleo quietly said.
"Let's go home" Michael said as he put his arm around Cleo's shoulder. "I like to get to know the new you".
A few days passed. At Corinthia Castle, Michael met with Cleo and Hildegard.
"Now that you know about Cleo and I, where do we go from here?" Hildegard asked Michael, concerned.
"You don't have to worry about me" Michael reassured Hildegard. "Nobody will find out from me. In fact, I have an idea on how the two of you can be nearer to each other".
"What did you have in mind?" Hildegard wanted to know.
"I understand that you'll be needing a new person to manage your kingdom's finances" Michael started. "If I might make a suggestion, Cleo is excellent when it comes to finances. You could hire her to be your Mistress of Coin. Think of it. The two of you would be under the same roof that way".
"I like the idea" Hildegard said. "But, we would still have to be careful".
"Of course" Michael admitted. "But at least the two of you would be within easy reach of each other".
"Well, Cleo" Hildegard smiled. "Would you be interested in becoming my Mistress of Coin?".
"I'd love it" Cleo smiled back. "However, wouldn't I be expected sooner to later to marry a king or prince?".
"That's the beauty of this plan" Michael pointed out. "Since you would hold a high position in Friezenburg, you would be expected to be totally devoted to the position, and that would cancel any obligation of finding a king or prince to marry".
Hildegard and Cleo smiled at Michael with happiness.
Two weeks passed. Michael had been appointed King of Corinthia, and Hildegard had been appointed Queen of Friezenburg. After becoming Queen, Hildegard appointed Cleo as Friezenburg's Mistress of Coin. The transfer of power in both kingdoms had gone smoothly. In Friezenburg, Minister Garth helped make life easier for Hildegard and Cleo, and had even hired a personal maid for Hildegard who could be trusted to keep Hildegard and Cleo's relationship secret. The maid, it turns out, had a sister who was gay, so the maid was sympathetic toward Hildegard and Cleo.
At Friezenburg Castle, Hildegard was in her office when Garth entered.
"Princess Amber, Princess Sofia, and Royal Sorceress Lucinda of Enchancia" Garth announced.
Hildegard and Cleo raced over and hugged the three as Garth left, closing the door behind him.
"It's so good to see the three of you again!" Hildegard exclaimed with tears of happiness in her eyes.
"It's good to see you too, old friend" Amber smiled.
"Well, look at you" Sofia smiled at Cleo. "Mistress of Coin".
"And look at you" Cleo smiled back at Sofia. "Princess Enchantress".
The five friends sat down and had a wonderful time catching up with each other. In the hallway outside of Hildegard's office, a woman stood watching the closed door. It was Lady Ellamay, a member of the Friezenburg royal council.
"You dishonor your parents, Queen Hildegard" Ellamay thought to herself. "Your parents must be turning over in their grave knowing you are meeting with those lesbians Sofia and Lucinda. I shall be keeping an eye on you, my Queen".
That evening, Hildegard and Garth met in Hildegard's office.
"You wanted to see me, Minister Garth?" Hildegard asked.
"Yes, my Queen" Garth replied. "As your advisor, I feel we must discuss something".
"What is it, my friend?" Hildegard wanted to know.
"I have no doubt that you will be our Queen for many years" Garth started. "However, considering your, shall we say, sexual orientation, we will need to find a way to ensure the future of the Friezenburg royal house. Since you won't be marrying, we will need to find another way to come up with a heir to the throne".
"I agree" Hildegard said. "What did you have in mind?".
"A story could be leaked that you are unable to have children" Garth answered. "That would open the way to adoption. A suitable baby boy could be found, then adopted by you. That baby boy could then be raised as your son, and an heir to the throne. I hope I haven't overstepped my bounds by bringing up such a matter?".
"Your a good advisor, and a good friend" Hildegard smiled at Garth. "Your simply looking out for my wellbeing, and the wellbeing of the kingdom. I appreciate that very much".
"Most kind, my Queen" Garth gratefully said.
"So, how do we go about doing this?" Hildegard asked.
"If you'll let me, I'll get the ball rolling on this starting tomorrow" Garth suggested.
"Then I'll leave it in your capable hands" Hildegard said in a grateful way.