CHAPTER 16

While Daein celebrates its liberation from Begnion, rebel forces strike the western neighboring nation of Crimea. Queen Elincia holds forth the noble throne of Crimea, but she begins to doubt that she can rule Crimea on her own. Words of Pelleas's coronation as king of Daein hits Crimea within days, especially when Crimea spent the last three years with reconstruction following the damage it suffered from the Mad King's War. However, Pelleas's coronation was not the only thing disturbing Crimea. There was a widening gap between noble Crimean classes and their mighty Queen Elincia, who was still an inexperienced ruler as Crimea had lost her father, King Ramon, during the Daein invasion. Her secret was still a secret from the public eye, and she was the one coming unexpectedly onto the Crimean throne. As a result, Crimea's noble houses protested against her rule. But, she also wanted to strengthen ties with the southern Beast Laguz nation of Gallia, ruled by the mighty Lion King Caineghis. Still, nobles continue to criticize the queen's decisions and ruling efforts.

Queen Elincia and a Crimean aristocrat were having a word with the Crimean people, with Geoffrey, captain of the Crimean Royal Knights, and his older sister Lucia included. As Queen Elincia never forgot the war with Daein three years ago, she stated that if hatred were ruling the people's hearts, the people would be prisoners of the past.

"Bravo, Queen Elincia." said a Crimean aristocrat. "Your words paint a picture of an idea rarely seen here in court. However, and I beg of forgiveness in you, Your Majesty…..your grasp of politics remain somewhat….childishly naive."

"So abandoning rule over Daein, and reconciling with our most hated enemy….This…shall not do. People, take your stupid discontent to the streets." said another aristocrat.

"And what is more, why choose Bastian as your envoy?" asked another Crimean aristocrat. "His court skills are vital to the country of Crimea."

"Yes…to send away such a key figure." said another Crimean aristocrat.

"Tell me, Your Majesty, Queen Elincia, how can you possibly rule without the great Count of Fayre? Bastian, that is?" asked an elderly Crimean Aristocrat.

The long blue-haired swordmaster Lucia answered, saying that Bastian volunteered as a delegate. However, she was interrupted by an aristocrat, telling her not to loosen her tongue as she was not the queen herself.

"Please refrain from speaking when you are not addressed!" yelled a strict aristocrat.

"Please." said Elincia to the strict aristocrat.

"But, my queen, her familiarity with you does not grant a seat in royal matters!" yelled the strict aristocrat. "She must remember her place, despite the fact that she is serving under you."

"Enough." said Queen Elincia.

"...You have my apologies." said Lucia.

One aristocrat asked Lucia's brother Geoffrey if his loyalty to Queen Elincia stems from uncheck emotions, saying that the people with the taste of the gossip act are talking. He next wondered about what help was saying about him. Geoffrey was shocked.

"Geoffrey!" yelled Lucia.

Geoffrey later got really angry.

"Well, discontent that is growing has…..brought the Crimean royal family to some sort of…crossroads." said an aristocrat. "Queen Elincia, this…is all on you."

"And whatever is the queen intend to do?" asked another aristocrat.

Everyone, from the aristocrats to Geoffrey to even Lucia, later remained silent. Even the queen herself remained at a silent pace.

Time passed, and Marcia, a former Begnion Pegasus Knight, was with Queen Elincia. Elincia needed some cheering up after what had happened with the "no-goodnik nobles" and the "chest-beating contest".

"Forgive me." Elincia said quietly. "I needed some time to think about stuff. I apologize for troubling you."

"It's really not your fault, Elincia." said Marcia. "Besides, it's all I could do for you."

"...Thank you, Marcia." said Queen Elincia.

"It was also nice of you to hire me as a Royal Knight, but hiring my sponge-brained brother Makalov might put you in sainthood soon." said Marcia.

"I may have even caused a great number of hardships for you, Marcia." Elincia said.

Marcia was later confused. She then realized something about the grief she was getting from the nobles. Marcia said it was nothing she couldn't handle. She then told Elincia to get a glimpse at Begnion's aristocracy if Crimea has "stuffed-shirted windbags". Marcia then recalled times as a Begnion Pegasus Knight when new shenanigans with the Begnion aristocrats went on every week. Marcia later said that the Crimean crybabies were no big deal.

"...OK, maybe it is my fault." said Elincia. "Pardon my bluntness, but still. I'm new to the royal ruling and all of that stuff. Maybe sometimes, I don't have what it takes to be queen…" Elincia thought.

"That is soooo not true Elincia!" said Marcia. "Any woman could strut their stuff in a queen's crown and uniform and say she's a ruler. But you must always put your people first in line! But it's not because you're doing a bad job. It's not because of that!" yelled Marcia. "It's just that….things are…edgey right now. And it's just going to be like that. I mean, look at the Daein country; they are getting a new king after the fall of that bastardous Mad King Ashnard at the hands of Crimea's greatest soldiers. And yet, people think that Daein's going to start another war like they did three years ago, and they're putting it out on you, Elincia. So, here's something I want you to know. Don't let the noble people bug you. Remember: You've got friends everywhere supporting you, Elincia!"

Marcia's words left Elincia's spirits high. Elincia remembered everything Marcia said to her. The two later flew away on their Pegasus mounts.