Oh.
Sophia spits out a few crumbs from her mouth, turning now towards the two forms that were shadowing the room behind her. The shock doesn’t even let her stammer. “What?!”
The Priestess glances at the Guardsman who also glances back at her. Elodie takes charge of this mess, this time. “Ma’am, you do understand that you need to take the initiative, correct? In terms of this?”
The Fourth Princess just stares wide eyed at this Imperial court of two advisors. “M-me?!”
Yes of course you! Her internal monologue groans. We’re living in a society of gendered expectations here!
”You are the woman of this relationship.” The Priestess continues to explain. “You are expected to head… certain activities—this included.”
Asking people out on a date?!!! The thought processes all scream, How could we end up doing such a thing?!!! Why?!!! Why us?!!!
Sophia curses her own religion. All because a stupid Goddess had decided to be extremely STUPID and make herself flesh and blood because she STUPIDLY fell in love with some random human boy.
Now, every woman from here to Axial had the cultural pressure of asking out random men on the street; hoping nobody would give them strange looks or the dreaded: ‘Sorry, I already have someone’ or worse ‘Sorry, you’re not my type.’
Sophia lets out a small squeak of primal fear. Oh Goddess, Zai totally would be the type to say ‘I’m not interested…’
No.
He would sigh, look away from her cold gaze, and with all the grace demanded of a Prince of Tianci, he would whisper to her: ‘Sophia, I know we’re married but… I don’t see you in that way. I’m sorry.’
Sophia wondered if this was a good time to take as much silver bullion as she could carry in a duffle bag and leave town, leave Tianci, perhaps even leave Ensolia entirely.
An island chain nation somewhere in the middle of the Adranic Ocean sounded nice, where no one would ever find out about her for the rest of history.
The Priestess continues with a mild apprehension. “Ma’am, may I suggest that actively dating the person you love is a vital part of a loving relationship?”
“L-lov…” Sophia tries not to stutter, ignoring that word for now and focusing instead on the major part of those words. “Y-y-yeah?”
The Guardsman has no faith in her whatsoever. “Sophia, you are aware of how to date, correct?”
How dare she imply Sophia Elise the Eighth had no experience in this matter?!
Of course The Fourth Princess has had a wondrous romantic life! Throughout her years in this world she has lived through countless romances both fleeting and termful, across nations she has seduced princes, loved farmers in forbidden romances, and even the mythical figures of ancient times. Of course Sophia has had experience in everything romantic!
Her brain just gives her a dead stare. Those were fictional tales. Written by authors who were under rushed deadlines and the whip of publishing contracts; smut stories meant for the most low lived, lonely women in Ensolia. Girl, this is real life.
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Sophia lies with pure, refined, 100% uncut, extra virgin pride. “I am aware of how to… date.”
“You are?” The Guardsman raises an eyebrow, this creature before them beginning to slowly reduce herself into mush.
Sophia bites her tongue. “Of course I am.”
The Priestess presses the advantage, this new minted alliance between two nations a bit too effective in this most mundane circumstance. “Then will you ask your husband out on a date?”
Sophia’s face contorts at the very idea, the embarrassment and shame of having to stand in front of him and ask him out like some desperate, lonely shut-in forever condemned to her single bedroom apartment in downtown Capital.
Ok it’s not like we don’t want to ask him out. One of the thought processes justifies. Like we totally do like him. He’s nice and very hot, but like… who knows what could happen on that date right?! Maybe it goes really well and right as the festival reaches its climax we get caught up in the moment and have a little kissy kiss. Maybe it goes even further than that? Maybe after it's all said and done we…
Another process interrupts timidly. …but what if he says no?
Zai Tianci, despite the literal weeks spent together on almost a daily basis, was still an unknown quantity.
If he says no we’re leaving forever. The entire committee agrees. Never to come back, we’ll all be…
“I…” Sophia begins to answer painfully, choking on her own words.
And the crowds too, there’s going to be so many people. What is this, a town of two thousand or more?!
“I…”
Imagine if you say something completely out of pocket while on the date. You’ll scare him off!
“I…”
Think of the horror on his face if you try to flirt with him and he thinks you’re a creep!
“I…”
You can’t do this.
“I can’t do this.” Sophia coldly cries out.
Someone has lost coinage on this bet, probably Elodie as she grits her teeth and glances at the Guardsman.
And so Guardsman Mori Fushimi bows respectfully at this Princess’ answer. “Very well Ma’am. I will inform your husband of your decision.”
She cannot do such a thing. She cannot be allowed to tell him.
“Wait.” Sophia Elise the Eighth shoots her hand up, voice a stern bark. “I did not say that I am not willing to go on a…”
She has to force that word out of her diaphragm, the implication itself a little too far into their relationship at current. “... date with him. I simply don’t want to ask him to go on one.”
A true politician’s answer, a lie and a truth married together so closely it takes a moment for these two instigators to unravel the meaning hidden behind the sentence. The Guardsman asks the question. “So you want to go with him?”
“I do.” Sophia nods.
“But… you aren’t willing to ask him to go with you?”
“...” Sophia takes a second to compose herself. “Yes.”
Compromise. Remember you’re a royal, Heir to the entirety of Ensolia, you have the capacity to make other people do things for you.
The Fourth Princess turns to her husband’s Guard, pouring the power of the Imperium onto this lowly Tianci citizen. “Guardsman, can you ask him if he is willing to go on a date with me?”
She’s already prepared for that request, a casualness to her reply as she straightens her attentive stance. “Sorry Ma’am I can’t do that. I’m not technically your subordinate, can’t take orders from you.”
Sophia turns towards the Priestess alongside her, now getting desperate. “Elodie, please: ask my husband if he is willing to go on a date with me.”
There’s a moment where this agent is torn between service and morality, with the latter side winning this battle. “Sorry…”
A tiny part of her squeaks out its idea. Maybe we can get the Impericutta legionary to do it for us?
No.
Bad idea.
Very bad idea.
Sophia Elise, you’re gonna have to ask him yourself.
(literally)
