A Contest For The Queen's Hand In Marriage

The council had gathered in the court, waiting for the Queen to show up. Lord Lucas was sitting right opposite the prime minister, who was seething.
"This was your grand idea? Really?"
Lord Lucas smiled. "Just wait for the results, prime minister. Don't get ahead of yourself."
The prime minister eyed hin and turned away, just as the doorman announced; "Her Royal Highness, the Queen has arrived in the Royal Court!"
All the council elders stood to show respect as she walked in, her steps slow amd graceful. Lord Lucas had expected her to storm into the court and show her disapproval, and he would hit her with even bigger news, and then put her completely at his mercy. Her calmness greatly unsettled him, but he tried to match it.
Once she was settled on her elevated seat, one that was designed with gems, the elders took their seats too.
"I believe we are all here because of a rumor. How very childish of all of us, don't you think?" She gave a low laugh.
The prime minister snickered, his gaze never leaving Lord Lucas.
"It may be childish, your highness, but you honor is at stake. This isn't just another rumor, it's like a promise. You can't take back a promise, you are royal blood."
She turned to Lord Simon.
"Disregard the rumors then and forget it even happened. I do not see Adrian as anything but a cowardly man who covets something he knows he can't have. I am not marrying someone like that."
"Your highness," Lord Lucas said and stood. "In my ecstasy at the news, I have sent official invitations and gifts to the kings of neighbouring Kingdoms, including family friends of the Western Palace. Surely you would not want to disapoint such dignified guests."
As if on cue, a servant walked in and bowed. "You have a letter from the Western Palace, Your Highness."
The Western Palace was tight family friends from a kingdom on the west, and they called it the western palace because of the strong bond of alliance between them, they were like the same palace in different bearings.
Lord Lucas walked to him and collected it.
"Will you really disregard it?"
She looked at the letter, then sent the servant closest to her to get it. Lord Lucas handed it over to the servant, before clasping his hands behind him, watching in anticipation.
She received the letter and opened it.
"Greetings from the Western Palace.
We are truly overwhelmed with Joy to know that the Queen is getting married. We will indeed honor this event with our presence and boundless gifts."
She folded the letter without reading the remaining greetings, and held her head between her thumb and index. Lord Lucas had done it on ourpose to get her married, she was sure. He was doing this to get her married to his stupid son.
"Lord Lucas. Of all the eligible bachelors in this kingdom and beyond, you chose your slowwitted son, Adrian to be the one involved in these rumors? Did seeing his blood agitate you that much?"
Lord Lucas chuckled and sat back. "I only want the best for your highness. I do believe my son has been taken with you ever since he set his eyes on you when you were both only naive children and there was nothing in your hearts but pure love. Things have changed since then and you have become hardened, but the one thing that has remained constant is his love for you."
The council was quiet, seeing that they had just sold their son's opportunities to marry the Queen to Lord Lucas's scheme.
"I am not going to take adrian as a hisband."
"Then you will stand to disappoint your people?"
She shook her head, a small smile soreading on her lips. Two could play this game of wits and slyness, and she wasn't going to lose. It was her life, her love, her body. So how dare Lord Lucas think she will allow him dictate who she was going to end up with?
"I am not going to disappoint the peoole of the western palace. I will get married in a fortnight."
Lord Lucas smiled brightly, raising his head. He was going to be the Queen's father in-law, there was no news better than that.
Some of the council elders who liked to play safe started congratulating him, as the queen silently watched. It would shock him to the bone marrow what she would do next, and she would never let him recover from it.
"However," she said, causing the hall to quiet down immediately.
"I am the sovereign queen. So I will choose who I get married to in a fortnight."
The smile on Lord Lucas' face wiped as if cleaned with a duster.
"What do you mean?"
She gave him a sweet smile. "Just what I said."
She turned away, balancing on the seat. She had found a solution to her biggest problem, and it made her so hsppy.
"You see, I have always been so keen on love. And on finding it, I had totally forgotten things like eligibility, compatibility and grace. Putting those in consideration, I haven't been able to pick someone as my partner."
"But Adrian..." Lord Lucas started to say before she cut him off with her palm opened in a stop sign.
"You don't interrupt the Queen. Where are your manners?"
He bowed. "I apologize."
She turned away from him and continued talking, really slowly. The atmosphere in the court was dim.
"So I have decided to hold a contest. Let it be known far and wide, to all the neighbouring nations that I will search for my king, who will walk beside me though hell and happiness through a contest in a fortnight. Once a winner emerges, the others are immediately disqualified."
The prime minister nodded. "That's a very good idea, your highness. That way. Every able man will have his chnace."
"Exactly."
"Is it going to be a duel? Sword fight. Archery or knowledge?"
She shook her head. "None. There will only be two questions for the contest, meaning the contest will last two days. I...will ask these questions myself on that day."
She stood up, and all of them stood. Their heads bowed. Lord Lucas was extremely gutted, knowing his plan had gone to waste just like that.