VIII: Truth

Ria sat in the darkened library, she pushed two circles of glass, attached together crudely by a piece of wire, further up her nose and leant closer to the small flame which gave her a soft amber light to read by. In one hand she held a small rod of charcoal and paused her reading at moments to scribble upon a piece of parchment that lay upon her knee. The Queen sighed and let herself fall back into her chair. Her chest felt tight again so she stopped her work to catch a breath. As she lay absorbing the silence the Queen heard approaching footsteps, light yet rhythmic upon the glass floor. It was Esa. Dressed in the imperial aqua coloured gown of the monarchy she walked carefully, almost floating quietly into the room.

'You have returned late' Ria commented gasping slightly.
'There were many matters to discuss' Esa smiled. She assumed a small low Grecian-styled seat across from Ria and held her mother's hand.
'What is the time now?' Ria asked
'Umm. Well I left the chamber at Twi-fu-Lune-tivcoun. So I guess the time now would be quevcoun.' Esa counted out on her fingers
'I see' Ria replied. Then with a smile she added 'You regain your naivety sometimes'
'I'm sorry?'
'That expression upon your face as you were counting. Reminds me of when you were young' Ria smiled warmly holding her daughter's hand more securely.
'Mother I'm only 20!' Esa protested.
'Time flew' Ria replied. She shook her head. 'Anyway look at this.' She offered the rolled up parchment to Esa.
'It's fascinating. Craxic got it for me'
Sometimes I can't believe how he still stands so vocally after his illness last year' Esa smiled.
'You have great warmth for him now don't you Esa. Just like I did.'
'He probably knows more about me than I do' the girl laughed.
The woman responded with a warm smile
'You could be right. Anyway. Open it' she pointed to the paper.

Esa carefully unfurled the parchment. Faded scratchings in Latin were etched into the material. It was still readable, a report by the senate in Rome on the death of Caesar. Julius Caesar no less.
'It makes quite the thriller reading it'
'Tired of Homer?' Esa quipped. 'But yes it is interesting.'
Ria smiled as Esa studied the paper intensely.
'How is she?' Ria suddenly asked.
'Oh she's fine' Esa replied slightly offhandedly. Then she suddenly stopped her reading and looked up at Ria in earnest. 'Actually I want to ask your advice on something'

Ria nodded in solemn understanding. 'You want to tell the senate don't you.'
'It's been three years since' Esa argued 'Craxic knows. Hell half the Palace know now.'
Ria shook her head grimly 'Please don't Esa'.
'But why not. Why shouldn't the people accept it?'
'You are forgetting that saiyan business'. Ria reminded her. Esa fell silent. She leant back thoughtfully, but defeated in her chair.
'What if' she ventured. Ria raised a quizzical eyebrow. Esa tried again, she leant closer to the Queen. 'It might unite the people, if they understand'
'They don't know our predicament' Ria countered.
'But...'
'Don't jeopardise things Esa. I know you feel quite proud, but to tell the senate? They will start to plot on how they can use it to defeat the saiyans, they will choose war and soon every person will know and then they will crucify me for lying to them for so long. Besides there is also Topaz to consider.'
'What?' Esa asked in amazement. 'What does Topaz...'
'He loves you'
'You're using him mother!' Esa cried incredulously. She quickly rose to her feet.
'No Esa I am not. What did I tell you three years ago? That I would allow a marriage to him, I would allow it, I know Serenity wouldn't but I would so that..'
'So that I can be with her...yes mother I do remember' Esa finished the sentence. She looked around herself in disbelief. It dawned upon her.
'So you are creating this marriage to Topaz for that reason?'
Ria nodded
'That is cold' Esa shook her head
Ria shrugged. 'It is politics'
'Yet' Esa continued interrupting Ria 'and he is also a Prince who can fight is he not? A Prince who will rush chivalrously to the side of the despairing Princess, his damsel in distress to save her from a cruel evil' she spoke in mock drama, feigning a swoon before returning to her feet and glaring angrily at Ria as she finished her speech.
'Es..'
'You're going to use HIM to fight the saiyans aren't you.�? Esa asked. Her voice was cruel and harsh; it was a voice Ria hadn't heard in a long time. 'Of course you don't want a war; you say you act in my best interests but instead you are using him to do your bidding unwittingly. It's disgusting'

'Excuse me!' Ria yelled. She mustered all her strength to bring herself up to full height 'Mind your tongue madam. I do not like the tone you adopt and remember you are not Queen yet. If you must know it is a beneficial situation. For all involved'
'I don't see how' Esa crossed her arms petulantly and began to study the floor. Ria's sudden cry had taken her ego down a level or two and she felt embarrassed and humbled.
'Topaz will gain respect from the People, the Millennium, for his achievements. They will regale him, you will be married to a greatly respected warrior, he will have saved the Millennium and even Serenity may give her divine blessing. He will have saved us and he can bask in all its glory. I know what I am doing Esa. Within a year I will be dead, I am doing all I can now! If he finds out about this relation...' Ria explained sitting down again.
She was heavily out of breath, and Esa noticed.
'Dead?' she asked incredulously. 'You're telling me now?'
'I have what my mother had' Ria explained. Her voice was calm once more and she rested her head on her hand gazing up at her daughter with a very serene expression on her face. Esa watched her momentarily then turned on her heels and as quickly as she could, stalked out of the library.
'Esa?' Ria strained her voice after the girl.
'I won't tell the senate! You don't have to worry' Esa yelled back as she fled with tears streaming down her face.