Marcus cleared his throat.

“Quite a pleasant evening.”

“Quite.” Elise pursed her lips. Marcus nodded to himself, hands tucked behind his back as he kept pace with her.

“The chrysanthemums are blooming beautifully.” He noted. Elise hummed in acknowledgement.

Marcus folded.

“Alright,” He raised a hand to massage his forehead. Elise finally glanced at him, one eyebrow raised.

“I apologize for making such a brash suggestion. I understand that it was far from proper of me to place something so life changing on you so suddenly.” Her expression was unreadable. Perhaps his apology was not sufficient.

“Please do not feel obligated to answer the question.” He added.

She was silent still. He grew a bit more flustered.

“And if we could return to the way things were-” 

“I would have conditions.” She spoke at last, her voice quiet. Marcus blinked.

“You would have conditions?” He repeated, not quite sure he understood.

She would have conditions in regards to returning to the way things were? Surely that was what she meant. But what could she possibly ask that-

“You would expect me to adhere to the expectations of high society. To learn all of your asinine rules. Would you not?” She spoke again. Marcus nearly tripped over a stone in the path.

Conditions for marrying him.

“I imagine so, yes.” He answered honestly. Elise nodded, as if she’d suspected as much.

“If I am to learn your ways, then you are to learn mine.” She said.

“How do you mean?” Marcus frowned.

“You learn to defend yourself. I would train you personally.” Elise’s grip on the hilt of her sword tightened a fraction.

Marcus tried not to react. He tried not to outwardly display what an awful idea it was. He was easily the last person in the kingdom that should be consigned to such physical tasks. It could be dangerous, deadly.

There wasn’t time to dwell on it.

“Once I am Queen, the new Captain of the Guard will be ill-suited to protect you. No one is as skilled as I am.” Marcus tried not to react in an off-putting manner. But he felt more than a little giddy hearing her say the word with such certainty.

It quickly drowned out the logic that had resided over his thoughts previously.

“Alright. What else?” He murmured.

“You said you wanted an equal.” Elise reminded him. Marcus nodded once.

“I do.” He concurred.

“In everything?” She clarified. He nodded once more, brow slightly furrowed.

“I would have an equal say in how the kingdom is run? In how our relations with other nations are handled?”

“Yes.” If anything, he’d like her to have more of a say than him. She had better strategies, brighter ideas. He would hand over the reins to everything if she happened to ask.

“I would have an equal say in how the household is run? And you would have an equal share in caring for children?” It caught him a bit more off-guard than he’d care to admit.

The idea of children. Children with her. Their children.

“Yes.” His face felt a bit warm.

“My word carries the same weight as yours?” She continued. And he took a moment, took a slightly deeper breath.

“Yes.” Elise stopped walking.

“You hesitated.” She noted. Marcus stopped next to her, forcing himself to meet her gaze.

He had never had a true equal before. He had never seen a relationship such as the one that she was describing. A new queen with the same power as the reigning king. It was a bit troubling, to think that soon enough his response would no longer be the only final say.

But then she must have been even more troubled, to leave the position she had worked all her life for and take this risk. To enter into this partnership knowing very well that she could lose all of her independence, all of herself.

This was the very least that he could grant her.

“Your word carries the same weight as mine.” He said, holding her gaze. Her eyes bore into his, searching for so much as a flicker of dishonesty.

“I agree to all of your terms. And I would adapt each ordinance to confer unto your position all power that you have asked.” He doubled down. And he made the mental note to consult with whoever he had to to see it done immediately.

Elise tilted her head a bit, studying him for the longest moment of his life.

He thought about what Inez had said. He thought about saying more, about spilling everything. Honesty, full truths. She should know it all before she agreed or disagreed. He should-

“Alright.” Elise said. Marcus blinked.

“Alright?” He reached to straighten his un-crooked crown.

“I accept.” She wouldn’t look him in the eye as she said it. Marcus couldn’t breathe for a moment, barely processing the fact that she had truly just accepted.

He reached for the pocket of his cloak. He brought out the ornate box very carefully, watching her reaction closely as he did so.

“May I?” He murmured as he pried it open. Elise gave a curt nod, her lips pressed into a thin line.

She held out her left hand. She watched him pluck the ring out of the box. She watched him slide the band over her finger.

Scars marring her skin, dirt under her nails. It was not the hand of a queen.

She stared at the ring as he drew back, almost as if its weight was much greater than a simple band of gold and a glittering jewel.

The weight of a shackle, perhaps.

“I’ll inform the cook at once. We’ll have a proper celebration at dinner.” She only looked away as he raised her hand to his lips, kissing the ring over her finger.

“Elise?” She cleared her throat, drawing back her hand when he finally let it go. She closed her hand into a fist and squeezed it as she tucked it behind her back.