Queen of Ice

Julia keeps flipping the pages and typing in her laptop as the music plays in the background from her Bluetooth headset. She leaned on her back, sipping her coffee, then sighed. “What else should...”

Julia heard a footstep from her tent, and Rose put another document. “Your dad is here...” Julia saved her previous works and removed the headset, then approaching her dad, who was already waiting for her.

Her face turned sour as she looked at her stepmother, Margareth. “Ah... my daughter and my successor... where’s your wife?”

Julia sighed and brushed off her dad’s hand on her shoulders. “Marquis Carrick complained about your behavior, Dad. If you do not apologize to him in 24 hours... I will tell him to send a red complaint to the Courtyard.”

He scoffed. “Now, who's enjoying the role, huh?” Julia gripped her fist behind her back. “So... the war is still going on, and... your ‘strategies,’ not...” The Ministry of Defense interrupted their conversation and bowed to both.

“Queen Duncan, all the enemies troop agree to cooperate.” A victorious smile on her face. “We already won the battle. They agree to cooperate with us and return to their country.” Julia turned into her dad, then a smirked draw on his face.

“Next time... you should call me if you want to visit, my ‘dearest dad.’ If you excuse me...” Julia pours tea inside the plastic cup. “I have a meeting with the Leader World Council.”

Cecilia walked from group to group of people. “Excuse me, Your Majesty...” Cecilia stopped. She looks at him with a cold and politeness. “We won the battle, but Queen Duncan decided to extend the stay in case of a follow-up attack.”

Cecilia nodded her head and looked at her citizen. "How long the rations do we have left?” Cecilia walked to her room.

“7 days, Your Majesty. Do you want me...” Ceclia raised her hand. The guards got out of her room and closed the door.

She puts her earbuds, then called Julia, but she’s not answer. She decides to send a message to her.

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To: Julia

What’s going on?

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Julia, who received a phone call and message, ignored it. She keeps listening to Mr. President’s allegation towards her country. “So, Queen Duncan poisoned my troops, and she cut our supply. It’s inhumane, right? She's the one who needs to be punished.”

Julia sighed and kept listening. She tried her best not to intervene in his blabbering. “Queen Duncan, do you...”

“No, Your Honor. Mr. Collins... we already spoke a week ago about this, right? Mr. President...” Julia sighed. She took a deep breath and scratched her forehead.

“Please continue, Queen Duncan,” he said firmly.

“We also have... 30 pages of report about the refugees outside my border. They are all from Focye, Ostia, and Afleinia. All of them are foreign journalists. According to them, Mr. President banished them and alienated because they reported the ugly truth of his regime, Your Honor. It’s all in this report, and I can send them all alongside with the witness's account.” Julia put the report on her desk.

Mr. Collins was silent for a while alongside the jury. “Mr. President, we can’t banish or alienate foreigners outside our country. You are already breaking the rules. I’m here as the mediator for both countries, and my job is to...”

Mr. President disconnected from the meeting. “Well, it seems someone already became an international wanted criminal.” Mr. Collins sighed, then flipped the pages of his notebook. “Do you care to explain how you... poisoned his troops?”

Julia rubbed her thighs. She looked Cecilia as she walked inside her tent.

Julia got distracted by her unannounced appearance. She stood in front of her desk, then chuckled. “Queen Julia Duncan?” Julia snapped back and chuckled.

“Oh, yeah.” She took a deep breath and exhaled to ease her nerves. “I tried not to kill them, Your Honor. We already healed the poisoned troops and no lives casualties from both sides.”

Mr. Collins nodding his head. “Very generous of you, Queen Duncan.” Mr. Collins wrote on his note and knocked on his hammer. “You and Mr. President should make a treaty once he’s coming to his senses, and we will conduct investigations for those refugees, and don’t forget to call their leader to bring them to their home. Court adjourned!”

Julia nodded her head, then disconnected from the meeting.

“I saw your dad and your...”

“Let’s not talk about it first...” Julia massaging her forehead, then her temple. Cecilia took the initiative to pour some water into her plastic cup. “Argh! Those Mr. Dunce Rat Sewers Rascal!” Julia sighed, then looked at her. “It still...”

“How long do you want to extend?” Cecilia asked as she stared into her eyes.

Julia pulled her closer and held her tight. Cecilia standing there did not respond or try to push her. After a couple of minutes, Julia looked into her eyes and held her hand. “I will send the food to all the bunkers tomorrow. I’ll make sure no casualties first, and...”

The loud sound of bangs can be heard from the distance. Both ran to the source sound and found a red giant flame from the Mr. President nations. All the troops cheered, and Julia smiled.

Cecilia sighed in relief. Her movement stiff, but sure. She held Julia’s waist and leaned her head on her shoulder. They watched the explosions from a distance. “Do you think it’s over? He will...”

“I will start to think that those dunce rats were dead or executed by his people. I don’t know.” Julia said as she pulled her wife closer.

Cecilia closes her eyes and lets the gentle breeze blow to her face. Her expression was unreadable. None of them dare to speak. “I already told my dad about Marquis Carrick’s complaint. I hope he apologizes to him before he puts something in the red box.”

Cecilia did not respond. She just sits there and enjoys their moment and lets out the longing for each other.