>>5924621“Laws enacted for good reason,” Queen Ekaterine asserts, “to protect young women and girls from the exploitation of callous and ravenous men who would treat them like chattel, or cattle. Polygny in particular, while part of many rich cultures, is TARDITIONALLY the province of parochial patriarchy, exacerbating inequalities between the sexes.”
“R-right,” you say.
Only…
“Then how come YOU did it? Huh?”
You shoot a look to Zith-Zi, who simply shrugs helplessly, as if to say ‘What? Am I wrong?’ When you look back at the Queen, though, she has stopped walking again, and her hands are balled up into fists. After a moment, she releases a breath, and looks over her shoulder at both of you, with tired eyes.
“I was young,” she says wistfully. “And he was charming. He still is, as I’m sure you’ll find.”
Her expression hardens a little, very voice a bit more brittle.
“And… he was NOT very communicative on the matter, not at first.”
“Oh,” you say.
“Of course, I understand WHY he was not,” she continues. “There were, ah, one could call them CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, far more pronounced than even if he were REALLY an Eastman. And the circumstances… Well, our relationship has not been uncomplicated, or easy. Even if I WERE his only wife, it would not have been so.”
Queen Ekaterine closes her eyes, collecting herself, and then continues walking.
“Enough of this,” she asserts. “We have more important matters to discuss.”
You keep mum this time, having learned your lesson. Zith-Zi apparently hasn’t though, nudging you in the side with a bony elbow and whispering:
“Sorry Tips, I don’t think Queenie’s gonna’ legalize it.”
