The Queen Blocks My Path—Says Her Daughter Chose Me, and Awaits My Answer скачать в хорошем качестве

The Queen Blocks My Path—Says Her Daughter Chose Me, and Awaits My Answer

Dr. David Chen is human cultural advisor assigned to Thessari diplomatic mission—six months helping human diplomats navigate Thessari cultural protocols. His position keeps him peripheral to major political events—he observes and analyzes, operating in background rather than as principal actor. Today's court ceremony was formal presentation where Thessari noble houses introduced their eligible daughters as potential marriage partners for alliance diplomacy. David attended as cultural observer, taking notes about ceremonial protocols. The ceremony concluded formally with Queen Seraphina declaring that selection processes would proceed according to traditional courtship protocols over coming weeks. As court begins dispersing, David moves toward the exit with other diplomatic staff, relieved the ceremony concluded without incident. He's almost at the massive ceremonial doors, already mentally composing his analysis report, when shadow falls across his path. David looks up to find Queen Seraphina standing directly in front of him. Not hurried. Not angry. Simply immovable. The dispersing court slows—conversations lower as nobles notice their queen has moved to block human cultural advisor's departure. "My daughter has made her choice," Queen Seraphina says, her voice carrying just far enough that those nearest can hear. "She chose you." The words don't feel like honor to David. They feel like gravity—weight pressing down, inescapable force. He searches Seraphina's expression for humor—perhaps this is elaborate jest. No humor visible. He searches for test—perhaps she's evaluating his diplomatic composure. No indication of testing. He searches for trap—perhaps this is political maneuvering. No sign of manipulation. Only expectation. Patient, absolute expectation that he will provide answer. Not command—she did not order him to accept. Did not invoke her sovereign authority to compel agreement. That would have been easier. If she had commanded acceptance, he could have complied with clear conscience that he was following orders. "I await your answer," Seraphina adds when David doesn't immediately respond. The silence extends. Court has completely stopped pretending to disperse—nobles and diplomats standing frozen, watching this confrontation. David's mind races. Princess Kethara chose him during ceremony he attended as passive observer. This should be impossible—the ceremony was presentation, not selection process. Individual candidates weren't supposed to make unilateral choices, especially targeting minor cultural advisors rather than senior diplomatic officers appropriate for princess and heir. But apparently Princess Kethara did exactly that. And now her mother stands blocking his exit, publicly acknowledging that choice, waiting for his answer. Seraphina is not commanding his acceptance. She's waiting for genuine choice. That makes the decision harder—he can't hide behind obligation. If he accepts, it will be because he chose to. If he refuses, it will be because he chose to. His agency is real and terrifying. David asks permission to speak directly with Princess Kethara. Seraphina grants it but remains present. Kethara approaches, visibly anxious. "Why?" David asks. "We've spoken occasionally, but always briefly. I'm not appropriate match for Thessari heir. Why would you choose me?" Kethara responds: "Because you're one of the only people who treats me as person rather than as position. You engaged with me about actual topics. You treated me with respect without performance or calculation. You had no political motivation, so I knew your respect was genuine rather than strategic. I attended diplomatic functions specifically to observe alliance personnel. Most treated me as political opportunity. You treated me as person whose perspectives might be worth hearing. That difference mattered profoundly." David processes this, then makes his decision. He addresses both Kethara and Seraphina clearly: "I accept Princess Kethara's choice. I choose to enter alliance marriage partnership with her. Not because sovereign commanded it or diplomatic protocol required it. But because I'm making deliberate choice that partnership with someone who values genuine respect over political calculation is worth the complications accepting will bring." The throne room erupts in surprised murmurs. Queen Seraphina shows satisfaction: "Your choice is acknowledged and will be honored." Princess Kethara approaches, chromatic patterns showing profound relief: "Thank you. For choosing deliberately rather than just accepting because you felt you had no choice. For claiming your agency even when it made the decision harder. That matters more than simple acceptance would have." All stories are original content. Subscribe to Sci-Fi Empress for stories exploring agency under pressure, showing how genuine choice becomes most real when refusal is possible and courage lies in shaping destiny deliberately!