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If you had told her 6 months ago that she would have been hanging on the words of Saul Silva she would have laughed in her own face and downed a shot of whiskey.
She knew drunk texting him wasn’t a good idea, but she couldn’t help herself.
She had been in a fight with Luna about her decisions as Queen and even though Stella now held the power she couldn’t help but feel like that helpless little girl that was afraid to disappoint her mom.
She knew the Winx girls would be there for her if she needed them to be, but she didn’t want them.
She wanted someone who would understand what it was like to have the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Someone who knew that sometimes making decisions that helped a lot of people, could also end up hurting some too.
So she made a drink, went out on her balcony and sent that first text to Saul Silva.
Stella: What’s worse: disappointing people professionally or personally?
She hadn’t expected him to answer, but sure enough those three little dots appeared on her screen almost instantly.
Silva: What did Luna do?
Stella: She doesn’t approve of my decisions regarding the public programs in Solaria.
Silva: Would you rather have Luna’s approval or the approval of your people?
Stella: I just want Solaria to be better.
Silva: It is, because of you. And for what it’s worth I think you’re doing a great job as Queen.
That was where it had ended that night.
Stella hadn’t expected Silva to keep in touch and she certainly hadn’t expected their texts to turn into a friendship.
Then that friendship turned into something more.
Since he was in charge of the specialists and she was Queen she didn’t expect that they would actually spend time together, she thought this would be a flirtation that would stay on her phone and she was okay with that.
However, as it turned out anytime Alfea was on break he was the specialist that was in charge at the palace.
She wasn’t sure how he managed to do that without anyone saying anything, but with his reputation and all the Alfea graduates that worked in the palace she assumed almost all of the guards admired him.
They grew closer during those weeks, when it was his job to protect her from the world.
He shielded her from Luna and from the people who made her question her every move.
He brought her tea before bed and would sit on the balcony with her and talk for hours about everything and nothing.
He made sure none of the suitors who only wanted her for her title made it past the castle walls.
When he was working at the palace, the lines had blurred as to what his job really was and what they both really wanted.
Truthfully, she wasn’t sure what she could even offer him. What kind of life was it to be secretly dating the Queen?
And it would have to be a secret.
Their age difference, their histories - it would cause a scandal.
Stella needed at least 3 more years to secure her position as Queen and get the people that were still loyal to Luna out of power.
Could she ask him to wait that long? Would he even want to?
But, when they were apart because he was teaching at Alfea she missed him.
Saul did make a point to text her in the mornings and throughout the day, sending her updates about her friends.
Terra and Aisha had taken the academic route and ended up teaching at Alfea. Terra’s students kept accidentally blowing things up and Aisha was leading research committees about clean energy.
Kat, Riven, and Sky worked part time at Alfea training the new specialists, while also having careers as specialists that sent them on missions.
Musa, Bloom, and Flora lived in the closest city and were creating lives for themselves.
And Stella was stuck in her position, in her palace, always removed from the people she loved most.
It was that line of thinking that led her to text Saul tonight.
She was a coward that’s for sure.
She knew he was on a trial mission with the first years and he wouldn’t be able to contact her until after that was completed.
Stella: Why do you want to be with me anyway? You already have to compete with the Solarian people, advisors, my suitors - maybe you should go for someone else who has more time for you? I’m so sorry for leading you on, I just don’t want to waste your time.
She was shocked when within 5 minutes her phone beeped with a new text.
The next text that followed was: And I am interested in whatever you’re willing to offer. We'll talk tomorrow.
So this is what it was like dating an emotionally mature person?
Stella blew out a harsh breath, but felt a flutter of hope settle in her belly.
Maybe they could figure it out together.
A queen and a specialist.