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Commander Anna was a woman who loved money, sales, and her job. Since becoming commander of the Order of Heroes, she had always supported the country that had taken her in. Even when times were tough, she found a way to keep things going.
It didn't take her long to resolve the issues of a couple of teenagers with family problems, including the princes of Askr. From her limited experience of dealing with the king, he seemed to be an upright and strict man. So she wasn't surprised that his children wanted some freedom and breathing space. Alfonse was serious, while Sharena was innocent. It didn't take long for a boy named Zacharias to join them.
He was the princes' childhood friend, a lonely boy lost in the world. His adoptive father worked in the stables. He was actually a polite and kind boy. The four of them formed a family and managed to overcome all the difficulties of being in the Order together.
Until Zacharias disappeared.
During those almost two years, she tried to be an even better mentor to the princes. Alfonse was the most affected; she sensed that Zacharias and he shared a bond that transcended friendship. He began to shut himself off and avoid the heroes.
Until she arrived.
She was the summoner of legends: a seventeen-year-old girl who had been torn from her home — she would later learn that she had no home — and who was curious by nature. She liked insects, she used to arrange things in a certain order, she was too good at strategy, money, and sometimes she did not understand things like a normal person. On that, sometimes reminded her of Alfonse.
With the backing of Prince Alfonse, she became her legal guardian. Shortly afterward, Zacharias returned with his true identity: Prince Bruno of Embla. The enemy. Or rather, someone neutral. The boy, who had grown into a young man, embarked on journeys in an attempt to lift the curse in his veins. It didn't take long for them to gradually resume their relationship.
He always came to visit Alfonse, but kept his distance. Zacharias had realized that the blue-haired man had developed feelings for the redhead, so he tried to start talking to her. Alfonse had always preferred acts of service to showing affection in public. Zacharias was the opposite. She used to be in her own world, making it clear to everyone how she felt.
She observed, but said nothing. The commander noticed that Vicky blushed when she was praised and that Zacharias always brought her gifts.
The truth was that seeing the little summoner come to show her the gift made her happy. She had already felt maternal towards her sisters, but with Vicky it was something new, outside her family. Although she was always strict, she did spoil her in one way or another. She felt guilty because she was the one who had summoned her to that world.
Everyone was quiet that day after the prince of Askr and the summoner had another argument. Vicky was slowly starting to open up to the prince, and he was becoming more and more protective of her. Zacharias often mediated, as did she.
“Alfonse,” she told him that day, tired of everything she had done that day. “She is not the scared little girl who came to Askr anymore.”
“What she wants to do is crazy,” the prince replied, looking at her as he stopped writing. “And don't say she isn't.”
“Yes, her techniques are risky. But are they effective, or am I mistaken?”
The prince made a noise and went back to writing. It looks like it was for Zacharias. The way the three of them danced together was always a bit strange, but you could understand it. The commander let out a sigh and moved quietly. She wasn't going to convince him right now.
The order seemed full of life that day, despite the disagreement. It wasn't easy to find the summoner, but she found the right place in the end. Her personal greenhouse. The redhead didn't say anything, just fed the crickets. As he expected, Sharena wouldn't go near this place, even if she had free time. She sighed and moved inside, and the redhead didn't react.
“Are you going to try to stop me from having this idea?” the summoner asked, as she continued to gather food.
“No. The truth is, if you say Loki would stay quiet if you let her be with you for a while, I believe you.” Vicky looked at her sideways. “But remember that she's the enemy.”
“She's the enemy, but we can't make her attack alongside Embla either. At the very least, the alliance with the princess is broken.”
The redhead nodded, watching as she picked up one of the insects and played with it. That place had always been her way out, and she wasn't going to take that away from him (despite the fact that the king was already making demands).
“Maybe if he or Zacharias were there, he wouldn't be so upset.”
“If he'd let me talk, I would have told him I would have an escort,” the commander sighed.
“Now he's writing to Zacharias, to see if he can change your mind.”
“He was there for me when I told him the idea,” she said quietly, leaving the insect in its cage.
“I see you've become closer,” said the commander, waiting to see if she wanted to talk more.
Vicky had always been a very private person, with very intrusive thoughts that came from her old home. The redhead didn't say anything, and was holding a jar. It was as if she was trying to express what she felt with words so you could understand her.
“Is this normal?” she asked, as the commander leaned on the table.
“What?”
“… that I like both of them,” she says, her thoughts surfacing.
“It's not unusual. I think they both like you too,” she replied, as the summoner looked uncomfortable.
“But… Is polygamy accepted here?”
“You're talking about Askr, the open kingdom. Polygamy and Bigamy are allowed, but only with the monarch's approval. Even Alfonse's ancestors and relatives have had more than one husband or wife,” the commander replied. She watched as the redhead sighed. “Aren't you sure?”
“The king wouldn't accept either of us.”
The commander blinked. The summoner and the monarch hadn't met in person, but King Gustav was well-known, and she had heard about him. Zacharias must have told her about his inquiries with the King of Askr. And the truth was, there was no lie in those words. The king wouldn't allow anyone near his children. It was her, and because she was their boss, if she thought about it. But she noticed that the prince was less careful than the last time. He liked spending time with Zacharias, if Zacharias let him, and with her most of the time.
“I think we should consider what Alfonse wants here.”
“Alfonse wants it, but the king has his absolute word.”
“He's already disobeyed him once. Why wouldn't he disobey him again?” she asked, while Vicky made a face. “Is that why you don't tell either of them?”
“No… Alfonse is the only one I haven't told,” she admitted, while the commander nodded.
The summoner and the prince of Embla were became closer in those years. He would take her to his castle, and they would spend weeks together, because she was a sensitive person and couldn't handle stress. It was normal for them to have talked about it.
“Actually… I'm the only woman who had presented to Embla's court,” she said quietly, and the commander saw a small smile on her face.
“I see Zach showed his intentions,” the redhead smiled. “Give Alfonse time. He's stubborn, and it takes him a while, just like you.”
The summoner nodded slightly. “Then…”
“Hmm?”
“Aren't I weird for wanting to be with two people?”
This made the commander feel sad and happy at the same time. What hard times had he had in her world? How could they tell her that the person she loved was “weird”? The redhead took a breath and moved a bit to give her a hug. She saw the wizard get ready to do something for a few seconds, then stop. She never gave in to the boys who wanted to hug her. Well, she'd never been one to give many hugs to those boys who, through her eyes, were becoming adults.
“You're not strange for wanting to be with two people at the same time. It's just a part of you. That doesn't define you.” The commander moved away to look at her. “You're the one who summons the order. Our strategist and our friend,” she replied, noticing that the summoner felt something with those words. “Remember that.”
“Thank you, Anna,” she said, dropping her title. She didn't usually do that. She knew it meant many things.
The woman blinked, trying to smile. “You're welcome. If you try to talk sense into Alfonse when you're calmer, I'd be grateful.”
“I'll try.”
The commander started to move. “See you later in the canteen?” The summoner nodded, and the redhead nodded to tell her she was leaving. She walked down the halls to do more things for the day.
If the gods are kind, they might let those three be together. Or so she wanted to believe.