Beyond the Sky - Session 37.3

The days with the party pass as they prepare for the future, catch up on things, and train and research. Valaire herself, over three days, goes through the necessary paperwork and interviews in order to adopt Ginei legally as her daughter. After the papers are signed, and the social worker leaves their Guild Building, Valaire has something on her mind to say.
Valaire looks over the paperwork, sighing with relief.
Valaire: "If I knew they would be this simple, I would have simply forged them..."
Ginei: "But this way it's legal and binding right?"
Valaire: "Right. All by the rules. They have their copies, too, so it's safe and bound."
"You are now Ginei Arrav Kirinal."
Ginei hugs Valaire happily.
Ginei: "So now you're really my mum, then~"
Valaire pats Ginei on the head, pulling out a chair.
Valaire: "Darling Ginei. You've gone through so much, but I truly do hope I can be a deserving mum for such a sweet child as you."
Ginei: "You've been amazing, so far! I'm doing my best to be good, too."
Valaire: "You definitely are, little Ginei. And I feel it's time for me to keep the promise from the other day."
Valaire sits down on the chair, inviting the lagomine to her lap.
Ginei goes to sit on Valaire's lap, wiggling her feet excitedly.
Ginei: "I get to know the secrets, now?"
Valaire: "Right. When Queen Rozeal and I were having our little adult talk and I asked to turn your hearing off. I told you I would let you know."
Valaire fidgets with a runite ring on one of her claws, before resting the hand on the top of Ginei's head comfortingly.
Valaire: "You see, darling Ginei, your mum is engaged. She's going to marry before too long, and that means you'll have a new dad, too."
Ginei: "... you're engaged?!"
"Wait, when?"
"I thought you said you didn't have anyone yet."
Valaire: "I didn't want to tell you so quickly, because I don't want life to go too fast for you."
"...Yes... I'm sorry, darling Ginei. Your mum wasn't entirely forward with you."
"But you're such a good girl, and you've gotten so strong."
"That's why I want to tell you everything."
Ginei: "That's okay. But who is it? Are they nice? Can I meet them?"
Valaire: "Actually, I intend to bring you to meet him tomorrow. It's his birthday then, you know."
"I've told him about you; it's good for him to know what he's marrying into, and who wouldn't want to brag about her amazing daughter?"
Ginei: "Ah, okay. And he's okay with marrying someone with... um, me? Who is he?"
Valaire: "And this... is why I wanted to wait until everything was complete. All the paperwork handled. The ceremonial rings exchanged."
"Darling Ginei... my fiancé is His Highness, Prince Kallian Argentis of Zeltria. By marrying him, I become the crown princess of Zeltria. You will become a princess as well."
Ginei: "I... wow..."
Valaire: "I understand it is a lot. You understand my need for taking things slow, I hope."
Ginei sniffs, starting to cry.
Ginei: "I'm going to be a princess? I... why did I get to be so lucky?"
Valaire: "If I told you all this in the days immediately after your rescue... it would be hard to believe it wasn't a dream that you were having as a reprieve from your captivity."
"But you've come along such a way. You've gradually accepted that life is improving for you from the time back there."
"And so this is why I am letting you know. Your mum is going to be queen. You are going to be a Zeltrian princess."
Ginei: "But a princess? I never thought I'd really become a princess... I'm... really happy."
Valaire: "And this is all because you stayed strong. You are the bravest, most soulful child I have ever met. You stayed so strong in there, for months and months."
"All this is because you deserve it, darling Ginei. You are being rewarded because you were strong."
Ginei swivels on Valaire's lap, hugging her tightly.
Ginei: "Do you love each other?"
Valaire: "Absolutely. By Zeltrian custom, we forged our rings for each other. While I am inept with a forge, I tried with what I could."
"As for the love he put into the ring he made for me... you can examine it yourself, if you wish."
Ginei: "Jillia said that she meets with nobles. And the noble people sometimes are in 'arranged marriages' for money."
Valaire lowers her ringed hand to within Ginei's eyesight, smiling warmly.
Ginei looks at the ring, eyes shining in awe.
Ginei: "It's so pretty..."
Valaire: "Don't pay too much attention to what Jillia says or does. She has such a strange idea of the world. She does what she wants."
Ginei: "The prince made this for you?"
Valaire: "...I was the same, admittedly, until I had a reason not to be."
Ginei: "Oh, what was that reason? Was it me, or?"
Valaire: "It was you, Ginei."
"Meeting you, realizing you needed help, all that changed my life, Ginei. It helped me to care."
"If the prince offered the old me this ring... I doubt I would have accepted it."
"So it's all thanks to you, dear Ginei."
Ginei: "Why wouldn't you have accepted it?"
Valaire raises her hand to her chin, knuckles resting against her lips.
Valaire: "The old me was plagued with doubts. With insecurities. With self-loathing."
Ginei: "That you weren't allowed to have anything nice? That you deserved all the bad things that happened to you?"
Ginei looks down, inhaling deeply.
Valaire: "My blood gave me the urge to... destroy everything, everyone I held dear. The greater the emotional impact, the more I was driven to see it brought to ruin."
"But when that cheap thrill of destruction was over, all that happened is that I was left feeling hollow inside. Empty. Worthless."
Ginei: "I know how that feels..."
Valaire: "So I attempt penance to make up for my destruction, and convince myself I don't deserve good things. But then I would be driven to more destruction or spite or malice."
"I never had a reason to not undergo this constant cycle of suffering and destruction."
Ginei: "A horrible circle thingie?"
"Can you control that, now?"
Valaire: "You gave me that reason, little Ginei."
"You gave me a reason to make the penance stick. You were a nice thing that happened to me that I couldn't possibly decline."
"And the prince knew my troubles too, so he used his own magic to make this ring... calm my violent urges. Let me be in control of my blood, not the reverse."
Ginei: "Kallian sounds really really nice."
"As nice as Rozeal?"
Valaire: "Hm... as sincere. But socially awkward."
Ginei: "...oh! I just realised..."
Valaire: "He's not the greatest at saying the right things, but he means well."
Ginei: "Rozeal... is going to be my grandma, isn't she?"
Valaire: "Indeed."
"Your grandmother is the queen of this nation of Zeltria."
Ginei: "Wow..."
Valaire: "And you are now a full Zeltrian citizen with this adoption, too."
Ginei: "I'm... really happy I met you. Really really really really happy."
Valaire: "I'm happy I met you too, little Ginei. You saved my life. And you gave me a reason to fight for the world."
Ginei: "If it weren't for you, I..."
Valaire: "No talk about luck, okay, darling? You weren't someone that just got a lucky break. You fought and strived and suffered and endured for everything."
"You deserve this. Not only are you a Kirinal now, you're well on your way to becoming an Argentis."
"Hold your head up high, be proud of what an amazing individual you are."
Ginei: "I will!"
"But, um... one day, won't I be Queen, too?"
Valaire: "Absolutely."
"But that's not for a while."
"You have time to get used to being a princess, first. I don't expect my rule to be so short-lived that you need to take my role that hastily."
Ginei: "Do you think I'd be a good princess?"
"(A real real princess...)"
Valaire: "You're the most emotionally powerful individual I've ever met. Easily one of the most caring, as well."
"You have all the qualities of a proper queen that everybody sees in Queen Rozeal."
Ginei sniffs, smiling up at Valaire.
Ginei: "I promise I'll do my best!"
Valaire: "And I know you'll do your best, little Ginei."
"Zeltria seems to have a positive reputation of commoner-born queens, in any event. Only we truly know how difficult it can be for the working caste."
Ginei: "I hope I do..."
Valaire: "You'll do fantastic. You haven't failed at anything you set your mind to, Ginei."
"I'm really glad I have you as my daughter, Ginei. You make me so proud to be your mum."
Ginei: "And I'm glad you're my mum! You're the coolest~"
Ginei reaches a hand up to Valaire's hair, turning it brown and grinning.
Valaire: "Such a mischievous little girl."
Ginei: "I need to practise so I can be a good wizard like my mum~"
Valaire: "Don't worry, you're quite the natural. Now, come on. Let's get some dresses that are perfect for an adorable lagomine princess."
Ginei: "I get new dresses? (Can I keep my cloak?)"
Valaire: "(Of course, darling.)"
Valaire leads Ginei off to another room in the palace, helping her choose some new much needed clothes for her.