1.6 KMAS: My husband's perfect wife

Lunch was surprisingly good. Nothing compared to what Liriel and Seraphina were used to, but both women enjoyed it quite a bit. During the meal they had picked up a new friend, a little girl called Esmeralda. Apparently, she had run away from home after doing her multiplication tables in order not to have to suffer through her mother's cooking. Since the Appreciation Society meeting was nearby and their food was usually good, Esmeralda had decided to spend the afternoon there. Liriel and Seraphina had introduced themselves to the little girl as Liri and Sera, two traveling merchants from Westmarch, who were also fans of the Great Mage.

Once lunch was over, Esmeralda sat with Lady Magnus and the Queen in the back of the auditorium. Since the little girl was only ten years old and a bit short, she sat on Liriel's lap to get a better view.

Tilly came back on stage with the results of the "Perfect Partner for the Great Mage" contest. "Thank you for your participation in the voting process," she told the audience. "And I thank all the members of the Society and volunteers who took on the thankless task of collecting and counting all the votes." There was a round of applause from the audience. "We counted one thousand four hundred and sixty three votes after excluding illegible handwriting and some of the more inappropriate entries. And it's my pleasure to announce that, with nearly forty two percent of the votes, the perfect partner from the Great Mage Kyros Magnus is..."

President Tilly let the seconds pass by to build anticipation.

"I expected at least eighty percent," Liriel told the Queen. "But I am...I mean Lady Liriel would be happy with forty two percent, I assume."

Without turning around Esmeralda said, "It won't be Lady Liriel."

"What?! Why? I...She is his wife!" said a slightly annoyed Liriel.

"It's obvious. They are all his fans; they will choose someone who can do magic."

"What's so great about doing magic?" Lady Liriel pouted. "Can they manage shipping in the Thracian Sea? Or make his favorite Coconut covered Chocolate Chip ice cream?"

"I am just telling it as it is," Esmeralda said from Liriel's lap.

Meanwhile, Tilly, having built enough anticipation, went ahead with the announcement. "And the winner is...Archmage Elara Star-Singer."

The crowd burst into cheers for Elara and Kyros, while a bewildered Liriel looked at her best friend.

"See, I told you," Esmeralda said, adding salt into the already gaping wound.

Liriel was not at all happy with the result. "How...how can they say that an archmage who has been dead for two thousand years, and who might never even have existed, is his perfect partner? I mean, the age difference itself is quite horrible," she complained.

"The little girl is kind of right," Sera said. "Elara was the most popular human archmage before Kyros, mythical or not. And have you seen some of her paintings? Those cheekbones, even you...even Lady Liriel might have a hard time competing with those."

"They are all right. I wouldn't say they are anything special," said a salty Liriel.

"I think Lady Liriel is prettier," Esmeralda opined.

Liriel patted the child on the head. "Thanks Esme," she said. "At least someone is on Lady Liriel's side."

Tilly moved on from the winner to the runner-up. "And in second place, with fifteen percent of the votes," she announced.

"Well, fifteen percent is better than nothing."

All three ladies, along with the audience, waited in anticipation for the result.

"And the second most perfect partner for the Great Mage is, Nazoga Bonesplitter."

While the fans cheered Nazoga, Liriel was once again disappointed, this time for losing to someone she didn't even know.

"Who is that?" Liriel asked Sera. "Some sort of Orc shaman or princess?"

The Queen, who was equally ignorant, simply shrugged.

"It's the Queen of the Orcs. She has been trying to unite all the ten tribes," Esmeralda said helpfully.

"Orcs don't have queen. Moreover, I have heard absolutely nothing about this. Sera, have you heard of this Queen Nazoga?"

"No, it's my first time hearing about her. Maybe she is the wife of the chieftain of some minor tribe?"

"No, she is unmarried," Esmeralda said confidently. "At first she hated the Great Mage. She fell in love with him when he rescued her brothers from a Dark elven prison. Later that night they slept in the same bed and they kissed in the morning."

Liriel was now even more confused. "What are you talking about?" she asked the little girl. "Kyros...the Great Mage has never kissed anyone other than m...Lady Liriel."

"I am just saying what I read."

"Read?"

"Yeah. She has been part of the main storyline for about two months now. Everyone is thinking that she might become the main love interest."

"Are you talking about the Magnus Chronicles Comics?" asked Liriel.

"Yeah. Wasn't that obvious?"

"Umm...yes, in hindsight, I guess it was," Liriel said with a relieved smile.

Sera shushed the other two and pointed at the stage. "Listen, she is announcing the third place winner."

"And in third place, with twelve percent of the votes," Tilly began, "We have our very own and very beloved..."

"This is it," Liriel beamed.

"Queen Seraphina Stormborn," the president finished.

Another round of cheers rang out among the fans, this time for the Queen.

Queen Seraphina and Lady Liriel looked at each other silently for a few seconds before bursting out in laughter.

"At least I won," Liriel said.

"What do you mean? The third place is mine."

"I mean, you... the Queen was my choice, remember?"

Sera chuckled after remembering them writing each others names on the paper.

"You didn't write your own name, Lady Liriel?" Esmeralda asked innocently.

"No, it's against the rules to write your own name. Wait! What?!" Liriel stared at the back of the child's head, unsure of what she had just heard. "Did you... just call me Liriel?"

"Yeah. That's your name, right?"

"How did you know, girl?" Liriel asked Esmeralda.

"I am ten years old, my lady, not stupid," Esmeralda replied. "Your wedding ring is a dead giveaway; everyone knows you wear it. And you repeatedly slipping and saying 'I,' instead of Lady Liriel, makes it even more obvious."

"Well, aren't you a clever little girl. Please don't tell anyone, okay, Esme? Do you want anything? I will buy it for you," Liriel told Esmeralda.

"Don't worry, my lady, I understand. If someone were making a program and talking about me, I would come and visit it too. As for what I want, can I have lunch at the Magnus Estate along with the other girls and boys?"

"Of course," said Liriel. "You don't need to ask, dear."

"But isn't it just for the orphans?"

"No. Who said that?! Anyone under the age of eighteen can come and get a meal. How can we turn away children if they come asking for food?"

"Did you know that I was the Queen all along?" Sera asked the little girl.

"Umm...yeah, obviously. If she is Lady Liriel, then you must be the Queen."

Sera put on a mock imperious tone and asked, "Shouldn't you be bowing or curtsying, little brat?"

"Why? Now you are just Sera the merchant," Esmeralda said before sticking her tongue out at the Queen of Stormhaven.

Meanwhile, Tilly, having finished announcing the first three places, quickly went over some of the honorable mentions. "And in fourth place, we have the Dark Elven archmage Nikatrix Shadowseer, with ten percent of the votes."

Liriel simply shook her head.

Sera prodded her best friend. "You have no opinions on Nix, Liri?"

"This one is just wrong," Liriel said. "I mean, the woman is twice my age. She is old enough to be his mother."

"But she still looks good though," the Queen noted.

"She does," Esmeralda added while shifting her weight on Lady Magnus' lap for a more comfortable sitting position.

"How do you know?" Liriel asked Esmeralda.

"She is in the comic books."

"Well, you are both right. She looks very good. But she is like a mentor to Kyros. And I have had dinner with her multiple times. She is one of the sweetest people ever. I can't bring myself to say anything bad about her."

"Fair enough," said Sera.

"And in fifth place, with nine percent of the votes, we have our very own Lady Liriel Magnus," Tilly announced.

There were some polite claps from the audience.

"Finally," said Liriel.

"At least you made the top five, Liri," Sera teased her friend.

"Congrats, my lady," Esmeralda said.

"And in sixth place, with five percent of the votes we have, Princess Lyra Everbloom."

"At least I am above my sister."

"I assume she is already writing a letter of complaint to the president arguing about the factual errors and the disrespect towards her sister in the vote."

"Oh yes. She is definitely doing that," Liriel agreed, and both women laughed.

"And in seventh place we have...oh my...Tilly Butterfield. And in eighth place..." Tilly then went on happily talking about the tail end of the list.