Father and I drank our post-lunch tea together in the castle's cafeteria. Many eyes were on us, surprised at the usually cold and stoic prime minister being a total doting daughtercon.

"Would you like some more cake? Or perhaps some pudding?" he asked with stars in his eyes.

I gracefully set my teacup down. "No thank you, Father, I do not want to fill myself up before the tea party later." There was a tea party hosted by the royal siblings in one of the castle's gardens today. I had come to the castle early to help Father out with his duties. Mostly I was double checking calculations, brainstorming ideas, and shaking down - I mean, encouraging departments to submit their reports on time.

"That's cold, call me Papa like usual."

"We're in the castle cafeteria!" I could feel the stares burning into me and it made me extremely embarrassed.

Father leaned back and laughed. "Aaah, but to think my dearest and cutest daughter would be so smart and efficient at work too, I am truly the most blessed father around FUAHAHAHAHA!"

I pressed my fingers against my forehead. I guess parents in every world like to boast about and embarrass their kids.

"Oh, Prime Minister Bracklin, is this your daughter?" A tall thin man approached us.

"Indeed," said my father.

I stood up and curtsied. "Tiana Bracklin. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

The man bowed to me, his black hair rustling beside his face. "Count Edmond Vorgan. I work with your father as the Minister of Finance."

The corner of my lips reflexively twitched into an evil grin for a second. The count's eyes blanched a bit, but he hid his reaction quickly. "Thank you for your service."

My previous world had a messed up economic system where the mega rich exploited everyone else. Having lived in such an environment, I wanted to reform my current country.

"Tiana, isn't it about time for the tea party?" asked my father.

"Oh my, it is. Count Vorgan, Father, I must take my leave. Have a good day." I bowed.

I left the cafeteria and headed towards the garden. Summer had turned to fall, and a cool breeze blew against my hair and dress. On the way I met up with Marina, and we talked a bit as we walked. Suddenly she pulled me into a hidden corner of the castle grounds.

"What is it, Marina?" I asked.

Marina hugged and nuzzled her head against me. "I wanted to be alone with your for a bit, Tia." She looked up and pointed her puppy-like eyes at me. "Can you kiss me again?"

Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa she's so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!

"Un." I held her shoulders and kissed her, feeling her soft lips against mine. It was the second time we kissed. We hadn't really talked about what we were, and things were mostly the same as always. I wondered if I should raise the topic or not. "Um, Marina..."

"Yes?"

"What are we?"

Marina blinked. "Friends?"

"Friends don't usually kiss each other like this." I held her hands. "But I don't know how you feel about being, like, lovers or girlfriends or something."

Marina smiled. "I want to be your girlfriend. If you don't want that, then we can stay friends. I just want to be able to be by your side and love you forever.

I blushed hard.

What is with this super sweet and innocent girl?

I held her shoulder. There was pressure in my chest and I felt a tear building in the corner of my eye. "I want to be your girlfriend too. But..."

Marina tilt her head. "But?"

I bit my lip. "I don't think I can love just one person. I feel like I have a boundless love, that I want to spread to many."

"I'm okay with that."

"Are you sure? It means I won't be only yours. You'd end up sharing me with others."

Marina looked away and thought for a while. "I can deal with it. As long as you love me."

I hugged her tightly and cried into her shoulder. "I don't deserve you," I cried.

Marina wiped away my tears with her handkerchief, and we held hands as we walked to the garden.

Since it was a party hosted by royal children, the place was packed with noble boys and girls dressed in their best clothes.

We went around to greet the usual people, then I retreated to a corner with treats. There were all sorts of cakes and pastries and I wanted to eat them all. I picked up a piece of strawberry shortcake and squealed as I put it in my mouth.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see some noble children approaching me.

"Ara, Tiana Bracklin," said a haughty voice. The speaker had blonde hair that was curled into drills, and her upturned face was twisted in a smug expression. Her sharp green eyes contrasted with her voluminous red dress.

I internally spat but kept up a polite innocent smile. "Victoria Burke. Pleasure to see you as always." The daughter of a rival ducal house that liked to be a thorn in my side.

Victoria fanned herself with an elegant and probably overly expensive fan. "I heard that you spend many of your days with the knights lately."

"It is all to better serve the country." I bowed.

"Don't you think it is rather unbecoming of a lady to be frolicking with the knights?"

"Don't you think that if one has the capacity, one should make full use of it?"

Victoria smirked. "Are you saying that you have the capacity for swordplay?"

"I can attest to her skill," said Chrom, appearing out of nowhere. "I have personally watched over her sparring with some of the best swordsmen in the royal knights. Tiana is definitely a valuable asset for our kingdom."

I pinched my dress and bowed to Chrom. "I humbly thank you for your praise, Your Highness."

The corner of Victoria's mouth twitched, but she quickly changed gears and slid to Chrom's side. "Your Highness, instead of associating with someone as unladylike as Tiana, wouldn't I be a better companion?" She bowed. "The Burke House has always been close with the royal family after all."

I grit my teeth. I didn't get reborn as a girl just to have someone call me unladylike, but I couldn't exactly make a scene here either. Then again, foisting Chrom off onto Victoria could get him to stop making moves on me.

"I have my own companion to attend to, so I will take my leave for now. Have a good day." I bowed and walked away to find Marina. I needed her soothing cuteness. Just when I caught up with her, trouble followed me again.

"The Bracklin House really has fallen far, if the only people you could associate with are the children of prostitutes," said Victoria.

I froze. Not only did she directly insult my house, but she also dissed Marina. My cute, precious innocent Marina. Marina tried to stop me, but I turned around to face Victoria with the sweetest smile I could muster. "Oh my, I can't have you insulting my precious friend now, can I?"

"And what would you do about it?"

"I would like to challenge you to a duel for our Houses' honor. If I win, I want you to also apologize to Marina Lauset." It was unthinkable for a member of a ducal house to bow down to the discarded child of a baron, and could potentially destabilize noble society if it happened. But maybe that chaos was just what I wanted. "Would a duel of swordsmanship be acceptable? Or perhaps magic?"

"Hmph." Victoria crossed her arms. "As if I would have something as unladylike as a duel with swords. I'll duel you with magic."

I froze. I only threw the trap halfheartedly, but did she really fall for it? Did she not know that I was studying with the mage department? Or maybe she knew but forgot?

Chrom ran in between us. "This is a bad idea. Both of you should step back for a little-"

"I will personally oversee this duel," said Luminaria when she reached us.

Chrom turned towards her. "Lumina, this-"

"Please be quiet for a bit, brother," Luminaria snapped. Chrom went to sulk behind his twin sister. "I think a magical duel would be a brilliant spectacle to accompany my tea today. Will you two please step out onto the lawn?"

"Yes, Your Highness." I bowed and walked away from the seated area to a space of the garden that was wide and open, then stood facing Victoria.

Luminaria raised her hand as the tea party attendees watched on. "Begin!" She swung her arm down.

"This will be the day I get you, Tiana Bracklin!" Victoria shouted and summoned a ball of fire. The flames shot towards me.

I didn't move a muscle as the fireball stopped and dissipated against my wind barrier. Victoria's eyes shot open. She snarled and shot more fire towards me, but my barrier held against her attacks.

I lazily pointed my palm towards her and summoned a mass of water in front of me. I kept it compressed within a small volume of space, and injected air into it through my wind magic. The pressure of the water and air increased rapidly. I opened a small hole in my containment in Victoria's direction and a powerful jet of water blasted towards her. Victoria was swept off her feet and flew back several meters, landing on her back and soaked from head to toe. Her makeup ran down her face.

The spectators were silent.

Luminaria raised her hand. "The winner is Tiana Bracklin!"

I bowed to the audience and walked back to pour myself some tea.

"I can't accept this!" Victoria shrieked as she climbed to her feet. "This has to be cheating, how can I, how can I-"

"It is unsightly of a noble to be a sore loser, Victoria Burke," said Luminaria.

Victoria's face twisted and she ran away crying. I almost felt sorry for her.

Luminaria approached me. "Since the competitor left before ceding to your demands, I will award you in her place." She leaned towards me and kissed me on the cheek. Gasps rang out all around us, and Chrom's eyes were bulging out of their sockets.

I touched my cheek. "Lumina..."

"You let Marina do that to you, didn't you?" Luminaria whispered so that only I could hear her. She straightened herself and spoke in a regular voice. "Please continue to strengthen yourself in service of our country."

I held a fist up to my chest. "Yes, Your Highness."

Soon the babble died down and the tea party returned to normal.

Chrom sidled up to me. "Do you realize what you have just done, humiliating her like that?" he whispered.

I smirked. "I await how it unfolds."

He looked at me with an exasperated sigh. "You're quite a piece of work, aren't you?"

"Ara, what could you mean, my prince?"

He sighed again. "A lot of nobles see you as a threat. You're collecting too much power and influence."

I nodded. "Thanks for the warning."

"I'll do what I can to help you."

"Why?"

Chrom gave me his purest smile. "Just like you want to protect Luminaria, I want to protect the girl that I love too."

I couldn't help but blush, and my heart pounded in my chest.

KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII you stupid smooth talking prince!

"Thanks, I guess." I pouted and walked away.

The party soon winded down, and when I was preparing to leave Luminaria summoned me to her quarters. I said goodbye to Marina and followed Luminaria into the castle. I had a big question mark in my head, but Luminaria wouldn't respond to my questions.

We found ourselves alone in the suite attached to her bedroom. Even the usual maids and attendants weren't here.

I turned to her. "Lumina, what's-"

Luminaria jumped into me and kissed me, pushing me down onto the sofa as she did so. I tried to get up but she pinned my hands down and kept kissing my neck.

"Lumina- what are you- LUMINA!" Tears splattered on my face. They weren't mine. I looked up to see Luminaria's face looming over me, twisted and red and crying a river. My heart leapt into my throat. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know!" she cried and shook her head. Tear drops sparkled as they were flung off to the side. "I want to love you, I want to, so why..."

I sat up and hugged her, patting her head against my shoulder. "It's not something you can just change all of a sudden. You don't have to love me in that way. We can just be friends like always."

"You said you'd protect me, right?"

"Yeah."

Luminaria pulled back from me and hung her head. Her arms fell lifelessly to her side. "They're talking about engaging me to one of the princes of Bosmarken."

I gnashed my teeth. Bosmarken was one of the countries bordering Edelgard to the north, and was known for its overwhelming military might. It had a lot of influence over Edelgard and our nobles.

"Instead of marrying someone there, I would rather marry you," Luminaria continued. "If I get sent to Bosmarken, I won't be able to see you anymore..."

"Stall for time," I said. "Waiting until you graduate from the academy, finding other marriage prospects, having Roy marry one of their princesses instead, any excuse you can think of. We'll find a way somehow."

"Thank you." Luminaria sobbed. "I really do want to fall in love with you, you know? I really do?" She kissed me on the cheek.

I smiled. "I want you to fall in love with me too."

Author's note:

The Kickstarter for 99% Chance of Magic, an anthology for transgender kids, is live! I wrote a short story for it and I'm the illustrator for 2 stories! Please check it out and donate if you can! 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heartsparkpress/99-chance-of-magic/description