Emma's throat choked with emotions and she felt wobbly on her knees. Bernice clutched her by her waist and kissed her on her cheek. Emma looked at Lazarus softly as she tried to blink her tears away. This was a big announcement and was a complete surprise. Lazarus had quickly made this decision without asking her, but she knew that he wanted to seal the deal before anyone protested.
"You are a lucky girl," Bernice whispered.
Emma chuckled. "Yes, I know." She remembered how they both met and how he had a hard time accepting her. But they crossed all the hurdles together and came to this point.
Lazarus's gaze met hers as the whole court erupted in cheering both of them. He smiled and called her on the dais. When she walked there, Bernice refused to let her go. "Not now, Emma," she said. "Once you are the queen."
Emma signed and cried, but she agreed to her mother's demand.
