In the palace, the tea soon started. Eris, her parents and the royal family. Eris from her experience could see very well, this wasn't a friendly tea party with the General Staff, this is pure interrogation. Like those of a war criminals.
And as it happens to turn out, the interrogator was not the king but rather, the queen. Not to mention the fact that it involves things Eris has no idea about. Womanly things.
Eris in this moment was actually missing Lucia and thinking how she'd handle all this. The queen was making one thing very sure, that Eris understood the value of becoming a bride of the royal family... also how much of an overprotective mother she is.
So Rommel smiled. The same smile Lucia had worn at military balls when other officers' wives gossiped about her husband's non-Prussian, peasant origins.
"I understand, Your Majesty," she said softly. "A wife supports her husband. By ensuring he never has to look over his shoulder."
"And produces an heir." The queen added completing Eris's sentence.
Eris knew this would come up. Of course, a royal marriage would involve producing heirs. But is it something appropriate to say to a 7 year old? That was the question in her mind.
Not to mention, she is still Rommel, the desert fox inside. A man, he cannot give birth, but only now she actually thought that his body is now that of a girl's. A woman in the future, expected to give birth.
Every fiber inside him recoiled at the idea. Rommel is a married man with kids. He cannot do... 'that'. Though it didn't seem like she could say it to the queen right now.
The queen, oblivious to the existential crisis brewing behind the little girl's blue eyes, continued. "The bloodline must continue, Eris. You understand this, don't you?"
'I understand that you are talking about a child having children, and I want to tear away the Fuhrer's moustache for this.' She thought
"Yes, Your Majesty," Eris said. The words came from her mouth but not her mind. "The continuation of the bloodline is... a sacred duty."
The queen nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then we understand each other."
Beside Eris, Bruno looked bewildered. He was ten. He understood "heir" as in something about someone who can become the next king someday. However, the mechanics were a mystery to him, as of yet.
Eris looked at Bruno, her future husband supposedly. Internally she said sorry. She will never be his wife, ever. As for producing an heir, that is out of question.
She is Rommel, the Desert rat. She has bested the British and French over and over and over. No way, she will be stuck here, to give birth to a future king.
The queen was still speaking, something about "duties to the crown" and "the honor of the Rheinfeld name." Eris let the words wash over her like rambling from the OKW disliking her unconventional moves. She ignored those.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of whatever it was, the tea party ended. The last half of it had been the Duke, Duchess, the king and queen talking between themselves.
Eris sat there silent listening to them, she understood the politics of the kingdom discussed by her 'father' and the king, but she had no idea what her mother and the queen were talking about.
She remained silent, until the queen put down her tea cup, the tea was over. Bruno's eyes sparkled. It seems he was bored with the tea and wanted to play around with Eris.
The royal family rose. "We will send word about the schedule of the royal lessons," the queen said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Little Eris, I look forward to seeing you again."
'I'd rather be stuck in a room with Himmler,' Rommel thought. But she curtsied almost gracefully and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The king then looked at Bruno, "You are now free to spend time with her until evening." He nudged, noticing the excitement in his eyes.
Bruno almost whispered so that his mother won't hear, "Thank you father." But the queen did hear. She just chose to remain silent.
After the adults left, Bruno took Eris's right hand, "Come with me, I know a place where no will bother." And he rushed.
But of course, Elsa was right there. Waiting outside. She isn't leaving Eris with the prince or with anyone for that matter, alone. "Wait, your highness, milady." She said running behind them.
Meanwhile, the two families decided on the royal tutor for both Eris and Bruno. Someone, the Rheinfeld family agreed to eagerly, but Eris would curse for the rest of her life, High Priestess Malory and of course her little assistant.