My breath grew heavy; I couldn't think straight.
Rayan… a prince, and now a king?
Did that mean I was destined to be a queen?
It all felt like a dream, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to wake up or stay lost in it.
Then Rayan's voice pulled me back.
"What is your answer?" he asked, his eyes fixed on mine.
My thoughts slowly cleared.
I loved him. We had been incompatible from the very beginning, so why should anything else matter now?
Gathering myself, I reached for his hand, smiled through the rush of emotions, and whispered,
"Yes… of course!"
Rayan smiled, holding the hand I had offered. Gently, he led me toward his horse and helped me mount. Soon, we were moving together.
Up there, seated on the horse beside him, I felt as though I was on top of the world. All eyes turned toward us—faces filled with shock and disbelief.
Then my gaze fell on someone familiar—Mira. Her house stood along the road, and she must have seen him like this long before I did.
But now… she just stood frozen, unable to say a word.
Leaning forward slightly, I called out to her, "I'll explain everything!"
Yet, she didn't seem to hear me. Her expression remained blank, still lost in shock.
After a few minutes of silence, my mind was overflowing with questions. I wanted to ask him everything, yet I couldn't decide where to begin—or when would be the right moment.
As if he had read my thoughts, Rayan said softly, "You must have many questions. Go ahead, ask me."
I hesitated, then spoke. "So… are you really the king?"
Without the slightest delay, he replied, "Yes."
I swallowed hard, my curiosity pushing further. "Then why were you at my house? Why did you hide?"
He took a deep breath before speaking.
"Well… there was trouble with the throne. My father, the former king, is gravely ill. And my uncle—driven by nothing but greed—wants to seize the crown for himself. He dreams of expanding the nation's treasure for his own gain, even if it costs people their lives. If he were to rule, the common folk would struggle to even find food to fill their stomachs."
Rayan's eyes darkened as he continued.
"That's why we were gathering support from loyal ministers and other royals, while also uncovering his schemes. But before we could act, his forces—royal guards loyal to him—attacked us. I had no choice but to disappear, to wait until things settled down. And that's when fate led me to your house… that's when I met you."
I replied, "Okay… so now I can finally understand the story you told me back then. But… aren't kings supposed to be really strong?"
He chuckled. "Yeah… so what do you think I am? I'm strong too. I've been trained in every fighting technique since I was a child."
Feeling more at ease, I teased him, "Well… it's hard to believe that someone so strong was once scared of a mouse."
His response came instantly. "No! I'm not scared—I'm just disgusted by them."
I couldn't help but laugh with him.
But then reality pulled me back. I glanced around and noticed the marching guards staring at us, their expressions filled with judgment.
God knows in what conditions she made our king live in, their eyes seemed to scream.
I chose to ignore them all and kept my gaze fixed straight ahead.
Then, suddenly, a thought struck me. Jon.
I turned to Rayan. "So… what about Jon? He hasn't been seen anywhere since that day. Did you… do something to him?"
Rayan's voice was firm, almost protective. "Yes, of course. He and his scamming men will spend a long time behind bars. I couldn't just let him go after he hurt you."
Alright, I thought. Slowly, everything was beginning to make sense.
At last, after a long journey, we reached the palace—a place reserved only for royals, a place commoners considered themselves blessed just to glimpse. The entrance was grand: towering doors and majestic walls visible from afar, radiating power and beauty.
The guards called out, their voices echoing, "Open the gates! Our king has returned!"
The massive doors creaked open, and standing there was… Alex?
I glanced at Rayan in surprise. He smirked lightly. "Well, I told you he works beneath me."
Alex stepped forward, leading us inside with practiced formality. When his eyes met mine, he quickly bowed his head. It seemed even he had just realized that I was to be their queen.
As we entered, my eyes widened. A breathtaking garden stretched all around, vibrant with blossoms. Beyond it, the grand castle rose—multiple floors and wings, each built with intricate detail and elegance.
A single thought echoed in my mind: So… am I really going to live here?
Then I heard the workers announce, "Attention! The great queen is coming!"
The great queen? I froze for a moment. Were they talking about me?
But almost immediately, I realized no one's eyes were on me.
Following their gaze, I saw her—a middle-aged woman. Her face was buried beneath layers of powder, her gown crafted from the finest fabrics in all of Dian. Her hair was pulled back so tightly that not a single strand dared to escape. Every step she took was measured, graceful, almost intimidating in its precision.
Yes, she was beautiful… but there wasn't the faintest trace of a smile on her face.
As she approached, everyone bowed before her—even Rayan. I didn't fully understand, but I simply followed the others.
That's when I noticed it—Rayan's smile vanished the moment he faced her.
The woman grasped Rayan's hand, her voice sharp and cold.
"Why were you gone? And what is this? Didn't we talk about this before?"
Rayan pulled his hand away, looking aside in silence, completely ignoring her words.
Her piercing gaze then turned on me. Her eyes burned with anger, and I froze, fear rooting me to the spot.
Sensing my unease, Rayan glanced at me and said quietly,
"Well, Zera… she is the great queen of the land of Dian—Mrs. Margarette. My mother."