It was someone I never expected to see standing there.
The Great King himself.
I became nervous when I suddenly saw him. Despite his sickness, he was barely standing, yet he had come here all alone. I hadn't seen him since the family dinner and thought I would only meet him again at the wedding.
Bowing my head slightly, I said nervously, "Welcome, Your Majesty. How can I help you?"
A gentle voice replied from the front, "Oh no, please don't call me 'Majesty.' You're going to be my daughter-in-law tomorrow, so please… address me as your father."
I smiled softly and said, "Yes, Father. Please, have a seat." I guided him to a nearby chair, noticing there was no one behind him. It seemed he had come without telling anyone.
He sat down slowly and looked at me with kind eyes. "Well, tomorrow is your wedding. You must be excited."
I returned his gaze with a smile. "Yes, of course."
Inside, I couldn't help but think how sweet and gentle he was — so different from his wife.
He leaned back slightly and added, "I heard that my wife has been giving you etiquette lessons. I'm sorry if she's been hard on you. In her mind, she only wishes the best for you."
I shook my head quickly. "Oh no, please, don't apologize. It's a good thing she taught me all that. It was necessary, and I'm grateful to her. She's worked hard with me, and I appreciate it."
A faint smile touched his lips. "It's a good thing you think like that." Then his tone grew more serious. "But being a queen… is much more than just manners and etiquette."
His words instantly reminded me of Rayan. He had said something similar to me before.
The King's father leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but firm. "Please listen to me carefully. Royals are meant to think of the people first — to fulfill their duty towards the public and remain responsible to them. As the king's wife, you'll hold the authority to make real changes… changes for the better."
He paused, his gaze distant, as if burdened by years of regret.
"For many years, our kingdom has yearned for change. Too many royals have grown greedy, and those who aren't… simply don't know what to do. They've lived in such luxury for so long that they can't even see the people's struggles."
His eyes softened as he looked back at me. "But you… you're different. You've lived a difficult life, and I don't say that to shame you. I say it because it gives you something rare — perspective. You know the struggles of the people. You understand the problems at their core. That makes you powerful, more than you realize."
He took a deep breath and then asked gently, "So, tell me… what is it that you truly wish for?"
After hearing his words, my entire childhood flashed before my eyes — every struggle, every hungry night, every moment of helplessness.
And at that moment, I knew exactly what to say.
I looked at him with determination and said softly, "I don't want any child to struggle the way I did. I want every child to have proper food. No one in the nation should go to sleep on an empty stomach. And… circumstances should never be so cruel that parents are forced to abandon their own children just to survive."
As those words left my lips, a tiny tear escaped the corner of my eye.
He listened silently, and then a gentle smile appeared on his face. "It's good to see that you're clear about what you want to do."
With that, he rose slowly and left the room.
I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The excitement for my wedding still fluttered in my heart, but now… it was accompanied by something stronger — a newfound resolve to bring change.
The next day was the most awaited day — not just for me and Rayan, but for the entire nation.
I was woken up early in the morning, and since then, a team of servants and beauticians had been working tirelessly to make me ready. From head to toe, they ensured that everything was flawless.
My hair was styled by the best hands in the kingdom, each strand carefully placed to perfection. Every detail of my face was highlighted beautifully with makeup, enhancing my features yet keeping the elegance intact.
And then… it was finally time for the main highlight — the dress.
I quickly changed into it, but the moment the fabric touched my skin, something felt… different. The dress didn't fit the way it used to. It wasn't as snug as before — a little loose, almost unsettling.
I brushed the thought aside, convincing myself it wasn't important. But when I stepped back to the servants, I noticed the worried glances they exchanged.
One of them hesitated before speaking softly, "My lady… the dress seems a little loose."