When the families eligible to become the Queen was named ten years ago, Emilia never thought that she would ever become one until four years back when the King got married to the first Queen and in less than a year, she died.
And just like that, the position of the Queen kept shifting over the years, and Emilia's fear begin when the family before her is also crowned the Queen seven months ago.
Everyone in the country blamed Jurua, the dragon, worshiped by the royal families years back until it starts to demand many lives and the late king made a decision to renounce and execute the dragon.
Lucas, a young prince then, played a huge role then, and was the one who managed to take the dragon's head off.
After all that had happened, Emilia never believed a dead dragon is responsible for the deaths and would rather not have anything to do with King Lucas, the palace or the royal family.
She is meant to be the matriarch of the Markham family, marrying a man into the family, not leaving it behind for the danger-filled palace.
June and Alice glanced at each other, worried by the stretched silence from her and Alice gently tapped Emilia's arm.
"My lady… everyone is already at lunch, and your banquet dress had been prepared. would you like to…"
"I won't be going," Emilia snapped, leaping to her feet.
"What?!" the maids gasped.
They've worked tirelessly, sewing her gown overnight and could only get off work a few minutes ago.
June stepped closer, daring to ask her,
"May I ask why, my lady?"
"Do I need your permission to make decisions now? I said I'm not going." Emilia respondeded, glaring.
"Understood, my lady," they stammered, lowering their heads and back out of the room quickly, their fear as visible as the worries in their eyes.
No woman walked willingly into a marriage with the King, not after what's happened to his past Queens.
Emilia pressed her fingers to her temple, pacing. She needs a way out. Her mind raced for any excuse, any loophole to use to get out of the so called marriage and then it hit her.
She snatched her consort-embroidered fan from the table and storms out of her room, forgetting to change into a proper robe from her night wear.
She entered the main hall mid-lunch. Her father, Lord Markham sat at the head, surrounded by his three wives and two of her stepbrothers, with Catherine, her stepsister.
Her own mother had died when giving birth to her and her father married Sophia two years after her mother's death but she was only able to conceive a female child, Catherine and that had pushed her father to take in two other wives.
Both Margaret and Hannah gave birth to two sons each but Sophia's position as the Madam of the house wasn't threatened as she is from a very powerful family.
Emilia's mother's nanny raised her and Emilia never acknowledge Sophia as her mother.
"Father," she said breathlessly as she stepped further inside.
Lord Markham blinked in disbelief as he look up from his meal, shocked to see her.
"Emilia, what are you doing dressed like this?" he scolded.
"Go and change into something proper at once."
whispered ripple through the family and Margaret, one of the concubines leaned toward Sophia.
"What's she up to now?"
Although surprised as well, Sophia remained calm and turned to Emilia.
"You can't wear your bed attire out in the public, the servants are around."
She cautioned and beckoned to her maid.
"Take her back..."
Emilia flicked open her fan, flashing it at the maid in warning.
"No one touches me."
The maid stepped back instantly and turned to Sophia who waves her away.
June and Alice hurry in with a blue cloak in their hands, and drape it over her quickly then stepped back.
Markham glared at them, instantly blaming them.
"What were you doing when your mistress walked out like this?" he scolded.
"Forgive us my lord," they cry out in unison, falling to their knees.
"Don't blame them," Emilia intervened, striding forward to sit beside her father, but Catherine is there, in her usual space.
With a stare, Catherine stood reluctantly to give up the seat and Emilia sat down.
"Father," Emilia said.
"I want to get marry."
The hall freezes and silence fell like a heavy curtain.
Even her maids glanced at each other in shock and Markham is stunned.
"You want to what?"
It had only been an hour since news reached them that the King might be planning to wed a new wife and Markham can't believe Emilia would accept the marriage so easily.
"Marry?" Sophia repeats slowly and narrowed her eyes.
She is already twenty and should have been married from the age of fifteen but because of the requirement she had placed for a husband, a lot of suitors had back off.
"To the King?"
"No. To Cornelius. I heard his proposal was rejected a few days ago."
"Cornelius? The cripple?" Markham said, his brow creasing.
"The one in a wheelchair?" he asked again to be sure.
Emilia nodded.
"Yes."
Cornelius is from a very good family but the issue is that he is crippled and weak. Because of this, his parents were willing to agree with Emilia's terms for marriage and have him marry into the Markham family but Markham had rejected him many times on Emilia's behalf.
"What had gotten into you?" Markham asked and touches her forehead to see if she is sick or if there is something else wrong with her
"Has she gone mad?" Margaret muttered, leaning towards her left to her fellow concubine.
"She's only saying this to avoid marrying the King," Hannah whispered back with a chuckle.
"Nothing is wrong with me father, I am well but I will rather marry a cripple than the King." Emilia responded and Markham is stunned.