Surprise and bewilderment left the servants awestruck, their hearts jolting as they looked up at their king’s face, before quickly lowering their heads.James rarely wore a look of shock. This time he did. “My lady will become the queen of this country?”“Yes,” Ivan replied then looked at Alicia and said to her, “I said before that we’re on schedule. I can’t give you much time. Do you think you’ll finish up in an hour?”Alicia nodded. “Yes, that’s enough. I appreciate your consideration.”“I see. So…” Ivan picked up his foot and moved towards a certain direction.The servants sighed in relief and straightened their backs when he was no longer standing before their presence.Alicia smiled bitterly. “That’s how things turned out. Let’s go inside for now.”Alicia relayed to James the dismal and discouraging events that occurred in Coulson. They would find out soon enough… that Coulson’s king and nobles handed her over like a pawn in exchange for avoiding the war.Alicia, under James’s gu
Ivan flinched and hid his hands behind his back noticing Alicia’s lingering gaze planted on his fingers.Alicia looked away, deciding not to point out what she had seen.“….I had never thought to bring a bouquet of flowers,” she said.Heavy silence scattered all around thereafter. One could hear the steady rhythm of their heart. The series of incidents in the ship left the two parties, Alicia and Ivan, in a sour mood. They could not face each other properly, let alone talk. Though in truth it was Alicia’s doing. She chose to avoid him on purpose.Unable to bear the still sullenness, Alicia opened her lips and broke the quietness. “But mother had always loved flowers, especially flowers commonly found in the road rather than the large, exotic flowers in the garden. Thank you. I’m sure she’s happy.”“…..” Ivan’s eyes quivered and looked away.Alicia looked down, fingers wiggling. She had nothing to say thereafter.Then Ivan looked at the grave next to the countess coldly. “The count was
Alicia’s gaze turned downcast. Whenever Ivan called her name with slightly raised lips, a sort of welling sadness formed in her caged heart.He rarely called her by her name, if ever…“I want you to call me by my name too, Alicia. Ivan. Call me that. Is this okay with you?”Tears had fallen, almost. His carefree smile brought her back to their first meeting. The painful memories had been wiped out and only the memory of that boy in the garden remained. She hoped this could last.“Yes,” Alicia bit her lips and answered.“Alicia, I know you’re in a difficult position and I can’t imagine how you feel, but I’d like to make it clear to you that I’ve no intention of treating you like a hostage. You’re my wife. I’ll protect you from any danger. Don’t be nervous, please…”His voice was gentle.Alicia nodded her head. It would have been nice if he was like this in their past life, but she was satisfied. This, too, was enough.She never had any thoughts of getting back at him when given a secon
My wife doesn’t love me.This was the only thing I know.***“Your Majesty, where are you? Your Majesty, the Queen is looking for you.”The servant was looking for me. I had no intention to be seen and so, I hid behind the tall pillars and kept quiet. Troublesome and uncomfortable things await me; this I know well.“Your Majesty! Oh… Your Majesty! I know you’re listening to me. Your Majesty…!”Watching the servant’s movement, I slowly walked toward the opposite direction and arrived in the deserted garden. I laid there, resting, for the time being, hoping to avoid that slow-witted but determined servant.I sighed and looked up the blue sky, staring relentlessly at the glaring sun and the drifting clouds. But as somber thoughts came to mind, I covered my eyes with my arms and bit my lips tightly.“The throne was originally mine.”Mother used to hold onto me… I’d sit on her lap while she whispered words I never understood. Each time she said those words, the guilt that I’d taken away he
The book reverts back to third person.“…..I need to be stronger…” Ivan said, his heart bitter and disheartened. Greed had never controlled him. He hoped to be a king neither horrid nor incompetent but a king able to manage his kingdom well and to live a happy life with his wife, one whom he could respect as a human being, if not love.But… did he hope for too much?A soft hiccup snapped Ivan from his whimsical thoughts. He turned his head and saw a little girl. Tears fell from her cheek and she wiped it roughly with her sleeves. She looked distracted, thus failing to take notice of his presence.Ivan moved, not wanting to have his presence known. Though he unconsciously watched her from afar. She was pleasant to look at, cute like a doll. She had porcelain skin too puerile and silver hair too innocent. She was younger than Ivan, it looked like. Her beauty could not be disguised from the pearl-shaped tears rolling down her cheeks from her wide luminous eyes.“…..Huh?”Ivan followed he
Ivan clenched his fist and eventually, he climbed up the trunk in one fell swoop. He’d rather save the bird’s demise than to watch those falling tears helplessly. As he climbed, the cat was ready to pounce on the bird and bite its neck. He needed to hurry else the bird would end up someone’s food.Chirp, chirp!Swoosh!“Ahhhh!”Boom!He fell to the ground with the small bird wrapped safely in his hand. Fortunately, he had not injured himself as he had used a landing technique he learned during fencing. But it did hurt like hell like his bones would break in pieces.‘What am I doing…?’“Are you all right?”Ivan looked at her with fiery eyes and wanted to say, “No, it’s not okay!” but he held it in. It was best he checks the bird’s status first. As he opened his hand, the girl held the bird. At that moment, the bird screeched, flapped its wings, and soared into the deep, blue sky.“Ah…”While the girl looked up, eyes expressing unknown admiration, Ivan patted his sore shoulder and back
“Your Majesty, you were with my daughter… perhaps Alicia’s caused you trouble.” The lady, a countess, greeted Ivan hurriedly while the girl hid behind her with a look of embarrassment as she realized his true identity.“….It’s been a long time, Countess Kenboe.”“Ivan, Alicia, I had plans for you two to meet someday, but this is great too. What were you two doing?”“It’s nothing, I was just talking to this child,” Ivan said lowly and continued, “I was just free and bored. I unknowingly rolled on the floor by myself. It’s no big deal. No need to bother about it, Mother.”Ivan felt a sense of shame hearing his mother’s pleased voice. The thought that he had been caught and trapped in her wicked plan upset him. He did not want to play with her games, so he hurried away and hoped to never see the girl again.However, his mother had other plans. She had marked the girl as her target as the next Queen of Ehrlich and called her to the royal palace now and then. Every time he saw her, she was
Ivan’s brows tightened and he scoffed. He wished his mother would reveal her true intentions. Maybe he’ll not despise her this much. He despised it so, despised the false image she gave – a mother who refused evil and gave up her throne so her son could live. This was her image. But it was false. It was her ambition. The world was her theatre and she the main lead in the play.Ivan and the woman he’s to marry would become prey in the palm of her hands.“Are you satisfied, mother? You’ve managed to keep my limbs, my hands, and feet all tied down. Are you musing in your own enjoyment?”“What do you mean? Alicia is a good girl. She’s the best match for you, Ivan. I don’t know why you keep distorting my words.”“That’s exactly what I thought my mother would say.”Ivan scoffed and clicked his tongue, swiveling his feet and walking toward the door. And then he saw her… he saw Alicia standing at the front door, her face a pale white. He surmised that she had heard their conversation and he w