03: Forced to get married: A flashback.

Some Marquises were against the king's decision of marrying the daughter of the traitor country of Lestinna. But, the greatest opposition to the marriage comes from the queen herself. She strongly refused to accept Viishaun's proposal and always sneaked out to her room, but she couldn't get away from the palace because the wall was high and impossible to climb up, thus the only means to leave was through the three gates guarded by Marquises.

She has a lot of reasons why getting married to the king should be refused, such as;  in her world, the 'Aileen' was already engaged to a fellow actor Flame Stephan Alvourde. One more thing, it's because he was 'King Viishaun Argus Allandis XVII', a killer king of Allandis slays and conquers bordering countries through the emperor’s order. He was a man who was born with wealth, prestige, and merciless-combat prowess. 

She blinked and fidgeted at the thought of having her neck detached from her. "He was the scary man who suddenly proposed to me," she said to herself while staring at the huge diamond ring on her ring finger. The ring was just one of the things bought for her, and it's funny how the king gave Aileen everything...

… Five months ago, when she was still not the queen, Aileen always woke up bombarded by presents from the king. Viishaun sent her dozen carriages with various gifts: Jewelry, gems, flowers, and gowns.

What forced her to marry the king back then was when the secretary barged into her chamber, yelling and pleading with words, "Queen! We beg you to help us. The king was refusing to eat for two weeks, and he refused to do his obligation to the kingdom."

"Why should I help him? His life has nothing to do with me. Moreover, I'm not this kingdom's queen," Aileen replied, burying her face in her hands.

"If the King loses his mind, then the kingdom might collapse. Who knows what those barbaric neighboring empires would do... we might be conquered by them; killed or sold as slaves?" says the secretary, bursting with water coming from his eyes.

Aileen jolted and feared for her safety. She's afraid to die in this world because it could mean her soul could not return to her real body, thus she would need to stay alive until she finds out how to safely leave the Allandis empire.

"What do you want me to do?" Aileen asked, almost crying with her situation too. 

"Be his official Queen, Madam."

"King Viishaun is here!"

Aileen panicked and ran outside her chamber, but the moment she opened the door, she found the king kneeling on the carpeted floor, and around him were six marquises crossing their swords above his crown.

"W-What the hell?!?!"

"Greetings, my future queen." The king extended his arm to give a bouquet to Aileen.

Aileen has a soft heart, and despite the memory of the fierce king who pointed a sword at her, she still pities the king who has gotten thinner and paler.

'Don't tell me, he really deprived himself of eating simply because I kept refusing him?' she asked herself while looking at the king who had not yet changed position.

"Please stay with me and be my queen for a lifetime. I promise not to have concubines because one Szcheriziel is more than enough for me."

Aileen sighed and contemplated; If the king would go insane or die, and this kingdom would collapse... what would happen to the commoners and the servants? She closed her eyes and pictured the blood and the bodies massacred in the Lestinna dukedom when her soul fell into an aristocrat lady Szcheriziel.

"Y-Yes, I accept your proposal. Let's get married, your excellency."

The preparation only took three weeks, and no invitation was spread to other families because it was the lady’s wish, which the king blindly followed. The matrimony happened so fast that only the servant and highest priest are the only witness of the actual ceremony, but they are not allowed to spread the word outside without the consent of the royal couple.

Aileen was thankful that the empress, emperor, and the first prince were on vacation at the northern ice border of the empire, thus they failed to attend the wedding that happened in Viishaun's palace. 

According to the conservative custom of marriage in the empire, the bride is not allowed to reveal their face to the public before becoming one in body and soul, which means the bride can only show herself in public after sharing a bed with their husband, except those who have been serving her because it is inevitable.

Aileen was covered with a sparkling veil to hide her face from the Orthodox temple Priest, who had blessed their union. Although no one had seen what the queen looked like, their love story was passed across the empire.

After reminiscing how crazy her life went over the past months, Aileen rested her back on the mattress, where she was seated alone inside the carriage because the servant was seated at the back of the carriage, a place where stuff is placed.

"Come to think of it, this empire has religion, but how are they not condemning bloodshed? Is the Orthodox church afraid of the emperor?"

Before she could think of an answer to her query, the carriage had stopped moving. Then a knock followed, along with a voice saying, "Madam, we had arrived."

Someone opened the carriage and escorted the queen descending from the vehicle. 

'Damn this long gown! It's hard to move to wear this outfit. In my world, I could have worn pants and sleeveless wherever I go,' says a little voice in her mind.

"Madam, where should we head first?"

"Wait, stop right there. Give me a break from that 'madam'— thingy. Just call me Lady S."

"My apologies for getting on your nerves, Lady S."

'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHh! This is actually frustrating. Why are these people so diligent and formal? I can't stand this huhuhuhuh'— she could have screamed those words if only it wouldn't draw attention.

"Do you know a place that sells books?" 

"Book? Do you like books, Q— I mean lady?"

Aileen looked away and replied, "Y-Yes." 

She couldn't tell them what she was looking for was a book that talks about magic or spells.