Chapter 7: Dragon and Phoenix

(Flashback)

    Three years ago

    In the kingdom of Grellis, there were three realms- The Great Palace, the noble's region, and the commoner's district.

    Keane was a famous knight among nobles. Aside from his lineage, he has an outstanding talent and looks. He's the adoration of many noblewomen

    To escape the eyes of the nobles, Keane and his pal, Darrius, decided to go to the commoner's district to enjoy drinking at the pub willingly. They can freely roam as long as they hide being knights because the commoners weren't familiar with political and royal figures in the Palace.

    One day, they were drinking at the commoner's pub when a group of violent knights wreaked havoc there. They didn't want to pay their bill.

    "Are you asking us to pay? Do you dare disrespect us, the knights?" One of the knights said.

    "We were just a small business, sir. We will accept even half of the payment. We couldn't shoulder the whole bill," an old woman who seemed to be the owner of the pub begged.

    The knight was about to hit the older woman when a young woman wearing a black robe interfered, "You have to pay for the product you consumed, whoever you are," she growled.

    "Who are you, little shit?" the knight was about to draw his sword when the big man accompanying the young woman pointed his sword at the knight. "Don't you dare," he whispered.

    The other knights drew their swords. The people inside the pub took their distance as there's a brewing brawl.

    Keane and Darrius were watching while still sitting at their table. The knights began to attack the woman and the big man with her.

    Keane was amazed when he saw the woman fighting with a sword. He and Darrius started to join the fight as soon as the woman and the man accompanying her were becoming overpowered by the number of knights attacking them.

    Moments later, they already subdued the vicious knights and passed them on the rotating knights at the area. The owner of the pub was thanking them endlessly and decided to give them free sake and food.

    Keane looked at the courageous woman. It was his first time to witness a woman using a sword. He was more fascinated when she removed her robe.

    He met so many gorgeous women in his life, but her beauty far surpassed all of them.

    The woman looked at her and smiled, "Thank you for helping us,"

    Keane was taken aback in reality by her voice. He fixed his expression and introduced himself, "Well, I am…" when he remembered that people couldn't know who he was, "I am Dragon."

    "What an exquisite name," she answered. "I am Phoenix, then."

     Ever since that day, Keane and the woman whom he called Phoenix became friends. The pub owner and workers knew them and also became their friends. They protect the pub from avaricious knights who wanted to take advantage of their status.

    Keane admired her principles- that people should be equal regardless of their status. Her beauty and swordsmanship were too captivating. He thought she was one of a kind.

    But then…

    He was assigned to lead an expedition of two years to apprehend the rebels in Kingdom's borders and neighboring countries.

    Keane didn't have the chance even to say farewell to Phoenix. But he did it to encourage himself to get through the battle and come back alive.

     He wanted to live to see her again. And maybe tell her that he likes her.

(Flashback Ends)

*****

     Keane was in his chamber drinking sake. His body was tired. He hadn't been on a comfortable bed for so long, but for some reason, he couldn't sleep.

     Almost three years ago, they went to war because of the revolutionists waging conflict. They knew that the former King's condition was becoming worse, and they wanted to take advantage of that.

     Then just a month after that, the former King died. The war with the revolutionists had intensified.

    Alaric became King. Keane felt that he had to do everything he can to lead the Knights to victory. Triumph would be the best gift for his newly crowned cousin, he thought.

    The news of his cousin's wedding reached him when he was in the war. He was genuinely shocked that Alaric didn't marry Jestina. The three of them grew up together, and he knew that both of them liked each other.

     What surprised him the most was that Alaric married Asteria Eliphas. He heard that woman's reputation before. She has great beauty but a wicked personality, they said. He didn't know what she looked like, nor he had any interest in the infamous daughter of the Chief Minister.

    And by the twist of events and fate…

    "Phoenix is Asteria Eliphas. She is now the Queen," he said to himself; his voice was full of regret.

     He rested his chin on his hand, still thinking. "What a concurrence," The woman he wanted to see for so long was now the wife of his good cousin.

     Keane saw Alaric as his brother. Never once in his life, he felt envy that Alaric was the crown prince and he was not. People compared them all the time, but he didn't care about it. Keane didn't even want to be the King.

    He wanted to be a Knight and helped his cousin to raise the Kingdom of Grellis.

    Keane's contemplation was interrupted when Darrius entered his chamber.

    "Keane! Phoenix is…" Darrius blurted out but halted when he saw him drinking.

    Keane looked at his friend. "Yes, I know. She's the Queen,"

    Darius scratched his head, "Who would have thought that she's the infamous Asteria Eliphas?" Regret was apparent in his voice, "They said she's beautiful but wicked, only the beautiful was true."

    Keane laughed at his friend's words, "Yes. It turned out the nobles see her as horrible because she likes to help commoners and servants more, and she's a noblewoman who uses swords," he put his palm all over his face. 

    He was glad that someone like her became Queen, but for some reason, he felt gloomy inside.

   "I feel sorry for you, Keane. I knew how you feel for her," Darrius suddenly mumbled. His friend knew that he liked Asteria and intended to confess to her when they came back. 

    Keane smiled at his friend, "She is now the Queen, and I am a mere knight. A love tale of a Knight and Queen never exist. It was always the King and the Queen," he was trying to be cheerful, but he couldn't hide the sadness in his voice.

    "The King and the Queen and his concubine, you mean to say," Darrius muttered. 

     He raised his eyebrow, "What do you mean?" he asked with natural confusion.

    "So you didn't know that when the King came back, he appointed Lady Jestina as a concubine?" His friend said, wondering.

     Keane became more confused. He was trying to understand what was going inside his cousin's head. Marrying another woman, then proceeded to make Jestina a concubine.

    And most of all, what did Asteria think about this?

    He stroked his chin in thoughts. 

    "The King will officially announce it on the upcoming royal ball," Darrius proceeded to inform him.

     Keane stood up out of shock, "Is he insane? He just came back from an expedition, and he's going to make an aggressive move?

    "It would be disastrous to do such a thing. a King who just came back from an expedition suddenly appointed a concubine. The people knew that he and Jestina were childhood sweethearts. They will disrespect the Queen, for sure." He said to himself.

****

     The night of the Royal Ball came. It was a windy night full of stars across the sky. The party was exclusively for nobility only. 

    They made the royal ball happen to welcome the King and returning Knights.

     The nobles wore colorful dresses and pieces. Shining and glimmering decorations were filling the whole place, giving a majestic feeling to invited people.

     Meanwhile, Keane was wearing a black suit while standing in one of the corners of the enormous hall. He was holding a glass of wine.

    He heard the murmuring of the young noblewomen around him. It was like the other balls in the past. They were all hoping to dance with him.

    Suddenly, the messenger exclaimed, "Welcome the King and the Queen of Grellis," 

     The people focused their eyes on the platform at the top of grandiose stairs. They were all waiting for the monarchs to emerge from it.

     Then the King and Queen appeared, holding each other's hands. The people clapped upon seeing them, especially the gorgeous King, who was wearing a white suit.

     But what snatched Keane's gazes was Asteria wearing a silver gown. Her black hair perfectly complimented what she was wearing. She looked very ethereal for him.

    Suddenly, the King let go of the Queen's hand, then moved downstairs all by himself. He went straight to Jestina, who was standing at the foot of the stairs. 

    Then Keane heard the whispers of the people.

    "Served her well; she shouldn't be the Queen,"

    "Jestina is the rightful Queen,"

     "When will she step down as Queen? She doesn't fit the title,"

     He looked in the direction of Asteria, who was walking downstairs, all alone. Her face was emotionless. He couldn't grasp what she was thinking, but her having no expression at all was new to him. He was used to seeing her laughing and smiling. 

    "I have a special announcement to make tonight," the King shattered the murmuring of the people. "I officially declare Jestina Castemont as my concubine. I hope that Jestina's addition to the royal family would boost the morale of the nobility." He smiled widely after saying that.

    Keane's brows raised. He retook a glimpse at the direction of the Queen and saw her standing at the sideline. Also, the Chief Minister was not around. He might have already known the true purpose of the ball and decided no to attend. 

    The people teased the King and Jestina as if they were newlyweds. They were all cheering for them without caring to the Queen, who watched all these humiliating scenes.

    Slow music suddenly played. 

    The people were partnering up to dance. Alaric took Jestina to the center of the dancing people. They moved to the music they had been dancing to since they were children. It was like a scene straight from a fairytale—two good-looking people who matched with each other.

    Meanwhile, the noblewomen were all waiting for Keane to select a dancing partner. In the past balls, Keane would choose randomly. That's why he earned the title of 'The Kingdom's womanizer.' He wasn't particularly proud of that title, but he just let it slide so the noblemen would stop sending their daughters to him as a marriage candidate. 

    But that night, he had set his eyes on one person only.

    Keane walked up to the Queen, who was drinking wine at the corner. He kneeled in front of her, "Can I take you to dance, My Queen?"

    His action attracted the attention of the people around them, but at that instant, he didn't care what their reaction was. He couldn't take his eyes off the woman in front of him.

    Asteria looked at him. Her gaze made him nervous inside, but there's no turning back. He was already there at that moment.

    "Please, I will follow your lead," she answered, gorgeously smiling.