Amelia Goldenheart was as smart as she was beautiful. Her head full of long hair was only the highlight of her beauty as her cheeks were the main source of attraction. With a smile that could light up her entire kingdom, she had a pair of dimples that made sure to pull in more people towards her.

But she didn’t care about her own looks or even the power she held over other people because that was all everyone ever saw of her. Not the way she had taken over the rule of a kingdom right after her parents were brutally murdered.

Or how she was only 15 years of age when she had to mature with responsibilities being piled up onto her fragile grieving shoulders. No one ever mentioned all she had achieved with the pain of losing her parents always fresh on her mind.

Even when she had to continue with a marriage ceremony she hadn’t wanted, all she felt was the hurt of how her parents were not there with her. But despite all her pain and her not wanting a marriage, she had been grateful to have a female spouse.

When her father was the King, there were several advisors who would make sure that the ruler of Geraldia would make the best decisions ever. But as soon as Amelia had taken over, all the advisors pushed her to marry even at her 15 years of age. Everyone wanted a King, but that was not what Elric had been adamant about.

This was the only reason he was left as the only advisor left for the throne.

But seeing how Amelia had gone and disobeyed Elric in a very particular way, she didn’t want to lose his support as well.

Entering inside of the study room, Amelia sighed when she saw Elric already standing there in front of her desk. He knew her schedule way too well to not use it to his advantage.

“Your highness.” Immediately bowing his head in greeting, Elric waited for the Queen to walk over to her seat before he looked up at her. But before he could say anything, she was already speaking up. “I know what you’re going to say.”

“Yes, your majesty, of course you know what I have to say. You made sure to do the exact opposite of what I said because of it.”

Amelia rolled her eyes as she sat down on the seat behind her desk. She had to be comfortable to hear her advisor’s scolding. Elric looked at her with clear disappointment which affected her, but it also had her wanting to fight for herself as well.

“There is nothing wrong with being married to Bran.”

Elric sighed heavily as he shook his head. “There is everything wrong with being married to a woman, your highness, and you know that very well.”

The redheaded Queen waved her hand dismissively. “I am the Queen, Elric. At the end of the day, what I want happens.”

“You understand that none of the nobles have seen this ceremony with an open heart. Especially your aunt.” Amelia groaned with the mention of her aunt who had done all in her power to make sure that the throne didn’t go to Amelia when her parents died. She was the reason why Amelia just had to get married to continue ruling over Geraldia. Well, Amelia had done just that.

Seeing the Queen’s silence, Elric spoke again. “You are as good to this kingdom as it is to you. If the nobles were to rebel against your marriage, you will either have to remarry – this time to a man – or you’ll have to get rid of the current King.”

Amelia could tell that both those options meant the same thing. If she were to remarry – which she didn’t want to do – she would have to say goodbye to Bran. But she didn’t want to, despite Bran being someone she couldn’t figure out completely yet.

There was reason for Amelia to believe that the other woman would be useful to her in the future, and she knew for a fact that Bran would never want any kind of power from her.

Bran was the safest way to remain ruling over Geraldia.

“I want Bran.” Amelia raised her chin as if to tell Elric that that was her final decision. But Elric was not going to let Amelia remain ignorant of what was happening in her kingdom even if he was going to fail in convincing her to leave Bran. “Then you should know of the secret gathering that took place right after your marriage to Bran.”

“What?”

Elric gave no room for Amelia to even be surprised by that information as he remained speaking. “My men came to notify me of a gathering at the west mansion. The discussion was only about how Geraldia deserved a male heir and a male King.”

“Insolent idiots.” Amelia grumbled and got a sharp look from Elric. He disliked her showing any emotion at all when listening to any kind of news. Sensing his disapproval, Amelia apologized immediately. Sighing at her, Elric continued. “I have been told that your aunt was the one to gather most of the nobles there if not all of them. They also discussed a dethroning if matters came to that.”

Amelia’s eyes widened and she stood up immediately.

“I am the Queen! How dare they even think about removing me from my own throne!”

Elric immediately bowed his head as he faced the Queen’s anger. He knew that her emotions were going to get the better of her with what he was going to tell her. One thing that Geraldia could not get rid of was the presence of nobles and all the power they also held.

One of those nobles was Amelia’s aunt who had married the brother of the late King. Leila Kelve was old enough to know how to deal with political turmoil, and she also knew how to take advantage of it. Exactly what she had done with Amelia’s current situation.

“I want all these nobles in court tomorrow.” Amelia gritted her teeth before she thought of Bran and then added her next words. “And I want to address the kingdom as well, right after I deal with my aunt.” Elric nodded his head with it still bowed in front of the Queen. He didn’t want to be on the receiving end of her rage.

As soon as that was out of her way, Amelia felt worried. If multiple people had been so against her current marital relationship, was Elric also going to become one of them? Looking at the bowing Elric, Amelia asked up her question cautiously. “Tell me, Elric, how do you feel about my marriage with Bran?”

That question was enough for the advisor to raise up his head and look at the Queen with a peculiar expression. “I think you’ve made a mistake, your highness.”

Amelia felt her throat closing because of her most-trusted person’s opinion. She valued Elric’s opinions and decisions as much as she had valued her own parents’. He had been with her since she was only 15 and he had led her to the throne without her needing anyone else. Of course, his judgement was taken with seriousness by the Queen.

“But,” Amelia looked at the man as he sighed, “I also believe that Bran would be easier to handle.”

Elric glanced around the study room as if he was concerned about someone hearing whatever he was about to speak next. Amelia also noticed his behaviour as she unconsciously leaned forward.

“Bran is the child of Jaya and Ralph Grine.”

Those names had been familiar to Amelia, but she couldn’t remember how she knew of them exactly. Elric, seeing the confusion on her face, added an explanation. “Ralph Grine was the head guard of the castle and Jaya Grine was the head cook during the reign of your parents.” Amelia frowned, not understanding how that was an information that required such secrecy from Elric. She did remember a fair-skinned, and tall man around the castle, tailing the King and keeping him safe.

“They were the first ones to be discovered dead in front of the castle gates, your Highness.”

Amelia brought a hand to her mouth in shock as she felt a rush of sympathy for Bran. She found more reason to believe that Bran deserved to be in the castle and on the throne next to hers.

But while she didn’t see anything amiss with that, Elric held other views. He sighed when he didn’t hear anything from the Queen. “I don’t understand why Bran would choose to infiltrate a match for men and spur you into a marriage. But I do understand that she has enough motive to also be seen as a foe.”

“She seems harmless to me. And your message to the kingdom had been so vague anyway. You didn’t add anything in there about only men being allowed to participate.” Yes, and Elric was going to regret that mistake for the rest of his life, but he was old enough to know that Bran’s absurd way of exposing her identity in front of the arena’s crowd was not just a coincidence.

It felt like a planned decision.

“I would suggest you to be vigilant with her regardless, your highness.”

Amelia didn’t want to be doubtful of her own spouse even though she barely knew her, even though she saved her from getting abducted. Amelia frowned as she looked at Elric after remembering that incident.

“Who were those men you hired to abduct me? And why did he kill himself like that?” Amelia had been worried about that, but she also had been furious. Elric shouldn’t have done that. But as the old advisor looked at the Queen darkly, things seemed to make more sense to her now. “About that as well, those were real people. There to take you away, your Highness.”

Amelia rolled her eyes, understanding immediately that Elric must’ve called it all a test just to keep everyone else calm. Being abducted from the lavatory was embarrassing enough for Amelia anyway.

“Did you find out anything about them?” Elric shook his head as he stroked his small beard. “One of them killed himself and the other escaped but was later found dead as well. There was nothing to identify them on their person either.”

Amelia sighed with exhaustion as she sat back down. Everything was bringing her more stress and she hadn’t even begun her night yet. “I want you to find out anything about them. Anything at all would be significant.” Even though Amelia could think of a few people who could’ve planned something like this, she still wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Standing up from her seat again, she looked at Elric one last time. “I don’t want you to be cross with me, Elric. You’re the only person I value in this entire castle and kingdom.” Elric smiled as he nodded his head. He saw the Queen as a daughter who had more years to mature further. She was capable enough to run a kingdom, but she still needed guidance in several matters. And Bran was a matter that Amelia could never handle by herself.

Elric didn’t trust the gladiator and he was going to find more information about her as soon as he could.

“Come, let’s go have dinner now.”

Elric nodded his head as Amelia sent a bright smile to him. He was not going to let anyone hurt her.

And he was going to make sure to punish whoever even dared to even try.