My palms were sweaty as I kept them on my lap. I didn’t want to look too comfortable in this throne which was as golden and shiny as Amelia’s beside mine. The thought of her being a Goldenthrone entered my mind, and I pinched my wrist as to not snort at that.

There were more serious matters for me to be in the middle of since I was now King. Something I still didn’t want to be or go through, but the person sitting right beside me and glaring down at a group of nobles, made it quite difficult.

Even Elric was having a hard time remaining patient with whatever stare off the Queen and the older woman in front of her, were having.

“How long do you plan on keeping us stood here?” Finally, one of them spoke up. Strangely, it was the noblewoman standing right in front of us. She had her hair tied atop her head, and a long gown covering her tall build.

I looked beside me at the Queen, who frowned down at the woman. “I just want to remind you that I am your Queen.”

Well, Amelia had reminded her enough since she had her and all the others there for quite a long time now. I cleared my throat as I shifted in the comfortable throne. It was making me sleepy, but what I thought was subtle movement, turned out to be focused on by everyone in the court room.

Suddenly, I had the attention of all the noblemen and women, along with Amelia’s.

“Ah, thank you for reminding me of such an important matter, my King.” I frowned, not knowing what I had even done to remind her of something. But the smirk on her face was enough to let Elric and I know that she was going to say something absurd again. Turning back to the old and tall noblewoman, Amelia spoke. “If you all believe that threatening me or having meetings behind my back about my marriage with Bran is going to help you at all. You are gravely mistaken.”

It was like Amelia had said something that neither of the people before us were suspecting, since the noblewoman answering for all of them frowned. I could also see one of her eyes twitching but seeing how she was old – maybe it was an age thing.

“I don’t understand what you’re implying.”

This time Amelia’s eyes twitched, and I leaned back as to not bring any attention to me again. Maybe it wasn’t an age thing.

“Did you,” Amelia leaned forward for more effect, and I sucked in a breath at how her voice sounded low and threatening now. “Or did you not gather nobles at your estate and talk of coveting my throne from me?”

This was just a call of war. I didn’t want to be in the middle of it or even on the sides, but I also couldn’t leave my place on the throne right next to Amelia’s, without bringing attention to myself.

The woman stared at the Queen with an indifference in her eyes before she bowed her head slowly. “I apologize if my worries felt as an aspiration to take over your kingdom, your majesty.”

That answer seemed to satisfy Amelia, since all the other nobles followed suit and bowed their heads low as well. But while Amelia smiled at the control, she had over the situation now, Elric didn’t look so convinced.

He was assessing the nobles as was I and our eyes met for a brief moment. It felt as though he and I were having similar opinions regarding this apparent truce. Seeing nothing phoney with what had been said, Amelia stood up from her throne.

“You are forgiven, aunt.” My eyes widened as I heard Amelia addressing the older woman. She was stepping down from the platform as she walked over to the older woman. So, this was the aunt she had mentioned last night. The one who wanted Amelia to marry her son. But if she was the aunt, she had more reason to go through with treason. But why plan it so blatantly, when it was clear that she’d be the one suspected of it?

So many questions entered my mind, but they were all pushed aside when attention was brought to me again.

“Do you forgive my dear aunt as well, my King?”

As the sharp look of the older woman fell on me, I shivered at the hostility. Nodding my head in agreement, I got a satisfied expression from the noblewoman but a frown from the Queen. “Use your words, my king, and do consider how she tried to bring a rift between our loving relationship.”

I frowned at the redheaded woman’s words. A what now and what loving relationship?

Elric also frowned before he looked at the Queen, trying to get her attention but she was just staring at me with a dark look on her face.

Great. If I say one thing, I get in trouble with the aunt and if I say something else, I get stared down by the Queen. What kind of horrible situation was this?

“Y-Yes. Bad move. B-But look, we’re s-still so in love.” Amelia smiled at my reply which had her turning around to look at her aunt, and I sighed a breath of relief. The Queen was furious at her aunt threatening her, and here she was terrifying me into saying what she wanted to hear.

I wondered if all my training had been for nothing. What was the use of beating up a group of men if I was going to lose to a woman? Well, not just any woman but one who ruled the kingdom. Not that losing to women was a bad thing. I don’t want to imply that women are incapable of winning something. I mean I am a woman too so—I'll just stop talking. 

“The King is merciful and kind, your highness.” I snorted unconsciously at the way the noblewoman had worded her sentence. Thankfully, none of the attention turned to me again. But Amelia’s anger did return, and she turned around with a flick of her wrist. I watched with wide eyes as she sent me a glare before coming back to the platform and her throne. “You all are dismissed!”

“Thank you, your highness!” I gulped in fear and confusion when the noblewoman sent me a harsh look before turning around to leave the court room with the other nobles.

“You didn’t have to take her side.” Amelia spoke up as soon as the court room was empty and only the guards and Elric remained. “She answered correctly, your highness.”

I looked at Elric with disbelief clear on my face. Did he just...take my side? Elric scowled at me in the very next second and I shook my head. Never mind.

“You are being too transparent, your highness. Of course, she apologized but is she going to support your decision to be married to Bran?”

“No.” Amelia and Elric looked at me and I leaned back in my throne. “Sorry.”

Amelia shook her head as she turned back to Elric. “You would rather I sit here and let her plan against me and my King?” I cringed at the mention of that word repeatedly.

“Can I not just be a Queen as well?” Once again, Elric and Amelia looked at me sharply before the redhead shook her head with conviction. “There can only be one Queen, so the people don’t get confused. And I’m the Queen.”

Somehow, Elric nodded at that explanation, and I frowned. That was a stupid reason but since I had no say in the matter, apparently, I chose to remain quiet while they went back to discussing her aunt.

“Did you look into the last night incident?” Elric nodded his head before he sighed. “Leila Kelve was not involved in that at all. She was at her estate with your cousin.” At the mention of the cousin, Amelia’s expression turned sour. “So, he’s back?”

I frowned since I had just faced the silent wrath of the aunt and now, I had to meet the cousin as well.

What else did I have to suffer through just because of the Queen now?

“Yes, he came back this morning. He wants to come visit you in the coming days as well.”

Amelia groaned before she shook her head immediately. “No, I don’t want to meet him.” Well, that said more than it had to. So, she disliked this person which meant he could be a great ally for me.

“I suggest you meet him, your Highness. He is family after all.” Elric looked at me surprised before he nodded his head, agreeing with my uncalled-for input. Amelia frowned at me. “He was courting me before I married you, and I know for a fact that he wants to meet me just to size you up. Do you still want him to visit?”

Pfft, like he needed to compete with me for the Queen. I’d gladly let him have her.

“I don’t mind.” No matter how vague, my words should’ve not given the Queen the wrong message, but they did so easily. And I widened my eyes when I saw her stand up from her throne with a furious expression. Even Elric looked surprised at the outburst.

“Your high--”

“How could you not care about another man who was previously courting me for marriage?” My eyes widened at the question, and I shook my head. “I just meant--”

“You’re unbelievable!”

I could only frown as she flicked her hair behind her shoulder and began to walk down the platform with quick steps. What did I even do wrong? Elric stood rooted to his place since the Queen hadn’t ordered him to follow along.

As we watched her leave the court room, Elric turned to me with a sympathetic look. “Did something happen last night? She seems angrier than usual.” Yes, a murder of a young man! Understanding the vagueness of his question, he quickly added. “Aside from what occurred at the castle gates.”

My mind immediately went to what had transpired within the confines of the Queen’s chambers. The brief but sudden kiss, and then my rejection.

I cleared my throat and shook my head. Elric didn’t need to know that I had refused to sleep on the same bad as the Queen and had been the first one to leave the chamber in search for food. Of course, she would be a little angry about that. I didn’t have last night’s supper with her, then refused to share a bed, and to top that off; left her alone in the morning and went to get food without her.

All of that could have been the reason for her sudden outburst. Oh, also how I sided with the aunt. She hated her too.

Elric sighed before he nodded his head. “The Queen is not a bad person. You must be kind with her.”

Oh look, more rules for me, and none for the Queen.

Nodding my head, I stood up as well. “I will try my best.” Elric nodded his head as well before he walked ahead of me. “Keep her on your side, Bran, for you have no one there as of yet.”

Elric’s words rang in my ears even when he had walked ahead and left the courtroom without even a single glance back.

He was right in many ways. I didn’t have anyone with me anymore, but I did have a best friend and that old man who had refused to tell me his name. I wasn’t all alone, and I certainly didn’t need the Queen’s sympathy or support. Before I was wrapped up in these politics and matters of the castle, I had a mission. And I was going to go through with it even inside of the castle.

I was there, purely to destroy the Queen, and I was going to succeed, right?