The Greedy Woman

"Become my Queen? Lady, isn't that too much of a request?" Sigmar laughed, he underestimated Mireila.

The girl didn't answer immediately, she who was a little weak due to blood loss tried to get up from her slump. Although slightly dizzy, she looked into the king's eyes.

Mireila has nothing more at stake. She didn't protect anyone, she was even prepared to die. She had no goal and no future other than forever living in the palace. But Mireila still had responsibilities left. She must find the murderers of her clan and punish them. Isolde, the Phoenix spirit, also says that she should resurrect her clan.

To get all that, she needed power. Mireila did live in the village. But that didn't mean she was uneducated. She knew that it had been more than ten years since the position of Queen Allandur had been vacant. Mireila was only betting a little on this.

"I'm not willing to live forever being your prey," Mireila said.

"I'd rather die," she continued earnestly.

Sigmar was silent, the girl's eyes didn't lie. She was not afraid of death. She didn't hope for anything in the future. Life without her family and the people she knows was a curse for her. It wasn't strange that the girl would actually kill herself because the mental burden and trauma was too great.

"I didn't expect this, I thought you were an innocent girl with bad luck..but you're also a greedy woman who hopes to take advantage of me." Sigmar looked at her without smiling. For a moment, Mireila was afraid. She threatened a king. That was something that was hard to forgive.

"But I appreciate your courage. You proposed to me in just two days since we met..it's more interesting than just confessing love to me and being willing to have an intimate relationship with me. At least you have self-respect. But, why should I make you queen?" Sigmar asked sharply, he brought his face closer and made sure the girl looked him in the eye.

Mireila, who was confident before, was now nervous.

"Tell me, lady Mireila. What is your advantage over the best women in Allandur? Why should you be queen? Why not them?" The King Urged coldly.

"It's simple, if I don't become queen, then I'd rather die..why do i have to live if i want to die? At least you can give me a reason to live," Mireila said.

"Lady, you underestimate me," Sigmar said coldly to her. He was clearly angry and offended. Mireila saw that bluish veins appeared on his temples. His good looks didn't really help. Right now, mireila was scared. She was ready to die, but as it approached reality—she could still be afraid.

"So what if you died? When the Acheron was burned to the ground, I asked the tower wizards.. you know what they say? As long as I can get a sufficiently fresh and intact body—they can perform the forbidden ritual. Keeping the bodies of Phoenix descendants like you fresh and alive in salt solution then I harvest your blood every day. .I could have done that to you, Lady Mireila," Sigmar explained coldly. He gripped the girl's shoulder so tightly it almost hurt her.

Mireila felt the back of her neck turn cold. She was shaking. She couldn't hide the fear and dread that was sweeping her surroundings at this moment. Sigmar Aramastus was a tyrant. The cruelest king in Allandur's history.

"Then I'll jump into the fire," Mireila said again.

"What?"

"No matter when, I will find a way to harm my body until you guys have to pick up my body like shards of pottery.. maybe tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or years later, obviously you won't have me forever, Your Majesty," Mireila forced a smile.

She who was no longer afraid of death seems to have a new power. She could challenge anyone and did whatever she liked without being burdened.

"Prove it,"

"What?"

"Prove that you are indeed worthy of being queen of Allandur, I will give you the opportunity to do so. I will arrange for you to participate in the selection of candidates for queen in three months. But who knows, you might. You have passion and toughness in your eyes. That's something the other candidates probably don't have." Sigmar ended his sentence and left the room.

When the door to his room was closed. Mirala sighed. A warm relief covered her. It was so scary. Asking to be Queen? Was she sane when she said that?

***

"Lady Mireila wants to be queen?" Aleron was flabbergasted by that fact. He was in the magic tower to learn some new spells. The magic tower was in the palace. Wizards were an important asset of the kingdom so the royal family keeps them around them.

Sigmar sat on a long sofa next to the fireplace. He leaned back comfortably in a chair with an open book covering his handsome face. He had tried to read a few pages and ended up drowsy. But he had mumbled about his interesting experience with Lady Mireila—the poor girl forced to live in the palace.

"She's mentally ill, I shouldn't be angry, the doctor said her soul was shaken..but how can she say that? Who the hell is he?" Sigmar removed the book that was covering his face before responding.

"Yeah, but she's the only human that can keep you alive right now, Your Majesty," said Aleron.

"I know, that's why I didn't refuse her request right away. Of course I wouldn't let her become queen. She's a loner, not from a noble family and she's from Acheron! You know education in that village is restricted. I even doubt if she can read. She's just my precious food source, she doesn't need to be smart," Sigmar said angrily.

"But you gave her a chance?"

"Yeah, I said I'd put her up for queen selection in three months. I wasn't expecting much. I wanted to make it sound like I was being fair..when she lost, she would give up."

"But, didn't you consider it? She is not from any noble family. It means that while carrying out all her duties as queen, she will not be influenced by her family. In addition, she has a rare beauty," said Aleron again.

"Beauty fades with age, it's nothing special," Sigmar shook his head.

"Hey, can't you just turn off her brain and preserve her body so I can keep drinking blood without going through this drama?"

"I'm a mage, not a god..I told you, lady Mireila is your only chance to live." Aleron shook his head. Sigmar lied to Mireila. There was no other option like using forbidden magic to preserve their bodies. He was just bluffing..when the girl spoke back, Sigmar was almost at a loss for words.

"I don't care about finding the queen. It's just that the family and nobles keep pushing me,"

"But your highness," Aleron cut in.

"If you don't choose a queen this year either, then Lady Mireila will probably keep trying in the following years. Is that okay? You can avoid the family and royalty that insist on marriage. But lady Mireila lives next door to you, she will continue to urge you about it..as long as the queen's position is vacant, she will still bother you," said Aleron again.

"That means—" the magician continued.

"I know! This time I really have to marry a queen. That way the family, nobles and Lady Mireila will stop bothering me," said Sigmar half lazily.