CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Soon, I found myself at the captain’s side of the ship. I happened to meet the young king there, all alone, looking sullen and was directing the handles of the ship’s helm.

"You’re awake?" he asked as he noticed my presence even before I got closer. The night outside was dark and indifferently cold, as Victoria had told me.

"Yes, I am," I simply said. I watched him behind as he stirred the wheels vigorously and precisely.

"Have you taken your meal?" he inquired. His glances seemed to be avoiding my direction.

"Not yet," I honestly gave him a reply then sat where I could still watch him from.

Having heard my reply, he stopped rolling the wheels then turned around to look at me. I can noticeably see the expression on his face that screams the question, "Why?"

"I will eat later," I said, smiling.

He stared keenly at me for a while before saying "I am sorry for all that happened to you today," he expressed.

Is he always this apologetic? Men are usually not this way. They will always want their women to see their tough sides.

Well, it’s obvious that he’s mostly not like other men. He looks different for a reason.

Speaking of what happened to me today. What really happened?

Did I really pass out like the young lady had said? And what even led to it? I remember witnessing a greater number of the soldiers of Baldamon over the cliff’s top. They were still after me like the other groups I had encountered earlier before. The young king was beside me, lying unconscious on the ground, and I was desperately struggling to revive him. And while in the process of reviving him, he began to act strangely. His body was horrifyingly wriggling on the ground, transforming into that of a beast-like being, having those terrifying red eyes, unusual elongated fangs, and an animal-like face and body.

While going through the memory, I traveled my eyes along the length of the young king’s body but couldn’t find anything that could remind me of those terrifying looks.

His eyes looked just normal, still gold-colored and unceasingly charming. His body looked just as smooth as the normal human body. His face is as handsome as it has always been.

Wait! I vividly remember seeing him transform. No, I am wrong. He’s categorically not the beast I had seen earlier and can never be. Maybe I have been mixing up reality with my several wild imaginations lately.

I heard the young king clear his throat. "Are you thinking of something?" he asked. He must’ve noticed the way I was staring fixedly at him.

"No." I shook my head slightly, denying. I could feel the blushes over my face. His handsomeness seems to increase by the day.

I noticed he was still staring at me.

"The stars are not just beautiful in the sky – when they shine, they bring forth the light in our darkness." I referred to the dark sky, in a bid to drive away his attention.

His gaze around me was making me uncomfortable.

"Get ready; we shall arrive in Sidonnia before sunrise." He said, tearing his eyes away from me. I felt more comfortable now.

"Sidonnia?" That sounded unexpected.

Like I was made to understand. In my kingdom, in a situation where the groom doesn’t show up at his bride’s marriage ceremony, the bride is considered not fully married to him.

"Have you forgotten that I am not yet fully married? You should find a way to take me back to Decresh," I requested.

"Don’t be foolish. We paid your father in full," he said, shrugging.

"Get yourself ready; we shall arrive in Sidonnia before sunrise." He finished, then left. But before his departure, there was this pity look on his face that I couldn’t place my hands on.

"His highness is not always like that," a very tender blonde-haired boy emerged, interrupting my thoughts with his statement.

"He is that way because his closest friend is unwell," he said in defense.

"What happened to him?" I was curious to know and worried as well. Whatever bothers the young king should at least be my concern.

"They were attacked on their way to your kingdom. His friend was stabbed along the line." The young boy explained.

I see. That must be the exact reason why they couldn’t make it to the marriage ceremony. Hell, a lot of bad things happened today; Irene was killed, Edvin and a great number of people lost their lives as well. I don’t even know my father’s fate right now; whether he’s dead or still alive.

"Yes, a lot happened today," said the young lad, not looking happy. I wondered if he was able to hear my thoughts or was I thinking out loud?

"What’s your name?" I asked him.

"My name is Melvin, your Majesty," he said. "I had followed my father to this place. He’s one of his highness’s men." he additionally explained.

I stroked his fluffy hair gently then invited him to sit beside me. He seems very friendly, vocal and clever. I have gotten to like his character already.

"I think his highness likes you a lot," he uttered all of a sudden, surprising me. "I have not seen him care for a woman like he cared for you today. It’s so said that you’re married to someone else."

The young king likes me a lot. His words echoed in my head severally, giving me that feeling of satisfaction. The most important thing in every marriage is for the husband to love his wife. A wife could love her husband with everyone in her but the man still gets the choice to choose between her and his mistresses.

Wait a minute! Why does the boy's face look sad? Can it be connected to his statement earlier that I am married to someone else? Funny! Who was he referring to as someone else, and why did he come up with such a statement?

"Your highness," a seemingly familiar voice called. Bracing my gaze up, I witnessed Lieutenant Edvin standing before me. Under the little light created by the lamp stand around, I could see the great smile on his face.

"Edvin!" I called back, shocked to see him. Just when I thought he was dead, here he’s alive and standing before my very eyes.

The darkness which had been covering the sky was slowly defeated by a bright sunshine, gracing a new day. And before we knew it, the ship had arrived on the shores of Sidonnia.

"We are now on the shores!" I heard one of the men on the ship announcing, others were excited as they jubilated amongst themselves.

The Kingdom of Sidonni; a very powerful kingdom blessed with several cherishable natural resources. During the previous night, Melvin had told me so many interesting stories about his land; how undefeatable the kingdom has always been whenever it comes to fights with other kingdoms; how their soil produces gold, making them one of the greatest jewelry producers within the kingdoms around them and other kingdoms far beyond.

Getting off the ship, I was greeted with the sight of some guards already awaiting our arrival. Along with them are horses and a traveling carriage. I believe the carriage is for conveying the king and I to the palace.

"You are most welcome to your kingdom, your Majesty." The guards saluted, adopting an intriguing military style. They knelt before me with one leg, bowing their heads slightly.

They eventually stood up straight.

I couldn’t return them a clear response but managed to plaster a smile over my face. It’s so shocking how their huge number had filled up my eyes, stealing my voice away.

"Your Majesty," I saw Victoria coming up at me, her face not lacking her beautiful smile. Soon, she was close. "You

are welcome to the great land of our ancestors, your Majesty," she halted to say, personally rendering her greetings.

"Thank you, Victoria," I said, shooting her a smile.

"Please mount the carriage. We’ve to be in the palace as soon as possible." A soft voice urged me from behind. to look at who owned it and I saw the young king approaching towards me.

"Your highness," I called lightly, reserving a smile for him. His skin, especially his dark hair, glittered under the sun and I was baffled.

Once I entered the carriage, I waited for the young king to join me but he didn’t. Instead, he preferred to ride with the guards on a horse. I wasn’t offended at all. His demonstration of simplicity baffled me further.

We silently rode through the routes of the forest that was before us, before entering the villages and towns, passing several market places and other nice places. The people looked so glad to see me as they cheerfully mounted themselves at the corners of the road to extend their warm greetings.

I was glad as well. Getting to meet the faces of the people in my new place felt so overwhelming. But some of the people looked different from the crowd, and seemed to be pitying me with their glances.

Why the pity glances? Is it because I’ve married their king that everyone sees as evil and heartless? From the little I have understood about my husband, he’s far different from those attributes. I can’t believe that I was once afraid of getting married to him.

Before we could wait for time to come and go, we’ve already arrived in front of a castle, a very large castle, with several tall squares and round pillars. The young king led the way, and everyone followed him from behind.

In no time, we were now in front of a big door. Before it was opened, I had heard different incoherent noises and loud music playing behind it. Walking in with others, what I saw inside horrified my eyes with disgust; men drinking themselves down while different women were on top of their bodies, demonstrating their waists on their weights, getting them sexually aroused while the loud music played. The women are putting on dresses that make them nearly naked

At a point, I wondered why the young king was not reprimanding such a great level of immorality like every king would do. He was just silent, not saying a word to that.

"Now you’re arriving?" A shabby looking man asked in aggression, emerging out of a cluster of girls.

He's two cubits tall, moving shabbily as someone dead drunk. He might look handsome, but I hate him already.

"Forgive me, your Majesty," the young king said, bowing deeply. "A serious attack came up and the princess was nearly killed," he explained.

Wait! He addressed him with your Majesty and even bowed to him. Suddenly, I was thrown into confusion.

The man slapped him across the face, yelling sternly. "Save the pitiful excuse for yourself."

Now, I instantly felt the urge to retaliate. The man must be his uncle or a close relative, but that doesn't give him the right to be disrespectful to him in the presence of his people.

As if the man had just noticed my presence, he left the king's side, walking towards me, revealing his dirty teeth reeking of so much alcohol as he grinned.

He spread out his hands to embrace me. "Oh dear, you're most welcome to my kingdom," he lowered his voice to say.

His kingdom. How annoying the claim sounded. I got more furious. Blowing up, I slapped him across his own face, not minding.

All heads dropped as shock visited their faces. I waited for the young king to pronounce more punishment on him for attempting to hug his wife in public.

The man grabbed me by the shoulders. "Have you no fear? how dare you?" he yelled, glaring deeply into my eyes. He clenched my body so painfully that I wanted to cry.

"I am King Luther, no one has ever dared my paths and lived to tell the story." He eventually left me, looking sorry after he realized himself.

"I shall leave now, your Majesty," said the young man. He glanced at me before making his way to leave.

"Are you not King Luther, the ruler of this Kingdom?" I asked him, slowly.

The young man shook his head slightly and walked away without looking back.

Filled with shock, I completely lost balance. I was nearly falling to the ground, but Victoria caught me from behind.

"Is that true, Victoria?" I asked her as well.

She nodded and said, "He is Prince Hann, the king's younger brother."

"He is the king's brother." I spoke in a wishper, unable to hide the shock in my voice.