Agatha stepped back, stunned by Minister Quagmane's words. "What do you mean we'll marry? And in three days? Why is it so fast? No one even asked for my permission. I just found out because I was suddenly measured for a wedding gown!"
Her scream echoed around the expansive meeting hall. They were in the palace cabinet room, usually used for private meetings between the king and his ministers.
If she hadn't been so shocked by the news, she might have admired the beauty of the place. The room was neither huge nor small, filled with gold and other sparkling decorations. The curtains were plain but made of thick, expensive material. Even the wooden table between them looked remarkable, with artistic and symbolic carvings. The walls were thick to prevent anyone outside from hearing the king's conversations.
But the king wasn't here today. Only Agatha and the ministers were talking, and apparently, they had decided everything for her without her knowledge or input.
"Just be calm, Your Highness."
Her chest heaved dramatically with frustration. She couldn't breathe properly, and her heart pounded powerfully. She couldn't calm down. She was annoyed, irritated, and angry all at once.
After Liam and she talked about Eva, Aiden was eventually returned to her. They talked more that night and decided to stay there for a while.
She was still surprised to find she had not committed any crime, then suddenly there was this revelation.
"We understand it's hard for you, Princess Agatha, but we couldn't think of another way. The Water Fae Kingdom of Etherealis needs you to marry to restore life to our lands." Minister Isaac spoke, calm as he read the reports.
After Liam and Agatha talked, the ministers came to introduce themselves. She didn't want to be rude, especially as their guest, so she accepted the luncheon invitation. Like their first meeting, they wore badges on their left chests to indicate their place in society. The badge was small but contained four colors—red, blue, green, and brown—representing the Four Elemental Kingdoms of Etherealis.
Now that the Bond was united, it would be hard for Agatha to leave Liam. It would pain her physically and emotionally. But she hadn't expected this.
Minister Wilhelm cleared his throat before speaking. "It's been just two days since you accepted the Bond with the King, and look what's happened to the lake. The poison disappeared instantly, and the water became clear and fresh again. Even the fish returned from the sea."
Agatha felt guilty. The minister was right. The state of the lake and all water bodies began to improve after she bonded with Liam. She wanted to argue it was just luck, but deep down, she knew it was because of her.
Although she grew up elsewhere, as a Fae, she knew she had a deep connection to nature. She knew the Bond healed the lake, as absurd as it sounded.
"It's a dangerous time for Etherealis, Princess." It was King Daemond of the Land Kingdom, also the acting Minister of Warfare, as they hadn't found a replacement for Ksaver yet.
King Daemond wore a simple white button-down shirt and dark slacks. Without his crown, he looked oddly fatherly, but his brown royal coat revealed his social standing.
After the luncheon with the ministers and King Daemond, Liam told her everything that had happened in Etherealis while she was in hiding.
Apparently, Philippe had stolen her father's throne and was crowned King of the Water Fae Kingdom. He married Eva, but not publicly, because marrying meant coronation. Eva wouldn't become Queen if the citizens learned half the Ones wasn't inside her.
Philippe then helped Ksaver become the Minister of Warfare, and they teamed up with a Fae who went to the dark side. Wars ensued, leading to their deaths—Philippe, Ksaver, Eva, and their child.
Agatha was tempted to say she was glad they died, but for some twisted reason, she couldn't find happiness. They died not defending their sins but were remembered as the king and queen who chose the dark path, not as the murderers they truly were.
"The Fire Fae Kingdom is still recovering from Amelia's attacks. My kingdom is without a queen, and the Wind Fae Kingdom lost its king. If you don't marry the King, we will all fall together," King Daemond said directly.
Agatha cleared her throat. "I know you're guilt-tripping me."
Whatever way she looked at it, she had no choice. She had to marry Liam to save the land. The fate of everyone lay on them.
"We are not guilt-tripping you, Princess. We are simply telling you the ugly truth of our unfortunate situation," Minister Isaac said, speaking only now after hours of silence.
"We don't understand why you're so upset about this," added Quagmane. "It's not like we're pushing you to do something hideous. You just need to marry the king, who is also your Fate. If you think about it, you're already married by Quailsham norms. You both accepted the Bond, so you're now one with King Liam…"
Agatha wanted to lower her gaze because she knew the ministers had a point. But in the three times she had been with them, she realized that to earn their respect, she needed to be courageous. She couldn't show that she was crumbling under their words.
Although Agatha and Liam were already one, she still wasn't comfortable marrying in front of so many creatures.
"You're right, Minister."
Minister Isaac smiled at her words, but when she continued, his smile disappeared.
"You're right that Liam and I are one, so why do we have to marry if we've already accepted the Bond? Liam has been crowned, and the half of the Pearl Scepter is already inside me. What's the essence of marriage?"
Minister Quagmane, as if tired of listening, responded, "I don't mean to be rude, but let me remind you that neither you nor the King are Full Blood Water Fae."
Minister Wilhelm added, "Do you know how frightening it is to be ruled by someone who is not of our kind?" His voice was calm, but there was something different in his eyes.
"It makes the citizens question things. It makes them feel unprotected and fearful. And from that fear springs confusion, leading to bad decisions. Then, before we know it, chaos will rise, and we will be forced to fight for our lives, our bloodline, and our freedom."
"I'm sure you know this already," he pressed on. "Because you've experienced firsthand the pain of the Blue Bloods when they learned the next Queen was a Nymph."
Agatha's hands fisted.
"To avoid this, we need to make the Water Faes feel valued. And to do that, we need to honor their culture and beliefs, which includes you marrying the King in front of them all."
Agatha never expected to worry about marriage. Not where their next meal would come from, where they would sleep, or where they should hide.
The problem seemed so petty compared to those she once had. Despite that, it was still a problem.
Every time she thought about marrying before the citizens, her heart began to pound. She felt chills, and she couldn't think rationally.
Her mind raced, making her anxious. "What if at that very moment, something happens? What if I'm not really the Queen the citizens want and need? What if in the middle of the event, one of Liam's women shows up and stops us? What if Liam doesn't appear, and I'm left alone at the altar?"
Agatha could feel that Liam liked her. But was it enough to marry her in front of everyone? In front of his family? What if he realized she wasn't the right Queen for him?
It wasn't that she was selling herself short. She knew Liam deserved someone who could be as good a ruler as he was. She should complement him, not be someone who was selfish and only thinking of saving her remaining family.
Liam deserved someone courageous and brave, not someone like Agatha, who spent most of her life hiding.
She had never once had the guts to return to Etherealis and demand justice. She just hid like a true criminal.
Liam deserved someone intelligent and witty to be his Queen, not someone like her who didn't realize she was being fooled. Eva didn't actually die by her hands, and she wasn't guilty at all.
Liam deserved the best.
"Was it that bad?"
Agatha jumped to her feet at Liam's sudden voice.
He was a few feet away from the chair she sat on near her bed.
It had been an hour since the meeting ended, but she was still thinking about everything they had discussed with the ministers.
"I know you own this palace," Agatha began. "But can you please knock before you enter my room?"
She masked her nervousness with irritation while trying to calm her heart, which was wreaking havoc inside her chest because of Liam's closeness.
Since their Bond united, they hadn't had the chance to spend much time together. Liam became busy helping the thieves who had stolen the Justice Book.
Even Leonel she couldn't see. She spent most of her time learning about the Constitution so Liam wouldn't be ashamed.
Even Aiden had his own reading tutor, so they studied together.
Agatha struggled to understand everything related to statecraft since she had never had formal education.
She was homeschooled until her parents died. Then Auntie Isa helped her with the fundamentals when they were still at Elderwood.
"Well, I did actually knock three times. But you didn't answer, so I decided to enter." Liam shrugged. He continued walking and sat beside her. "Was the meeting that bad to make you space out this long and deep?"
Her stomach flipped. Her anxiety returned with a bang. Her mind raced.
"Where's Aiden? It's our schedule to study. I'm sorry, but I need to go."
Agatha panicked, so instead of answering, she tried to escape. She ran as she had always done. But this time, she didn't manage to get away. Liam's elegant arms immediately enveloped her waist.
"Not so fast, Aggie."
She felt his breath on her cheeks, making her panic even more.
"I still have a lot to do, Liam," Agatha argued. "And I know you do too."
She tried to escape again but to no avail. His grip was strong, yet oddly enough, she did not feel hurt.
"Are you avoiding me?"
Agatha felt the low tone in Liam's voice. This made it even harder for her to face him.
"What?" Agatha stammered. "Of course not. I just really have so many things to do. We're still adjusting. This palace is different—the inhabitants, the food, the culture…"
Liam still didn't release her. "Can I do something to ease your burden? Tell me what I can do to make it better."
Agatha looked away. She knew what she wanted Liam to do. She needed him to assure her that everything would be alright, that her fears wouldn't come true. She wanted him to tell her that they could face it together and that no matter what happened at the altar, he would choose their Fate Bond and stay with her. But she couldn't ask him for that.
She wanted him to have the freedom to choose because she knew the feeling of not having that power.
So, even though she badly needed him to reassure her, she wouldn't ask him to do it.
If he truly wanted their union to last, he would do it without her prompting.
"I'm fine," said Agatha. "It's nothing I can't handle. And you still don't have any leads on the thieves. You should focus your time on that instead."
"Agatha, you and Aiden are part of my priority. The sake of the citizens is important, yes, but I'm not too busy to help you or talk to you. I will always find time for those I dearly love."
She visibly stiffened. Liam noticed and looked into her eyes. He was holding back, masking his expression, so she wasn't sure if she had heard him right.
Instead of looking back at his expressionless eyes, Agatha stared at the carpeted floor. The delicate designs of colorful flowers against the red background suddenly seemed very interesting.
Aside from the suppressed breath, the whole area was silent. She wished the servants would suddenly appear.
"You don't have to say it back, and don't feel guilty if you don't feel the same," Liam said gently. "I totally understand."
In her peripheral vision, she saw Liam lower his gaze. Since his eyes were no longer on her, she felt confident enough to look back at him.
He was handsome, as always. His messy blond hair pulled into a low bun made him look ravishingly manly. His eyes, nose, and lips made her want to inch a little closer.
"I know it's only been months since we met, and I understand that. But that's how I feel."
Agatha asked, "Did you know we'd be married three years from now?" she blurted out.
"Yes," Liam answered. "Was that the topic of the meeting?"
"How long have you known?"
Liam stared at her for a few seconds. "Since I realized you are my Fate. I knew that once the ministers learned about this, they would arrange it as soon as possible. Like what they did to Ludwig."
Agatha massaged her temples. "We're getting married in three days."
Liam's eyes narrowed. "Are you against it?"
Agatha couldn't find an answer.
"In Quailsham norms, we're already married, Aggie. This is just a public appearance for the citizens, so you don't have to be frightened. And besides, I'll be there beside you all the way through."
His gaze softened when he saw the fear in her eyes. He added, "I know you still don't trust me, but I will never do anything to hurt you. Yes, this marriage won't magically solve every problem we have, but it will help heal our land. So please, reconsider it. But don't feel pressured. I'll talk with the ministers to give you more time to think. I know you grew up away from here, so you're not yet familiar with its culture, especially this marriage."
Agatha absentmindedly nodded.
"So…" Liam asked. "Is it okay for us to marry?" He scratched his nape and sighed. "I actually want it to happen, Aggie. And not just because it's our tradition."
Agatha cleared her throat when she saw the sparkles in his eyes.
"By marrying you in public, everyone will know you're mine and I'm exclusively yours."
After their talk, Liam gave her time to think alone. He wanted her to consider his proposal, so he didn't show up again right away.
He was planning to continue the investigation when Alexa suddenly entered his study room without knocking.
"You've just returned, Alexa, and now you're leaving again. You need to rest."
Alexa crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "You've been saying that for hours, Liam, and my answer is firm. I've already rested. Besides, Ludwig and I have discussed it."
"And he agreed?" Liam asked, running a hand through his hair.
Alexa nodded.
"But it's too dangerous out there, Alexa," Liam said seriously. "Why do you have to leave?"
Alexa sighed, her patience breaking. "Are you not listening? I need to study magic at Elderwood. I'm a witch, if that isn't obvious, but I don't know many spells beyond what's in my spell books, which are very limited."
"Still, you don't need to leave to learn," Liam argued, leaning against his seat. "If you really want to learn, we can hire a tutor to come here. Like what Louise is doing."
"I said no. You don't understand, Liam. Witches learn through entering a coven. We can't transport a coven to Fortunalia just because I want to study."
Liam gaped at Alexa in disbelief. "A coven? Are you going away for good?"
"Don't worry, I'll come back during my breaks," she said. "Besides, it won't take that long. Just around four years."
Liam couldn't speak, so Alexa moved closer.
"Liam, please understand that this is very important to me. Although they call me Lady Alexa of Fire Fae, I am still Alexa, a cursed witch. I need to do this for myself."
"Is this really what you want?" Liam managed to ask.
Alexa nodded confidently, a sweet smile on her lips.
After a long stretch of silence, Liam decided. "Alright, then don't you dare harm yourself. If you get hurt, forget I even let you do this. I'll drag you back to Fortunalia with my own hands, whether you like it or not."
Alexa laughed and shook her head. Then, she hugged her cousin.
"Ludwig and Hiyasmin said the same thing," she whispered.
After their brief conversation, Alexa immediately departed to inform Leonel personally. However, she wouldn't leave until after Liam's wedding with Agatha. She was excited about it and couldn't wait to tell her acquaintances.
"South, four and counting."
It was Mingway as he headed towards the forest. They only had eight guards with them, but reinforcements would arrive soon.
They weren't certain how many members of the group had stolen the Justice Book and spread rumors about Liam's mother to remove him from the throne.
Their plan was to wait at the outskirts of the town for backup, but when they sensed the group's movement to escape, they had no choice but to seize the opportunity. Although they were few, they had to act.
The sun was setting when they finally entered the forest. It was quiet, cold, and dark. Liam heard nothing, not even the rustle of animals, which was peculiar.
He signaled the guards to encircle the targets: two in the south, two in the north, and two each in the west and east. Mingway and he would stay at the back to chase them if necessary.
They couldn't see the targets, but they could feel them, confirming they were Water Faes.
They needed the Justice Book back before the ministers learned it was missing. If that happened, it would create chaos.
The book was important, and the ministers would do anything to retrieve it, even wage war against the townsfolk.
As a king, Liam couldn't let that happen. The entire citizenry shouldn't pay for a group's crime. He needed to act fast and resolve this quickly.
They were in the middle of the forest when they heard the groans of their knights. Liam immediately flew to where the noises were coming from but stopped when he saw something else.
Instead of their knights writhing in pain as their screams implied, Liam saw more than fifty of them in a clearing. With them were the knights that Mingway and Liam had brought along.
Distracted and confused by the sudden commotion, Liam didn't notice the swift arrow heading toward him. It struck his waist, followed by a few more that buried themselves in different parts of his body.
His arms lost their strength, and he suddenly descended to the ground. He knelt as pain emerged all over his body.
The last thing he saw was Mingway smiling at him before his vision blurred and darkness enveloped him.