The Alliance Marriage Went Wrong

"I've heard many rumors about you, Your Majesty," Cillian Mareyi said to the Queen with a calm smile on his face. "His Majesty also tells me a lot and I'm glad that I finally get to meet you."

"I also heard about you," Iria promptly said. "I even wonder why I only meet such an important person now while I've been here more than half a year."

Arin's mood was also lifted again when he saw the look on the Magistrate's face.

His wife was sure good at posing a hard question for the civil and military officials!

Magistrate Cillian struggled to answer the Queen. Maybe because he didn't have a valid excuse but... it made him realize one thing.

The young Queen appeared calm and gentle but... she was intelligent. Certainly not one to mess with!

What did he even expect? She was the former Masked Commander for god's sake!

"I apologize, Your Majesty. I think I was too invested in my work in the Zeon Province," he finally said to the Queen and added, "I rarely leave the Zeon Province during the past years."

"So you're a workaholic," Iria remarked with a smile. "Just like His Majesty."

The amusement that Arin Helev felt just a while ago was replaced by frustration!

She was so vengeful but... he didn't say anything and told himself to endure. If things get worse, he might really end up as a third wheel while it was supposed to be his younger brother!

When he talked about sending back Morin before, he was simply joking but... now he believed that he really should send back Morin to the Southern Palace!

Cillian Mareyi chuckled and shook his head when he heard the Queen. "My work is nothing compared to His Majesty's work, My Queen. I only watch over a small province while His Majesty is responsible for the whole kingdom."

The Magistrate briefly glanced at the King who was pretty quiet now and it somehow amused him.

It's not every day that he could see the powerful King that way!

Love sure was powerful.

"My brother rarely comes home, Your Majesty," Vienna Lorin chimed in. "This is my first time seeing him again in more than a year. The last was at my marriage ceremony."

Iria Helev raised a brow when she heard her friend.

It's not like they were at different kingdoms but... more than a year?

Though she and Orius were many miles apart, they still visited each other often.

Was there another reason? Or maybe Cillian Mareyi was just that kind of person.

No matter what, it's still strange considering the fact that the Magistrate was the heir of the Mareyi family, the most powerful noble family in Qalagon.

Soon, they all took their seats and chat for a while. Then Magistrate Cillian stayed behind for dinner while the King and Queen left.

*

The moment they stepped out of the chamber, Arin Helev glanced around and turned to Iria. "It seems like you come here alone. Why didn't you bring any guards?"

"It's not far and I was in a hurry," Iria promptly replied, making Arin sigh.

"I should remind Elian of his job. How can he let you leave alone?"

"Morin is visiting the Royal Army camp and I told Elian to escort him there with some other guards," Iria explained. "It's not Elian's fault. Don't blame him."

"You sure know how to make me worry," the King said as he shook his head.

Nevertheless, Iria smiled and grabbed his arm. "Let's go, Your Majesty. I have some news for you."

He can't even walk properly as she was practically pulling him. However, this still made Arin smile.

It seemed like she was slowly starting to get better. Her lively side was back.

*

The King and Queen rode their horses back to the palace with some guards that the King brought with him. Soon enough, the two were in the main chamber, sitting on the couch together.

"So... what is the news that you talk about?" Arin asked Iria as he turned to her with curiosity.

"It's about the guest from Jerivia," Iria started. "Jerivia has a new King and... our current guest is the one."

Iria observed her husband's expression and just as expected, the King's eyes grew wide in shock!

"The General becomes the new King?! What about Athena?"

"I heard that she refused to rule despite the pleas of the official," Iria told Arin. "She left Jerivia but she is not at Nathania either. The new King said that he doesn't know her whereabouts."

Arin Helev recalled the last time Athena came to meet Morin and the former Queen. Even at that time, he found Athena strange. Her life appeared so dull and she was nothing like the confident and capable Princess of Nathania whom he once know.

"At least for the sake of Morin, I think I should look for her," he said to Iria. "I'm sure that her father will be against her decision to step down. That means she won't want to go to Nathania. If Morin hears this, he will be very worried."

Iria nodded. "If we manage to find her, why don't we ask her to live here in Qalagon?" she suggested and muttered, "Though I'm not sure if she will be willing to see me or even hear me out."

"We can do that," Arin Helev promptly said with a smile. "You should stop having negative thoughts, my love. It doesn't suit you at all."

"Do you really mean that?" the Queen asked, giving him a doubtful look. "I think you are only kissing up to me so that I won't do what I said in the Lorin family mansion."

"You know that I was only joking around there," Arin Helev promptly said, making Iria laugh.

"But I'm serious," she insisted. "You're not the only one loving games, My King. Besides, how could you even joke about sending back Morin? Be it a joke or not, I will never allow that."

Staring at his wife, the King sighed. "I really start to think that you love Morin more than me now."

The Queen chuckled at his words.

He really think that way?

How childish!