Ely widened her eyes in shock. Even though she knew that the King liked her, she couldn't believe that he would confess to her at that moment.
"Isn't this… Isn't this too early?! I mean-"
King Maro then let go of her chin and turned his body to the glistening sea. "I am afraid of losing you. I hate it when I think of the possibility that you might disappear as easily as you appeared in my life… I have no plans of taking a Queen if it is not you, Ely."
Ely pondered how she truly felt. She was very confused. She had felt the kindness of the King towards her, even though he was ruthless to his enemies and seemed very strict with his servants and his officers. She felt grateful to him when he believed in her when she told them that she was innocent, even though the other people around them did not. In an unknown world, Ely needed at least one person like Maro who would protect her.
But the moment Ely saw the King's moonlit face on a side view, she remembered the last day she spent with her late husband, Adam. She remembered how cool he looked on that day he died as he drove the car. His gray eyes were more beautiful than the moon. That same eyes, that same expression gave her goosebumps. She stared at the King as the glistening sea reflected in his lonely eyes.
Tears fell to her cheeks. She couldn't help but feel sorrow at the memories of her beloved Adam. Her heart ached, as she yearned for his presence. Even though she's in an unknown place, how could she forget her dear husband?
Her silence made the King turn to her. Seeing the woman he adored cry right beside him made him worried. Using his fingers, he wiped her tears off her cheeks.
"I can't…" Ely said in a soft voice. "I'm sorry, Maro… I can't be your Queen…"
As Ely sobbed, King Maro embraced her tightly to comfort her. He didn't have to think about the reason. He already knew that it was because she still could not forget her late husband.
He cursed Destiny, and questioned why the hell did she make him look like Ely's husband. Whenever they had breakfast together, perhaps Ely would remember the times when she eats with that person. Just plainly seeing Maro could refresh all her memories with him.
The King had never felt this frustrated before. He was used to getting everything he wanted. He felt that this was the biggest challenge he had accepted in his life… on how he would make Ely be willing to be his wife and forget about her husband.
It was a silent trip going back to King Maro's palace. Sitting in front of each other, the King saw the tiredness in Ely's eyes as she stared at the bright moon.
...
The next day, King Maro was relieved to see Ely's bright smile as she came in for breakfast.
"Good morning, Maro!" Ely exclaimed, then sat near him. She sniffed the fragrant seaweed soup, as well as the freshly baked pineapple cobbler. "The breakfast is always yummy."
King Maro was pleased to see her energetic, "How's your sleep?" he asked.
"Ah, it's alright," Ely felt better when she got to rest her mind last night. But then she remembered the King's confession, "By the way, Maro… sorry about last night…"
"Don't apologize. Your rejection will not change the way I feel for you. Remember that." The King carefully scooped some soup into her empty, small porcelain bowl. "I will ask you to be my Queen again next time." A subtle smile formed on his lips.
Ely thanked him for giving her soup. Although she wondered why he never asked her the reason for her rejection. Perhaps he already sensed why?
The two were having small chats about the food served during Prince Kaio's birthday feast when suddenly, Minister Holter came rushing in. "I apologize if I disturbed your breakfast, but… I have bad news."
The King raised his brow. "Minister Holter. I think that can wait after breakfast."
"But Your Highness... Some royal artifacts were stolen again in the Old Palace."
The King stood up from his seat, yelling, "WHAT?!"
"Seems like the bandits have returned," Minster Holter explained. "I've already called an emergency meeting, Your Highness. The Ministers and the Clan Leaders will arrive soon."
"I see. Then, let's go to the assembly hall…" The King wiped his mouth with the clean cloth on his table, then started walking towards the Minister. He paused by the door, then told Ely, "Follow me to the assembly hall after eating."
The assembly hall was noisy with all the combined voices of the Ministers and Clan Leaders. They talked about the Old Palace's lax security, and how it might have been neglected ever since the King had transferred his residence.
"Are you saying that it is my fault?!" King Maro angrily yelled and hit the table with his fist.
"Ah, no, my King. It will never be your fault." Minister Rowan said, "But I wonder how the bandits got past through the mercenaries…"
"Even though I changed my residence, I never said that you could lower your guard at the Old Palace. You know that there are artifacts and important documents hidden there!" The King's voice echoed in the room, and they lowered their heads, terrified. "Clan Leader Owen, as the eldest and most experienced Clan Leader, speak up. You were in charge of the security. Explain what the hell happened!"
"Your Highness. It's because Minister Anna asked us for some mercenaries for her expedition to find the lost artifacts and the Temple of Destiny, so we had to pull out some men from the Old Palace."
Minister Anna retorted, "But I never said anything about decreasing the palace guards!"
Clan Leader Owen stood from his seat and went towards Minister Anna, who was already standing, "I told you I'd get you some men in a month's time, but you were in a hurry!"
"Isn't it your fault that you didn't train enough men for combat?"
"What!? It's not my fault that you do not think about your plans before you execute them. As I thought, you cannot do your job properly. After all, you're female. What do you know about strategies?"
"Why are you..."
It was as if the two of them were unstoppable. The King got tired of hearing their senseless talks, "If you have personal issues, don't show it at this assembly meeting!" He took a wine glass and raised it up in the air. The people in front of him covered their ears, anticipating the glass-shattering noises because the King always did this whenever he would get very mad.
But before he could throw the wine glass on the floor, a pair of soft hands touched his fingers.