The next day, they all prepared to continue their journey to the Old Palace. They traveled for around five hours, then finally arrived at the city where it was located.
The city of Leoniva was a city with cobblestoned roads. It was a lively city wherein several different merchant stalls could be seen. Because of King Maro's strict guidance and frightening reputation, nobody dared to spark riots and disturbance… until the bandits came to steal the artifacts.
The city folks started talking about the sudden arrival of the King.
"Isn't that the King's carriage?"
"Usually, he's here on a horse, so why is he in a carriage today?"
"Look! Is that a woman?"
"Is she the rumored foreigner Queen that the King fancies?"
"Maybe… They're even sitting beside each other!"
Ely felt a little closer to the King after that one night that they slept in the same tent. She realized that she could lower her guard around him.
Then, she peeked through the carriage window and saw the curious faces of the people. She waved at them, just like she waved at the crowd on her concerts back in her world. Her pretty smile made them smile, too, but when the King showed his serious face before them, they quickly bowed.
"What are you doing, Ely?" He asked her.
Ely responded, giggling, "Aren't Queens supposed to wave to the people?"
King Maro sighed. He didn't know what kind of culture her country had, so he explained, "I am the King of this nation, and those people show their respect by bowing and not meeting my eyes."
"Eh? But… that's kind of lonely," she uttered. She thought that if she was a real Queen, she would definitely interact with her people.
"I don't expect you to understand… you came from a different place, after all."
The horses suddenly stopped moving.
King Maro peeked through the window to see what happened. He asked General Lum, who was just beside his window. "What happened?"
"A riot…"
"I'm going out." King Maro said, even though General Lum told him that it was dangerous. After telling Ely to stay inside, he stepped out of the carriage and approached the rioting people.
These people met the King eye to eye, as if challenging him. Although General Lum ordered the guards to apprehend them, the King stopped them and waited for them to speak. An old man said, "If you are really our King, why do you let us suffer?!"
King Maro just stared at them in a serious expression.
Seeing that the King had not reacted, one of the younger ones added, "Your Highness… You have to do something with the increasing number of missing young women and children…"
A desperate lady clutched the King's robe and yelled, "Please, your Highness! Please bring my daughter back! She's only eight-"
General Lum quickly got down from his horse, sheathed his sword, and pointed at her, "Hands off."
"Ah… I'm sorry…" the lady then bowed to him, her face almost kissing the ground, "Please help us!"
"PLEASE HELP US!" the rioters pleaded as they all bowed, too.
King Maro had not uttered any word to them at all and just stood there, staring. Instead, he returned to the carriage. He told General Lum and the others to proceed to the Old Castle.
As the carriage moved forward, Ely asked the King, whose face seemed disturbed, "Maro, what happened?"
"Someone dared to disrupt the peace in my nation. Do you know what that means, Ely?"
She shook her head.
He clenched his fist in anger. "Whoever that person is… He shall pay with his head."
Ely stared silently at him. She had known that the man beside him was known for his ruthless nature, but she was still worried about him. "Maro… Don't overwork, okay?"
When Ely held his hand, King Maro showed a more relaxed expression, then a subtle smile formed on his lips. Soon after, they arrived at the Old Palace.
The Old Palace was different from King Maro's and Prince Kaio's Palace; there was no beach anywhere, but because it was situated on a higher slope, the whole city of Leoniva could be seen.
Ely was stunned by the Palace's beauty. She felt like she was Jazmine from the animated film, Alaqqin when she saw the architecture. In its exterior, plates of gold and pieces of ruby were lined up on the wall's borders, while the interior of the palace was dominant with sparkling gold and polished feldspar, and the hallway was equipped with a long, red carpet welcoming them.
"Your Highness, welcome back," an old, thin man wearing a monocle on his left eye hurriedly approached them, then bowed at him.
"Historian Vernon. Shall we go to the Artifact Room?" King Maro asked.
But he glanced at Ely, unsure if she would let her inside the exclusive room.
The King noticed this, so he held Ely's hand. "This is Elizabeth of the Berry Clan. My future wife and the future Queen."
Ely blushed. She already knew that the King had a tendency to do this, but everytime he did it, it would always catch her off guard!
"Oh dear, I apologize for my rudeness!" the historian also bowed down to her. He fixed his monocle, then stepped ahead of them. "Please come with me to the Artifact Room."