"That's fine. But why are you wearing this dress? Aren't we just there to investigate Scarka's current state?" said Sir Damian.
"You'll know the reason when we get to Scarka. I can't tell you the exact reason for now." Rowena immediately got into the horse carriage that was already right in front of her.
As usual Rowena sat side by side with Sir Damian, her brother, while Sir Cedric and Prince Helios sat right in front of them. It only took five hours from Valeccio Palace to get to Scarka. Arriving at Scarka, the four of them were immediately greeted by the guards guarding Scarka's palace.
The four of them were ushered into a very luxurious room filled with antiques. In the room there was already King Scarka who was sitting on his throne while looking at Rowena who looked very beautiful in her dress. Sir Damian, who was annoyed when he realized that King Scarka was constantly looking at his beloved sister, tried to cover Rowena so that the King wouldn't see her.
Not according to Helios' previous estimation, it turned out that the current King Scarka was still very young. He had a handsome face, dark blue hair, and emerald green irises. Suddenly Helios became worried that Rowena would fall in love with King Scarka because of his good looks.
Rowena bowed gracefully in greeting to the Scarka King. Rowena's etiquette is truly extraordinary. Even though she was no longer using the etiquette she had learned as a princess for the past few years.
"Welcome, Crown Prince Helios Edmond la Sunverro. I am very happy to hear you say that you will come to my Kingdom to establish relations between kingdoms," said King Scarka.
"Of course. I am also very pleased that you have accepted our arrival so graciously. As a gift of our first meeting and fellowship, I will present to you the only sister of Marquess Squella, who is one of my most cherished subordinates, to become your concubine," said Helios.
Sir Cedric immediately glared at Prince Helios in surprise at that statement, while Sir Damian who was no less surprised also shouted without a sound.
"What do you mean, Helios?" asked Sir Damian with a tone full of emphasis and immediately said the name of Prince Helios without any frills said the Prince in front of him.
Rowena whose body was covered immediately stepped forward about fifteen feet from King Scarka's throne. Rowena bowed again and greeted the Scarka King. "May you always be blessed by the gods, Your Majesty. I am Cleatin Marcella von Squella, the only sister of the current Marquess Squella."
King Scarka rose from his throne and walked over to Rowena who was disguised as Cleatin. He lifted Rowena's chin gently so that she could see Rowena's face more clearly.
"Wow, the present you have given me is very beautiful, Prince Helios," said King Scarka after looking at Rowena's face with admiration.
Helios, whose emotions had peaked, tried to adjust his facial expression into a smile so as not to look suspicious in front of King Scarka. "As a gift to tie our brotherhood, I should have prepared the best of the best."
"You should know why I didn't get married until now, right?" said King Scarka to Rowena.
Rowena looked at King Scarka's emerald eyes seriously and smiled. "You want a generous wife so you can share her husband with other women who also want to satisfy her husband's lust, right? I am a woman who perfectly fulfills those requirements. Even I myself will find beautiful and young women to serve you."
The Scarka King laughed very loudly. He seemed very satisfied with Rowena's words. "Good. You really are a very unique woman. From now on you are my first concubine. Remember to keep your word, otherwise you yourself will know the consequences."
Rowena bowed again for the umpteenth time. "I am very grateful for your kindness. I will keep my word and carry out my role as your wife well."
King Scarka immediately called his secretary to escort Rowena to her room. The conversation between Helios and King Scarka continued. After the sky was getting dark, Helios decided to stay at one of the cheap inns in Scarka so that his movements would not be too monitored by some members of the Scarka government who were suspicious of his arrival to Scarka this time.
Arriving at Sir Damian's inn room, he immediately pulled the collar of Prince Helios' shirt. He didn't care anymore if he had to be punished for having injured a member of the imperial family or whatever. What he wanted now was for Helios to immediately tell him why he gave up his beloved sister, Rowena, to the greedy and sexist King Scarka.
"What do you mean by giving Rowena as the concubine of that sex-villain King, damn Helios?" asked Sir Damian whose temper had exploded now.
Helios struggled to free Sir Damian's fingers which were gripping his collar tightly. "Let go of your grip first and calm yourself, then I will explain everything."
Sir Damian released his grip and sat down on the chair in the room. He was trying his best to cool his head at this point. "Now try to explain what do you mean by handing Rowena over to King Scarka? You even gave her as a concubine not as empress or as a dancer like you did back in Valeccio."
The situation between them suddenly turned cold and silent. Sir Cedric did not utter a word from his mouth. He had only been listening to the conversation between Sir Damian and Prince Helios all along.
"Me presenting Rowena as King Scarka's concubine is part of a strategy designed by Rowena to subdue Scarka. Of course at first I also didn't agree with this crazy strategy. But Rowena kept persuading me and explaining that she would take good care of herself while running this strategy," Prince Helios said as he lowered his head.
Then he began to explain the crazy strategy he had discussed with Rowena a few days ago to Sir Cedric and Sir Damian. The two men who heard Helios' story could only be shocked and couldn't believe it. In general, Rowena's strategy is indeed very good and very neat and smart.
However, this strategy is actually very dangerous for Rowena. Now all they can do is try to pray to God for Rowena's safety and still believe that Rowena will succeed in carrying out her strategy as before.
After finishing explaining, Sir Damian and Sir Cedric returned to their respective rooms. Prince Helios walked to the window in his room while looking at the night sky full of beautiful stars scattered.
"What are you doing now, Rowena? I missed you so much," he murmured in the void now.