Alexander opened the door of his spouse's room and gently placed her in bed, as she was sleeping peacefully as they managed to go back to their palace. He asked his helper a favor to grab some pillows and give them to him. He placed the pillows lengthwise and piled them, carefully placing her feet above the fluffy pillow that her legs elevated above her heart.
Admiring her while she was in deep sleep, looking innocent and defenseless, Alexander leaned closer and pressed his lips on her forehead.
"Goodnight, my wife." he muttered and left her room.
He decides that they won't share a room because after they had a first meeting, he is curious about her, wants to know more deeply, and taking slow things. He used to be in a rush, waiting patiently does not exist in his vocabulary and when he wants something, he would get it no matter what it takes with his own hands.
"Queen Kateleryn, if you hear my words while you're here as I can't see you or feel your soul, I promise I'll do anything to protect you and my family is still upset at your loss."
He said to himself while walking, as he remembered that Yukie agreed to let Alexander take over the Peony Flower Farm, she'll need to go to Lueur City to process documents and sign papers.
Her mother's will wrote that the garden farm she started when she was alive would pass to her first child which is Yukie and King Harry had no right to take that place not until Yukie was dead. And if that happens it'll pass to her sister which is Sophia Lynn. Alexander holding a grudge against his father-in-law is still a mystery and he'll do anything for it when he has a secret plan that is buried in his heart and mind. What Alexander makes him curious the most is why King Harry let Yukie use her as their sacrificial pawn when their Kingdom is in the pinch?
That's why he and his secretary, Angelica, dug into the information about his wife and her family background and life. Surprised that she rather choose to be a community worker than live a luxurious life and start her career in monarchy when he finds out that she is the daughter of Queen Kateleryn he highly respects her a lot. If he met Yukie back in his younger days, maybe he'd choose to marry her instead of his original plan of marrying her younger sister. The picture he found about Yukie before meeting her personally is completely different compared to the present, assuming that she's in her younger days.
Before Alexander went back to his room, he decided to visit the other room near his bedroom. He opened the door and saw a woman lying in her bed, eyes closed while her mouth had a tubular mouth-piece connected to the oxygen tank, his eyes weakened as he saw his mother, sleeping peacefully in her bed and he always stayed at her side, no matter what and he will do whatever it takes to see his mother smile again. He is not ready to tell Yukie about this secret. He gave an order to his workers and employees to keep their mouths shut about his mother's condition.
It'll be a big scandal when the health condition of his mother spreads like wildfire if the royal members discover his secret. Only King Gregor and Queen Delphinium know this and they prefer to seal their mouths tightly.
"Mother, it is me, your son. I came here to visit you while you're resting peacefully." Alexander said with a sad tone, he held her hand while looking at her.
"My wedding went success, I married the right woman and she was crowned as a queen, just like how you wished it to me when you left a letter before you went like this. I am sorry if I fail to protect you."
Then he broke tears and let them fall, as his throat closed up. He only cries to his parents, his father died after a war between Derora and Angguis.
"I blame myself for not being the strongest warrior. And if I did, Father would be alive and you wouldn't suffer like this, I am truly sorry, I feel useless and weak, my title and power are nothing cause the person who gave me life is not here by my side."
Remembering his past gives him real trauma and he makes an oath to himself that he'll throw away his past and change his life, as he chooses to be a strict, cold, and black-hearted person. He keeps venting and ranting.
"I blame King Harry for this too, mother, I abhor him so much. Why he is still here? My primary plan was to marry his daughter who doted on her so much named Sophia Lynn and suffer for her and give her life a hell, that's what I wanted to do, to mess his life up using his beloved daughter and crush them with my own hands."
Alexander said with pure loathe and grudge as he dropped a bomb even its very useless cause his mother wouldn't understand him.
"And when King Harry suggests me to marry his eldest daughter instead who keep ignoring her. I am curious about her as he shows no sympathy and care to her compared to Sophia Lynn. But I felt an enchanting feeling when we met at your favorite place Mother, the Peony Flower Farm. I felt different when I met her."
He instantly smiles as he remembers Yukie, his wife whom he cares about the most.
"I do not know Mother but my original plan about Yukie of why would I agree to marry her also vanished in thin air when we exchanged a conversation. I instantly forgot to use her according to my plan. Now, Mother, I badly want to protect and defend her, I do not know why but I felt like Yukie will be in danger someday and I will do anything to save her cause I do not want to end up like you and Father."
Alexander keeps talking and talking while his mother is in a very deep sleeping state. Alexander's life is a pure mystery, not everyone knows his real story even someone knows a secret like his mother's condition.
****************
Yukie is awake and finds herself wearing a purple silk cloth sleeping gown. She was surprised and doesn't remember changing her clothes. She racked her brain, forcing herself to recall what happened last night.
A loud hiss escaped from her lips as she moved her feet, realizing her ankle was suffering a sprain.
"Good Morning, your Majesty."
She saw a woman wearing a maid uniform, dark copper blonde medium-length hair, and a mole on the right side of the eyes, she looked familiar to her, and Yukie was surprised to see this maid.
"Vivian?! Is that you?" Says while waiting for her confirmation.
The woman was happy and shocked cause she finally remembered her.
"I know you are now a queen, but yes it's me, Professor Yukie. And I am the one who changed your dress ordered from a King last night"
Her first-ever student when she opened the learning center, was Vivian Emmanuel.
Yukie opened her arms while she was happy and Vivian knew this, but she was too shy to respond which made Yukie's plump lips stick out and puffed her chubby cheeks.
"Oh come on, let me hug you, Vivian, I did really miss my former students too and I am a queen here, you should obey me." Yukie jokingly said when she was in the QUEEN mode.
Vivian is secretly happy and instantly hugs Yukie.
"I did miss you, your Majesty. I am thankful that I got a free education and study with you cause I know how to read, write, use mathematics, understand science, use money, and understand society. Even I am just a maid here in King Alexander's palace."
"Hey, it's fine, okay? A maid, a teacher, a butler, a gardener, a soldier, or working in politics is fine for me. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I am just glad that my students are now living a normal life. That's what matters to me."
Yukie reassures her former student Vivian and they exchange conversations about their lives. Yukie found out that after Vivian graduated back in her adolescent days, she tried to apply at the Arison's Palace and got hired yet she was forced to leave her hometown and live in Adkins. She has worked at the Palace for almost two years.
"You know your Majesty, I am grateful that you're here. Cause aside you are my former teacher, King Alexander has slowly changed his behavior."
Yukie just stare at Vivian, the young maid thinks she is glaring at her thus she panic and stutter.
"I-I a-am s-sorry, Y-your M-majesty! I did n-not m-mean to s-speak i-ill at His Majesty."
Yukie realizes she is scaring her when she becomes expressionless and she is not mad and upset at her words.
"I am sorry Vivian, I did not mean to scare and get mad at you. I am just surprised to receive this information but seeing your reactions while telling a story with my husband, I am more curious about him actually."
Vivian wasn't sure if she would tell this to Yukie but she completely remembered the order came from the King of Adkins, and she decided to say an indirect message.
"Your Majesty, King Alexander is a scary man, but I believe he is not a bad person. And a mysterious man."
She ended her message then she grabbed the damp cloth, washbowl, and a jug. Before she left the room, she added.
"Your Majesty, King Alexander ordered me to bathe you since your ankle is not in the best condition, and always ask you before doing my job, so are there any cosmetics and bath essentials you dislike or getting discomfort by, Queen Yukie?"
Yukie is not getting used to someone washing her body and hair but her spouse is very thoughtful and caring with a little bit of strictness.
"I prefer to use body wash than soap. Do not add castor oil when you're washing my hair, it has an adverse reaction. For body and face scrub, a simple clay, coffee grounds, and honey would work on my skin. Essential oils are I had a bottle of peony perfume oil hiding at the dresser, please get that for me."
She gave an order to Vivian and followed every word she said.
***************************************
"What? What do you mean by this?! That place belongs to us! And it came from my wife! There is no way she easily gave that flower farm to her spouse! She was completely changed when she became a Queen of Adkins!"
King Harry exclaims as he explodes in anger, receiving a letter from Alexander delivered by Angelica about the Peony Flower Farm ownership being given by her spouse instead of her own father.
"Your Majesty, I hereby apologize to hear this and I am willing to help you, as your future son-in-law and wife of her highness."
Viktor humbly said as he kneeled in front of the King of Derora.
"We should be careful and smart about our strategy and plan, Viktor. I hate losing and failing. My plan for Yukie to become a sacrificial pawn in our kingdom is a huge catastrophe for me since I won't expect that she'll get the crown as a queen."
King Harry said as pressed his temples, trying to control his temper as he was stressed by the news plus shaming his beloved young daughter Sophia Lynn.
Viktor finds it suspicious that King Alexander's mother and former queen of Adkins, Queen Briana Arison which her presence was not around after the war between Derora and Angguis.
"Your Majesty, I do not mean to pry but where is Queen Briana? The Mother of King Alexander?"
"She is retired and wants to live outside of Adkins, since her husband, King Zeus passed away and left the Kingdom's duties and responsibility to that cruel brat. But what shall I do? He is more powerful than me, even his father is not around."
When Viktor hears that statement, his suspicion of Alexander grows, and he does not believe it.
"Your Majesty, I am sorry to say this, but I guess the news about Queen Briana does not exist after all. Do you think it is very shady that his mother won't show up for 12 years straight? And the will of his family? I think there is a deep meaning behind that."
King Harry paused for a while as he heard about Viktor's theory and hypothesis. Now that he thinks about it and trying to consider it, it is very suspicious. Viktor saw King Harry's expression and he was very satisfied with his expression, as his lip curled into a sinister smirk.
"And Your Majesty, I mean, Father, I heard a dark secret about King Alexander. I mean this is not proven yet but what I received news about him, was"
The prince leaned forward and whispered a word to King Harry's ears, which his eyes bulged but he grinned evilly. An idea pops into his mind.
"Prince Viktor, as a future king in Derora, I gave you the order to find dirt and stains about King Alexander and use that as our trump card. With that, we can overpower him and Yukie will experience a huge downfall, knowing her place that she is a worthless woman."
Viktor does a curtsy bow as his silver long hair gives him an elegant look, his looks are enough to charm people as his purple orbs glisten, it excites him to do this evil plan.
"Your wish is my command, your Majesty." With an evil grin and mischievous looks.