Vol.0 Ch.127 Have You Heard about the Marriage Proposal?


    <span ss="aiText">Meanwhile, at the Maldura Royal <span ss="editText">P<span ss="aiText">ce.


    <span ss="aiText">Queen Rianna was in a garden having tea with her guest<span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"It seems my daughter has made a friend. I hope she makes a good friend out of him," <span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">aid <span ss="editText">Countess Alexandria <span ss="userText">Ingham<span ss="aiText"> with a smile.


    <span ss="aiText">The Countess and <span ss="editText">the Marchioness of Berger had invited the Queen<span ss="aiText"> for afternoon tea and Rianna agreed to meet them in the pce garden.


    <span ss="aiText">Alexandria had short blonde hair and brown eyes. She wore a green dress and was in her mid<span ss="editText">-<span ss="aiText">thirties.


    <span ss="aiText">The Marchioness of Berger was wearing a ck and white dress and was a few years older than the Count<span ss="userText">ess.


    <span ss="userText">"Hmm. That''s good that she is fairing well in the <span ss="editText">R<span ss="userText">oyal <span ss="editText">Tairal A<span ss="userText">cad<span ss="editText">e<span ss="userText">my. So, Queen Rianna, how has your son<span ss="aiText"> been doing? I h<span ss="editText">aven''t heard much but I know boys can<span ss="aiText"> be quite a handful," <span ss="editText">Marchioness Isabell<span ss="aiText">a said as she took a sip of her tea.


    <span ss="aiText">Queen Rianna looked off into the distance as she replied, "It''s been <span ss="editText">surprisingly easy so far<span ss="aiText">. He''s quite well-behaved. I d<span ss="editText">id<span ss="aiText">n''t <span ss="editText">know what to expect but <span ss="userText">I <span ss="editText">wasn''<span ss="userText">t going to nitpick<span ss="aiText"> him <span ss="editText">if he was a<span ss="aiText"> spoiled brat. He seems to be a happy baby and my people love him so far."


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Stop it, my Queen. After everything you have been through. You deserve the perfect child<span ss="aiText">. And if he''s the way you''re saying. Then there is no doubt that you <span ss="editText">gave birth to the next greatest king of Fiafyr<span ss="aiText">," Countess <span ss="editText">Alexandria<span ss="aiText"> said as she smiled at the Queen.


    <span ss="aiText">Queen Rianna gave the countess a sad look as she recalled the events that had happened<span ss="userText"> to her. All her unborn children that she never had the chance to<span ss="aiText"> see or hold.<span ss="editText"> All the hardships, all the whispers behind her back of being a failure of a wife and Queen<span ss="userText">. Ity heavily on her soul until Quinus was born. Now she gets nothing but praise<span ss="aiText"> from the citizens and nobles. She would be lying to herself if she said she didn''t enjoy it.<span ss="editText"> But a part of h<span ss="aiText">er <span ss="aiText">fe<span ss="editText">l<span ss="aiText">t <span ss="editText">that their kind words came easier from them in order to<span ss="aiText"> make themselves feel better<span ss="editText"> after<span ss="aiText"> what they had done to her.


    <span ss="editText">She was a foreign Noble that married into<span ss="aiText"> the royal family. So, she was considered the ''other''. Especially with <span ss="editText">all her miscarriages. She knew they thought lesser of her. If they weren''t so important to her husband''s sess. She wouldn''t have associated with any of these noble women, to begin with.


    <span ss="aiText">"Thank you, Countess. I never thought that I would get this type of reaction from my people<span ss="editText"> or you<span ss="aiText">. Especially when they have always shown me disrespect," The Queen said as she drank her tea.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">That is just a misconception,<span ss="aiText"> my <span ss="editText">Queen. I may have been prickly when we first met. But I assure you that I never meant<span ss="aiText"> any disrespect towards you. You were so far ahead of me that it felt like I couldn''t hold a candle to you. I a<span ss="editText">pologize<span ss="aiText"> if my words or actions have offended you in the past," Marchioness <span ss="editText">Isabe <span ss="aiText">said with a serious look on her face.


    <span ss="aiText">The Countess gave an awkward smile as she didn''t want to offend the Queen.


    <span ss="userText">"Yes, Queen Rianna. We<span ss="aiText"> have our differences in the past. But we should put them behind us and continue to work together for the good of our country," The Countess said with a nod as she smiled.


    <span ss="aiText">"I appreciate your words.<span ss="userText"> But trust is something that is earned<span ss="aiText"> over time," Queen Rianna said with a smile on her face as she sipped her tea.


    <span ss="aiText">Alexandria and Isabe gave an awkwardugh as they all knew that Queen Rianna was still very distrustful of the <span ss="editText">Fiafyrian Nobles. And the only person of high rank she trusts is her husband who has always defended her honor<span ss="aiText"> and pride.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">We promised to earn your trust, my Queen. I thought the goddess was punishing you but I was wrong. She must have been testing you and she rewarded you for your resilience. I have little doubt that Prince Quinus is nothing less than a Demi-god," Countess Alexandria<span ss="aiText"> said with a smile.


    <span ss="aiText">Queen Rianna felt ufortable with thepliment, "I do<span ss="editText">ubt<span ss="aiText"> the <span ss="editText">G<span ss="aiText">od<span ss="editText">dess is that cruel. But thank you anyway, Alexandria<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">"Well, <span ss="editText">I''m sure all the surrounding kingdoms will be throwing their daugh<span ss="aiText">te<span ss="editText">r<span ss="aiText">s <span ss="editText">at you<span ss="aiText"> to get your son to marry <span ss="editText">them<span ss="aiText">. You''re going to need the support of these noble women, my Queen," <span ss="editText">Marchion<span ss="aiText">ess Isabe said with augh<span ss="editText"> trying to gain her Majesty''s trust<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Hahaha! That is true, Marchioness.<span ss="userText"> But I will worry about that letter<span ss="aiText"> once it arrives. In the meantime. I will enjoy this peaceful time while I can," Queen Rianna said with a smile as she leaned back into her chair as she enjoyed the warmth from the sun and thepany of the nobledies<span ss="editText"> trying to win favor from her.


    <span ss="editText">"Well, I know it might be early to worry about such things but I heard my husband was getting a peace offer from the Alliance of the Divine Three<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> And all they need is approval for an arranged marriage<span ss="aiText"> with <span ss="editText">a Divine Three <span ss="aiText">Princess and the negotiations will beplete. Then our country would <span ss="editText">no longer worry about them invading us from t<span ss="aiText">he <span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">ou<span ss="editText">th," Isabe<span ss="aiText"> said with a serious expression.


    <span ss="editText">Rianna raised a brow<span ss="aiText"> as she looked at the Marchioness, "<span ss="editText">And here I thought you were enjoying mypany<span ss="aiText">. Is your loyalty to your King or the Alliance?"


    <span ss="editText">Isabe and Alexandria looked at each other<span ss="aiText"> with a nervous look on their faces as they were surprised at how easily Rianna had figured out her true intention.


    <span ss="aiText">Isabe was the first to reply as she said, "I<span ss="editText">''m sorry my Queen. We do enjoy yourpany and once my husband found out that I was going to see you today he asked me to talk to you about the possibility of an arranged marriage. It was rude of me to bring it up on such short notice. Please forgive me for my<span ss="aiText"> impropriety. I was just trying to ease your mind."


    <span ss="aiText">"I understand Marchioness. <span ss="editText">But why doesn''t your husband just talk to the King about this<span ss="aiText">? Why does he need your assistance to convince me?" Queen Rianna said with a stern face.


    <span ss="aiText">Countess Alexandria <span ss="editText">and Isabe <span ss="aiText">couldn''t help but feel intimidated as the Queen looked at <span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText">he<span ss="editText">m<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well, my Queen.<span ss="userText"> Marquess Duval believes the King would agree to this deal if you were to present it. King Cyndre trusts you over anyone else in the kingdom when ites to... Well, everything. He never says no to you<span ss="aiText">. Even when he''s trying to prove how powerful and all-knowing he is. He allows you to be the face of the country and its people," Marchioness Isabe said with a nervous smile on her face.


    <span ss="userText">"Hmm. That is true that King Cyndre trusts me and that''s because I trust him. I would agree with him th<span ss="editText">at<span ss="userText"> the Alliance can''t be trusted. I''m sorry you came here for nothing, Isabe<span ss="aiText">. I hope this doesn''t make you lose face," Queen Rianna said with a straight face.


    <span ss="aiText">Marchioness Isabe smiled as she too<span ss="editText">k another sip of her tea.


    <span ss="editText">"On the contrary, my Queen. I came here<span ss="aiText"><span ss="editText">for you. Not my husband. I just said I would ask and I did. If he''s supposed to be such a great Prime Minister then he should convince King Cyndre himself<span ss="aiText">. I<span ss="editText">''ll<span ss="aiText"> just g<span ss="editText">i<span ss="aiText">ve him a hint<span ss="editText"> to not bother you anymore<span ss="aiText">," Isabe said with a confident smile on her face.


    <span ss="aiText">Queen Rianna couldn''t help butugh.


    <span ss="aiText">"I think I''m starting to like you, Isabe. But I''m sure you didn''t juste to see me just to ask me about peace negotiations with the Alliance of the Divine Three. You must want<span ss="editText">to ask me a favor for yourself<span ss="aiText">," Queen Rianna said as she gave the Marchioness a knowing look.


    <span ss="userText">"Yes! My Queen is perceptive. Alexandria and I would love to help you with the party<span ss="aiText"> you''re throwing for Prince Quinus. He<span ss="editText">''ll be<span ss="aiText"> turning <span ss="editText">six<span ss="aiText"> months old and we would love to help n the party with you," Isabe said as she smiled.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">That''s correct my Queen. You gave our country its next heir and we felt it was the least we can do<span ss="aiText"> to thank you for <span ss="editText">all you endured<span ss="aiText">," Countess Alexandria said as she bowed her head.


    <span ss="aiText">Queen Rianna sighed before she gave in.


    <span ss="aiText">"Very well, my Ladies. We will be hosting a grand party for Prince Quinus <span ss="editText">to be shown to the rest of the Fiafyrian Nobles. I''ll need the ballroom setup and invitations to be sent out<span ss="aiText"> to the royal court.<span ss="editText">..<span ss="aiText"> I think a month should be enough time to prepare everything," Queen Rianna said as she thought to herself. ''<span ss="editText">Let''s see if they speak the truth and wish to be my ally<span ss="aiText">.''


    <span ss="aiText">"That is good news! Then we will make sure everything is set up. You won''t be disappointed, my Queen," Marchioness Isabe said with a smile.


    <span ss="userText">"I''ll handle the floral disy<span ss="aiText"> and the food. It''s been too long since we''ve had arge banquet in Tairal," Countess Alexandria said with a confident smile.


    <span ss="aiText">"It will be an honor to work with <span ss="editText">two experi<span ss="editText">enced<span ss="aiText">dies such as yourself. I hope we can get the chance to know each other better," <span ss="editText">Queen Riann<span ss="aiText">a said with a smile.


    <span ss="aiText">Countess Alexandria and Marchioness Isabe smiled back as the afternoon tea continued.


    <span ss="userText">***


    <span ss="userText">After finishing their time with the Queen, Countess Alexandria Ingham, and Marchioness Isabe Wrightwood took their own private carriages back to their manors located on the outskirts of the city.


    <span ss="userText">Isabe stared forward the whole half-hour trip<span ss="aiText"> thinking of the Queen<span ss="editText">''s words<span ss="aiText"> <span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">as she let her own carriage carry her through the city.


    <span ss="aiText">"S<span ss="editText">he is smarter than I gave her credit for... I can see why Cyndre chose her to be his Queen.<span ss="aiText"> I need to <span ss="editText">right the wrongs and not bother her with my husband''s <span ss="userText">schemes<span ss="aiText">," Isabe thought to herself as she continued to stare <span ss="editText">forward as<span ss="aiText"> the buildings passing by the window.


    <span ss="editText">She arrived <span ss="aiText">at he<span ss="editText">r manor <span ss="userText">just before the sun started to set.


    <span ss="userText">"Wee back, mydy," said the footman that opened the carriage door<span ss="aiText"> for her as he helped her down.


    <span ss="aiText">"Thank you, Ludov. Please <span ss="editText">tell <span ss="editText">my<span ss="aiText"> maids <span ss="editText">to <span ss="aiText">ready my <span ss="editText">even<span ss="userText">ing w<span ss="editText">e<span ss="userText">ar<span ss="editText">. I''ll be joining my husband for dinner<span ss="aiText"> tonight," Marchioness Isabe said with a smile on her face.


    <span ss="aiText">Ludov bowed, "As you wish."


    <span ss="aiText">Isabe went inside and got ready to meet her husband for dinner.


    <span ss="editText">***


    <span ss="editText">When Isabe reached her room she was greeted by four of her maids as they help her change out of clothes and pulled out one of her favorite evening dresses.


    <span ss="editText">''<span ss="aiText">I hope I can impress Her Majesty with my work. I need her trust and approval,<span ss="editText">''<span ss="aiText"> Isabe thought as she started getting dressed.


    ***


    <span ss="aiText">In the meantime. <span ss="editText">Marquess Duval was in his study going over some final paperwork on funding approval for fixing the city roads that were in need<span ss="aiText"> of repair.


    <span ss="aiText">He was a short man with ck hair and blue eyes and a slim body. He was the <span ss="editText">P<span ss="aiText">rime <span ss="editText">M<span ss="aiText">inister of the Fiafyr Kingdom and he was wearing a white suit and had a red <span ss="editText">ascot <span ss="aiText">that <span ss="editText">had a silver pin in it of his Royal Seal.


    <span ss="editText">There came a ringing of the bell at his door.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes? Wh<span ss="editText">at<span ss="aiText"> is it?" Marquess Duval said without looking away from his desk.


    <span ss="aiText">One of his maids replied, "It''s your wife, My Lord. She <span ss="editText">has returned from the pce and wishes to have dinner with you."


    <span ss="editText">Duval looks out the window and notices the sun setting on the <span ss="userText">horizon. As it was just barely over the city wall.


    <span ss="userText">''Hmm. It''s already evening?<span ss="aiText"> I guess I''ll finish thister then. It''s been a while since we''ve had a meal together... I wonder if Isabe got her chance to <span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">speak with the Queen<span ss="editText"> about the marriage proposal<span ss="aiText">?'' Duval thought to himself as he finished his paperwork and got ready to dine with his wife.


    <span ss="aiText">Duval got out of his chair and started heading towards the door.


    <span ss="aiText">The maid opened the door and <span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">he <span ss="editText">when inside his study so she could start dusting the<span ss="aiText"> room.


    <span ss="editText">"Don''t remove any of my paperwork. I''ll tell Christ<span ss="editText">ian<span ss="aiText"> toe in here and d<span ss="editText">eal with<span ss="aiText"> it," Duval said to the maid with a sigh as he remembered that he forgot to tell his personal assistant toe by and pick up the documents.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, My Lord<span ss="editText">. I''ll only do a simple dusting then," the maid said before she resumed her work.


    <span ss="editText">Duval walked out of his room and down the hallway towards the dining room<span ss="aiText"> where he and his wife dined in private.


    <span ss="editText">***


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">Isabe was already seated and waiting for him as she sipped on her wine.


    <span ss="editText">The door opened as Duval walked <span ss="editText">in to <span ss="editText">see his wife waiting for him.


    <span ss="editText">"Well, this is an honor.<span ss="aiText"> You rarely eat dinner with me," Duval said with a smile as he walked up and kissed his wife''s hand.


    <span ss="aiText">"I<span ss="editText">t''s<span ss="aiText"> not <span ss="editText">that I don''t want to eat dinner with you, dear. But you rarely break away from your work. I feel you don''t want to speak to me anymore<span ss="aiText">. And that hurts," Isabe said with a frown on her face.


    <span ss="aiText">Duval gave an awkwardugh, "My dear, I''ve just been so busy <span ss="editText">running the kingdom<span ss="aiText">. And I know you are busy with your own work.<span ss="userText"> So, how was the Queen<span ss="aiText">? Did she give you any hints?"


    <span ss="aiText">"She''s a tough woman. I think you underestimated her<span ss="editText">. You''ll have to find a different way to convince the King. Plus, I''m not sure this whole marriage arrangement with the All<span ss="userText">iance is such a wise idea.<span ss="aiText"> I know you''re worried about <span ss="editText">them<span ss="aiText"> invading us, but I''m not sure that''s the case," Isabe said as she thought to herself.


    <span ss="editText">Duval shook his head and sighed<span ss="aiText"> as he t<span ss="editText">ook his seat across from her.


    <span ss="editText">"No, Isabe. They wish to invade us. And if this peace treatyth<span ss="editText">rough a marriage proposal is true. Then I will<span ss="aiText"> support it. Even if I have to send everyone I know to the Royal Court to persuade King Cyndre to ept," Duval said as he poured himself some wine.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''<span ss="editText">m not a <span ss="userText">politician and I''m not going to force the Queen into this scheme of yours, Duval. If you''re such a good Prime Mini<span ss="editText">ster<span ss="userText">, then grow a backbone and convince the King that this is the right move<span ss="editText"> for<span ss="userText"> the king<span ss="editText">dom<span ss="userText">,<span ss="aiText">" Isabe said with a serious expression.


    <span ss="aiText">Duval smiled, "Of course, m<span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">y dear.<span ss="editText"> This is why I should have dinner with you more often. You give me the courage that I seem tock every so often."


    <span ss="aiText">Isabe <span ss="editText">knew <span ss="aiText">her <span ss="editText">husband was saying that in je<span ss="userText">st<span ss="aiText"> and not out of a genuine desire. She knew he only wanted her for her connections and position as a Marchioness of Fiafyr Kingdom.


    <span ss="aiText">But, she was okay with that as long as she was able to keep her high standing in the court while earning the Queen''s trust and friendship in order to go higher in the ranks.<span ss="userText"> She just wished she had the foresight to befriend the Queen years ago. Even when everyone was trying to distance themselves from her.


    <span ss="userText">And with that, the servants brought out their meals for the evening<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> and the two nobles ate their meals as they continued to talk about the progress on the road system and future projects to fix the kingdom.