Queen Amelia stood in front of her massive mirror. She smoothed her ruby red dress as her lady-in-waiting entered the room.
"My queen, your chaperones are waiting outside. You must proceed to the throne room, King Ian is waiting for you there…"
Amelia went down the grand staircase with 5 maids trailing behind her. She scanned the chandeliers dangling above her head, the ceiling of the throne room was intricately designed.
"You must be mesmerized, my love…"
Amelia jerked in fright as the king appeared behind her. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's just me. I'm sorry if I scared you…" He offered his arm.
"Shall we?" he offered as the queen took his arm.
Meeting the court of Berasienne was one of the fears of the newly crowned queen. Queen Amelia sat at her throne as her king held her hand as he sensed her nervousness. He stood up and faced the court.
"Noble Lords and Ladies, Let me introduce her formally to you: Queen Amelia Hope Elizabeth, Queen of Berasienne."
Applause was heard from the audience. Queen Amelia felt the burning stares of the crowd. The Berasienne Court was a social call. As a queen, she was expected to interact with the nobles and powerful persons.
"I don't know what King Ian saw in you. Or why he didn't marry into the higher ranking aristocrats…" A woman with blonde hair said.
The queen's spirits fell. She stiffened as the ladies were talking about her, right in front of her.
"Your right, Lady Pierce… What does she know of politics anyway? I bet she didn't know that." A lady with red hair said.
Lady pierce's piercing gray eyes met hers.
"What do you think of the merging of the kingdoms of Berasienne and Meistica? It will knock you off the royal ascension… Because of King James' Regency Ascension Act…"
Queen Amelia sat perfectly still in the king's study. Lady Pierce's words bothered her. Why would the Regency Ascension Act affect her anyway?
"Amelia, is there something wrong?"
King Ian was staring at her intently.
"What is the Regency Ascension Act anyway?"
"It's a law about the consorts of the kings before. If a consort became a queen and a new consort came with a higher ranking. The queen will be demoted to the lowest ranks of ascension."
"Does it mean that once you married Lady Pierce, I wouldn't be the queen anymore…" Amelia said as she placed her teacup down on the table. King Ian's amber eyes stared at her.
"Pray tell, my queen. Why did you marry a man thee barely knew?"
"Mama would always say 'To love, to honor, and to obey' "Amelia said quietly.
"Amelia Cahill, we may be married due to arrangements. But allow me, let us not rush things."
True to his words, they slowed down their relationship. They didn't need to rush it anyway. The king took the queen to horseback. He wanted to show her what lies ahead of their palace life. King Ian wanted to assure her that she will always be his queen.
His only queen…
The horse they were riding was a gift from the former king. It serves as a wedding gift for them. Amelia was not trained in riding horses like Ian does. The thought of riding horses for the first time in a long time scares her. She could remember a faint memory when she fell off the horse when she was young. The king was trying to teach her how to ride a horse. Sadly, riding horses was not the queen's thing. he couldn't understand her immense fear of riding horses.
As King Ian was behind his queen holding the lead rope, Amelia tried her best not to squirm as her insides were trembling in fear. They halted.
"Don't be afraid, my love. I will not let you fall. Trust me."
Amelia inhaled sharply as she was trying to be brave. The king wrapped his arms around her. He continued on. They reached to clearing in the woods. It was filled with grassy hills and a clear river.
"See the beauty of Berasienne, without the extravagant palaces or the urban communities. An underrated place..."
They sat under the tree while watching the clouds moving.
"Do you think she looks better than me?"
Ian faced her, one of his eyebrows rose.
"Or that she's much smarter who can rule the kingdom wisely…"
He sighed.
"Amelia…" he warned.
"I'm not fit into this society, King Ian. I cannot rule a kingdom alongside you, you deserve someone that won't burden you…"
"Amelia, I-Your enough, I don't need a thousand of women bowing down to me. I'm grateful for you, for the hope you bring in this lonely castle life."
She avoided his gaze and silence surrounded both of them.
"This place is n-nice you know… I'm sorry, your highness. I can never be your princess; I'm just a Nobody" she stared at her shoes.
He leaned in and kissed her. King Ian wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped his arms around his neck. They fell into the soft grass, kissing.
They broke apart, gasping for air.
"You were never a Nobody… You are my queen, my wife and my partner in crime. Don't forget that."