A/N: Hey everyone! For those who were following my story "Confession of a Wall-flower", I've decided to rewrite the story due to having other ideas. It's the same idea with a few changes. Please let me know what you think, as always, R&R please!

Summary: Marion, a strong and outspoken young woman who's just ended things with her boyfriend, has been chosen to become the wife of the powerful and striking King of Domino. But things won't be easy as she's put on a three-month trial. Will she prove to be the Queen that Domino needs and win the King's heart? Most importantly, will King Oritel win her's?

Chapter 1: Rumor has it

Marion held her book tightly in one hand while pulling on her horse's reigns with the other, as she crossed the bridge that led back home. To say that her mind was a turmoil was a bit of an understatement, especially after father's petition.

Actually, it wasn't a petition so much as it was an announcement. In ten days, she was to marry their sovereign, the King of Domino. At the time of her father's statement, Marion had just ended things with her boyfriend of nearly two years and wasn't willing to argue. Nor did he leave room for such a thing. Nevertheless, she wasn't thrilled. All her life, Marion had strived to be something more than just a noble's wife. She wanted to make a difference. It was one of the things that irritated her boyfriend and that he never understood.

To Marion's family, it was a great honor for her to have been chosen amongst the, thousands probably, of maiden in Domino. Of course, Marion knew it probably had to do with her looks. She didn't consider herself to be the most beautiful of the Kingdom, but it was said by many that she was a wonder to look at, with shiny, thick red curls and emerald-green eyes.

But beyond that, she was the daughter of a lord, who unlike other maiden, had always considered an education to be important. Like her dear friend, Luna. While some girls preferred to be stay-at-home wives and married early on, Marion and Luna were the type who wanted more. And so, they were working hard to become guardian fairies and further increase their power. But she doubted that the King would care about any of that. He probably wanted a woman to be seen and not heard, like most royals. Why was she chosen anyway?

The competition, unbeknownst to her, had been tough. Rumor had it that Lady Samara of Eraklyon had also been considered at one point. She was highly refined and her parents were rich and certainly interested in the prospect. Because when it came to power, no realm was stronger than Domino, home of the dragon's flame. But alas, the royal court had opted for someone from their own realm, for all intents and purposes. But again…why her?

"What do you have to complain about?" her friend had asked in disbelief, "have you seen what he looks like? Take it from me Marion, this is the best possible thing that could've happened to you", Luna had insisted.

But rumor also had it that King Oritel had been reluctant about an arranged marriage, and that was why it took so long for them to finally be engaged. What if he didn't like her? What if he really did want Lady Samara as his wife and not Marion? She was better poised from what Marion could recall. Or what if he blamed her in the end for not fighting back and rejecting this marriage? What if, what if.

She'd never even crossed word with the man. But she knew he was strikingly handsome, he was also well-built, she had to admit, and he maintained a serious stance at all times. He rarely smiled in public. But was said to be a gentleman, a benevolent ruler just like his father, Leander.

"Milady…?" her most trusted servant called, upon her arrival.

"Hey Serenity", she replied. The young girl offered her hand as Marion stepped down from her horse.

"Your father, lord Damon awaits your presence in the parlor"

"I'll be there in a moment", she said, attempting to keep the nervousness out of her voice. Marion was a person of strong opinion. The hundreds of books she'd read and her father's years of advice had shaped that trait in her. But now, it was her very own mother who advised her that, as the Queen, she'd be expected to keep her mouth shut at all times. Only to speak when asked. And that, was something Marion didn't know she could do.

Marion looped her arm through Serenity's as they walked through the city. Despite the clear blue skies, the air around them was chilly. Marion took in a cold, lungful of air and exhaled a hot breath of vapor. Her cheeks were tainted a delicate pink from the cold.

"I suspect princess Luna is right, milady, it can't be that bad. Just think, you'll be surrounded by riches and jewels from here on out", Serenity said in wonder. Marion rolled her eyes.

"I'm not a fan of jewelry, I'll have you know" she said, still obstinate. In fact, no man would ever win her over in that fashion. It had taken Ben a long time to grasp that.

"Well then, look on the bright side, it could've been worse"

"What do you mean?" she asked, taken aback.

"Well, what would have happened if you hadn't found out that your Lord Bennett was cheating on you?" she asked. Marion looked away for a moment, lost in thought.

"He's not my Ben anymore" she sighed. Just a couple of weeks ago, her ex-boyfriend, a young noble, had been seeing someone else behind her back. A more lively, extroverted and brunette version of herself. To make matters worse, she found out through a new exchange student in her music class. Apparently, the girl felt sorry for her and thought that it was time to speak up. Perhaps the King also preferred that type? She tried to picture the morose King with a curvaceous, unreserved woman with a glass of wine in her hand, throwing herself at him. Marion shuttered at the thought.

"Well? What if you'd married him instead? He would've cheated on you eventually, milady, think about it", Serenity said boldly. She seemed to hate Ben even more than her brother Demetri did.

"And you think the King won't?" she asked back, Serenity got a strange look in her eyes suddenly, as she stared at something in the distance.

"Something tells me he wouldn't", she said, before smiling and dropping Marion's arm to buy some fruit at a nearby stand.

But Marion didn't follow. Instead, she turned to see what her servant had been smiling at. And almost regretted it.

The King was riding his black stallion, coming at them from the opposite direction. But he mustn't have known who she was because he looked in every direction but hers…and he was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. From rich brown eyes below full brows, to his strong jawline and full lips. It was the kind of physique that couldn't possibly go unnoticed in a crowd full of people. He was dressed casually underneath a black woolen cloak. Marion took in his features quickly before looking away, embarrassed. Afterall, to him she was invisible. She had to have seen this one coming.

"Good day, your majesty!" people called as he passed. He waved and stepped off his horse to greet some people.

"What do you think?" Serenity asked, quickly taking her place by Marion's side again. She shrugged, casually.

"He's decent, I suppose". She wasn't one to blush but Marion felt her cheeks growing red as he took a brief glance in her direction for whatever reason. She took the opportunity to look into Serenity's basket.

"Did you get everything?' she asked quickly. Serenity nodded.

"Everything Lady Grace asked for, I hope we're not forgetting anything",

"Let's go" Marion replied and tugged her arm.

"Wait, what's the rush? The lake is frozen solid, I was hoping to skate through it on our way back" she sung, happily. Marion smiled at the idea. More than a servant, Serenity was the sister she'd never had. Doing this sort of thing came naturally to her when they were together.

Then again, the lake was just across and Marion didn't want to risk having her future husband watching as she fell face-first onto the ice. Not that he was paying any attention to her. And she was a pretty good skater anyhow.

"Let's do it!" she agreed, tugging on Serenity's sleeve.

With a little bit of courage, Marion moved away from the rail surrounding the lake and glided almost effortlessly across the ice, whirling and spreading her arms out and smiling as she did. Serenity followed, taking long and longer strokes, one foot after the other. They enjoyed trying to see who could reach the other side first. Meanwhile, people continued passing by, smiling at the girls' antics. And the King of Domino was no exception.