Chapter 15: Is This Your Answer?

Arundell and the mansion, it was the place Rihannan was born and lived all her life without obstacles. Though she visited Crichton several times, they were all temporary and fleeting.

Mary was stupefied; she did not easily believe Rihannan, who’d never lived elsewhere, could leave her hometown without hints of regret.

“I just want to leave this place quickly. There are so many bad memories here.”

She bit her lip and closed her eyes.

Flashback…

A few years had passed since the first visit to the royal palace. Rihannan was forced once again into the royal palace as queen candidate. She had the full support of the Queen.

There also exists several opportunities to meet Igor, the boy king she once knew. But he was unusually cold to her. Rihannan consoled herself, saying that he had changed because he’d grown to an adult. That sweet, little boy was just hiding from a facade.

It was not until she entered the palace that Rihannan knew that he would never welcome her. Their relationship as King and Queen was only that –– a close aide and watcher to the Queen.

“Are you satisfied, Mother? You’ve managed to keep my limbs, my hands, and feet all tied down. Are you musing in your own enjoyment?”

That was the conversation Rihannan heard prior to the wedding. His sarcastic remark made the Queen furious.

“What do you mean? Rihannan is a good girl. She’s the best match for you, Igor. I don’t know why you keep distorting my words.”

“That’s exactly what I thought my Mother would say.”

He clicked his tongue, left the room, and ran into Rihannan, who stood at the door. Her face turned a pale a white. Igor concluded that she had heard the conversation and so, wore an embarrassed look momentarily.

Rihannan wore the same expression she made when she was young; she chuckled when looking back at that situation.

Igor’s face immediately hardened.

“It’s something you should know anyway. It’s good. Now there’s nothing to hide. You will have to choose soon. Will you give me all of you, or will you remain as Queen?”

It was a warning; clear as daylight. If she doesn’t choose properly, she’ll only meet unhappy results.

After the hectic wedding, she was to have her first night with the King. Though it was nothing like the fantasy she dreamt of, it was still a marriage between a King and Queen of the country. Even their most private lives needed a sort of official confirmation. Behind the bedside curtains, witnesses of their marriage watched their union.

Rihannan felt ashamed. She could not hope to receive affection from her newly-wedded husband under such circumstances.

She recalled her late mother who married a man who had not a speck of love for her.

She was a young woman, a mother who loved a man so much that she’d keep him at her side by all means that she could. But it was no use. He avoided her and had a child with a woman he loved on the side. And as soon as her mother died, he let that woman’s child into her home.

Remembering those memories, she made a vow, a vow that she’ll never give her love like her mother did, that she’ll never do anything stupid.

But now, she found herself on the same path as her mother.

Realizing this mere fact alone, Rihannan wept in hot tears.

As Igor’s face drew near, Rihannan turned her head, disgusted at herself. She placed her hand on his chest and pushed hard.

Her resistance stopped Igor’s movement and he stared at her quietly. Something unusual had gone through his dark purple eyes and Rihannan trembled in fear of it.

The witnesses behind the curtain trembled little by little. The King hadn’t made a move yet. As their hushed voices grew louder, there was a low growl.

“Is this your answer?”