Lesson Two

“Long live King Leo!” The words roared across the room sending shiver down my spine.

Suddenly the room was less tensed, everyone looked happy chattering here and there, what’s with this sudden change of atmosphere.

People started to line up in front of me and Leo. I really, really, desperately want to get out of this situation, what if i said the wrong thing, what if people don’t want me here, what am i supposed to do, those unanswered question pain my head.

“Just nod” Leo spoke without looking at me.

I don’t know if i can do that but there were no other better option.

Vyrless stood next to Leo’s seat and as the first person approached he whispered to Leo’s ear.

The first person was a young lady with, i think, her two daughter, “greeting, King Leo” she bowed deeply and so does her daughters, “we’re very happy to know that you’ve sat on the throne” she complimented.

Leo nodded, “Countess Yulia, thank you for your gratitude”.

The countess, and me, was waiting for Leo to say another word but he didn’t seems to open his mouth again and so the countess continue her speech.

“I was wondering, my king” she carefully spoke, her nervous hand elegantly holding each other, “about my family land since my husband has died, and we were never on his side, may we have it back?”

Land? I don’t understand a single thing she said.

Leo sighed, “Countess Yulia, I’ve spared you and your daughter from treason, and now you want your land back? I even gave you a place to live” I can’t tell if that his usual voice or is he angry, “if you ask any more than this you’ll have the same faith as your husband, note that”

Countess Yulia shivered, she backed down, “o-of course, I’m sorry for taking your time, Your Highness” they quickly left in hurry.

Countess Yulia was one of the many person who ask Leo for favor, but he only granted some of them that include money and ammunition. Hearing their conversation i got a little picture of what’s going on and what Leo was doing.

Fortunately, from all the line no one question me, even if they tried to, Leo will always change the subject.

The meeting lasted longer than I thought it would, i was stressing, but the length of this meeting gave me enough time to calm myself. I even ate a dessert a maid brought to my seat.

The line was a never ending story. Looking at that, Leo sighed, “I’ll be leaving now, sends the dukes and the duchesses to the ballroom” he stood up.

“King Leo will be retreating along with Queen Eve for now” Vyrless announced.

Queen, I don’t quiet get it.

“Long live King Leo!”

As everyone cheered i exit the room along with Leo, surprisingly no one was following us now.

I looked out the window to see that the day has gone dark, I didn’t realize it took that long, i was too focused on his conversation.

“Leo” i called since we’re finally alone, i really hope the hall stretched a little longer, “am i to be a queen?” I asked.

He didn’t reply for a minute, “yes” he answered shortly.

“W-why?!” I didn’t sign up for this, and i will not, I don’t know how to interact with people, moreover run a whole kingdom, “don’t you think it’s rude for you to kidnap me here and suddenly weight me with a massive responsibility?!” I wanted to pressed my temper but it was out of my control, i need to let out my frustrations.

“It’s not in my control, if i can control this do you think i would choose a stranger like you?”

That’s right, i too, a stranger to him. Still he got more information and insight than me, “how is it not in your control, you’re the king are you not?”

Leo sighed he brushed his hair, probably annoyed, making it much more messier than it was before, “did you not hear Vyrless? We were forced to wed each other ever since you were a baby!” He started shouting.

I flinched, how is it my fault now, “I don’t get it” i replied with a smaller voice, scared to raise it.

“Just keep your mouth shut and open it again at the ballroom”

As much as i still want to question him, i also don’t want to fight in this hallway.

We entered the massive ballroom, this time with only a couple of people gathering inside, they threw us uncomfortable gazes, i looked over to Leo to see him unbothered even though not a single person in this room seems to be happy with our arrival.

I followed Leo to the taller platform in front of a massive window that shows the front gate of the castle. As soon as we arrived their gazes felt like thorn making me feel awkward and scared.

“First of all” he started speaking, this time Vyrless was nowhere to be found, do i have to speak for myself also, “I genuinely thank everyone for coming to this meeting at this hour”.

No one replied.

“As my father’s reign came to an end i want to adress things I’m looking forward to change, i have made the changes upon the defense and security last week and changed the formation, as for this week i would like to talk about diplomatic matters” he spoke so fluently, even I’m amazed at how well he talk, “i want to limit our resources’s export and import between Harrington Kingdom and make a deeper alliance with Kalym Kingdom so i will be moving Duke Halpasy’s residence there for a month. My father has allowed Ace Kingdom to take our soldiers for training, cancel that Duke Fredrick” he continued to list the relations he wants with other kingdom that i never heard of nor i knew existed.

“Moving on to financial matters” he continued his long speech, “i would like the queen to handle it”

I choked at the word, but before i could deny it someone else did it for me.

“Your majesty!” He shouted, “do you think it’s too reckless to leave a stranger managing our kingdom money?!”

Another one spoke up, “yes! The financial was perfectly under control with the current secretary, you don’t have to change a thing! I’m sure your late father wouldn’t want that too!”

“I fired the last secretary” he replied as if he didn’t notice the angry eyes that wanted to kill us.

Suddenly the room exploded into chaos.

“YOU WHAT?!” Another one and another one just keep coming to protest it.

“Your majesty” an elegant woman finally spoke up, silencing the rest of the room, “Corrine, the last secretary is my best friend, i know how dedicated she is to her job and how well she’s doing it, your late father chose her with his own hand, as for example when the country was going under market crisis she managed to find a solution and averted the situation”

Leo chuckled, i was surprised at his reaction to such a sincere explanation, “do i really look like a stupid person?”

Suddenly their face flushed with embarrassment.

“I won’t go into detail, but i have my own reasons to fire her, and I’m sure you all know why”

The room grew silence before someone shouted again, “you bastard!”.

My eyes widened, I didn’t think someone would dare curse like that to a king.

“You took your father’s reign on purpose, you don’t even have it in you to run a kingdom, do you think we will obey anything that you say?” He laughed, “open your eyes boy, the throne is not for you”

“Oh how disappointed your father will be if he sees you right now” a man with a green suit joined.

Leo laughed, “i would love to see his dissapointed face right now”

The two of them grunted, “you will never be our king, we will never acknowledge such a selfish king” he growled.

“Do as you like that doesn’t change the fact that i hold the title” Leo stood up, and he signaled me to follow him with his head.

As we passed by them cursing words were thrown at him, how can he handle this so calmly.

We finally went out the ballroom, i looked back to peek and all i can see was angry masses.

I stared at his back as i followed him, i feel pity for him but also amazed, at the end i didn’t open my mouth when I’m in there, i will need explanation but I don’t think now is a right time.

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