"Elizabeth's Punishment-2"

"My King… if they heard my voice, they'll immediately know that I'm Bethy," she whispered to him, "Please don't make me sing. I want to remain in their memories as the simple Bethy who loves music, not as a liar Queen who disguised as someone else."

King Maro thought about it for a while. Seeing Ely plead at him like a lost sheep, he finally decided to withdraw his request to her.

"Fine, don't look at me like I am some kind of villain," he then turned to Minister Holter, saying that they would now deliberate on the results. He also called forward the head of the Ministry of Culture, who was also present to judge them.

Ely was also given the right to give her vote. It pained her a bit that she couldn't vote for her bandmates because she wanted to be partial. After all, everyone had done their best.

"I will now announce who will perform at the royal wedding… There are only two slots," the head of the Ministry of Culture cleared his throat, "Congratulations, Mandoor Choir, you shall sing in the ceremony, while the other one… Grande Dance Troupe will perform at the wedding feast. That is all, thank you for all your efforts."

Ely turned her head towards her bandmates, who looked sad about the news that they weren't selected. She sighed, "If only I can still join them…"

"Don't even think about it, Ely," King Maro said. "Accept it. You and these people… have different fates."

She gave a subtle smile, "Just like… you and I?"

"What are you saying? Ah, were you still thinking about that time in the Ancil mountains?" He reached out to her and caressed her cheek.

Ely nodded.

"Stop thinking about it. I am willing to change fate just to have you by my side. Isn't that why I'm marrying you?"

As Ely felt the King's warmth, she felt conflicted. Changing fate didn't cross her mind, because she was told by the Priestess that she would only bring misfortune to his world. She believed that an outsider like her had no right to fight her fate.

"Come, let's take a walk on the beach," King Maro uttered.

With Ely's hands on his arm, the two of them stepped out of the music hall. When they had gotten out of the palace, he asked the mercenaries to just stand far to guard them. King Maro and Ely proceeded to the shore and as they walked slowly, they viewed the orange sunset.

"Do you remember when I proposed to you that night?" the King suddenly asked.

"Yes, Your Highness... Why?"

The King just gave a subtle smile, "Nothing. I just remembered it for some reason."

Ely also smiled at him. He seemed a bit sentimental, probably because the walk reminded him of their walk on the beach. To lift up his mood, she stopped walking and took off her sandals, and it piqued the curiosity of the king. "King Maro… Have you ever made a sandcastle?"

"I haven't. I think it doesn't make sense. Why will I waste my precious time in building a structure which I know will be easily washed away by the waves? I'd rather build a stone castle," he watched her walk towards the water.

It made her laugh a little, "I can't blame you for your answer. You're a clever one, and you seem like the type who wouldn't do such a thing," she ran towards him and held his hand, squeezing it, "But I still want to build a sandcastle with you today."

The King raised his brow, wondering what she meant, "Even if it will be washed away?"

"You know what's more important?"

"Hmm?" He raised his brow.

"The memories we have as we build the sandcastle together," Ely gave him a sweet smile.

King Maro kissed the back of Ely's hand, his gray irises gazing at her ocean blue irises, "If you say so, my Queen… I am very willing to build as many sandcastles as long as I'm with you."

And so, the two of them started gathering the fine sand to build their first sandcastle. Ely requested small buckets from the maidservants, while the King was very cautious of the coming waves. They had a good time 'til the sun went down.

It was surprising that the following day, a royal performer requested an audience with the King. King Maro did not permit it at first, but when he heard that it was Rainier, he allowed him to meet him.

In the throne room, King Maro wore the royal blue robe stitched with a lion's head at the back, and he looked fierce on the elevated seat as he narrowed his eyes down on the young man. Ely did not go with him; she was in the music hall watching the winners of the audition practice. Because of that, the King decided not to hold back his words.

"What does a mere drummer like you wish to say to me? If you're this brave, it must be a very important thing. Speak up."

After bowing, Rainier explained, "My King, first of all, I would like to thank you for this opportunity that you have given me-"

"Make it fast. Get straight to the point. What do you want?"

The King's glare made him step back, "I apologize…" he gulped, feeling his heart beat very fast out of nervousness. "The woman that I love, Bethy, who's your maidservant… I intend to marry her and take her out of the palace… I hope you'd let me meet her and have your blessing-"

But King Maro suddenly laughed.

"Your Highness?" Rainier was confused, for he never said something funny.

"Ah, I couldn't hold it in," he uttered, then he smirked, "You said you wished to marry Bethy? What did she say?"

"I… I haven't asked for her marriage, yet."

The King revealed, "Do you know that she already has a fiance?" 

Rainier gasped, "No… But I do think that the reason why she became a traveler is that she's searching for her missing husband-"

"She's… what?" He hoped he heard wrong. He wanted to confirm it, "Repeat what you just told me."