2.      The King’s butler’s terror

"How could there be a wedding without a bride, Gertrude?"

"A bride, you say. Oh, we do have a bride."

Merucia was still so clueless, "We must hire one. That is what you mean, isn't it?" Merucia started putting on her coat, she was preparing to march out to go look for a suitable maiden who might like to replace Gravier. "Oh, it is such a short notice, but we have no choice. I will go find the best!"

"Ow, silly, Merucia…" Gertrude sneered, "You are the bride."

Merucia was given no time to oppose, she found herself walking down the isle. Soft music played in the background. All the guests had risen to their feet to welcome her in. Her heart was pulsating almost as though it would pop out. She was very afraid that she might get caught. Surely there was someone in the crowd who knew the real Gravier and would point out that she was not Gravier.

Merucia kept her head down as she now stood with the King in front of the pastor. She would not dare look at the King in his eyes—he might recognize her. She had gone to clean up his room a few times, as a maid. She would be doomed if her remembered her.

The vows were exchanged and it was now time to kiss the bride. The King was expected to lift the bride's veil—

"Wait, your highness," Merucia prompted, snatching the veil from his grip, "I am a little too shy to show my face in the public."

The pastor intervened since the King would say nothing, "My dear, it is traditional that he lifts the veil."

Merucia had to cook up something to get the pastor to back off, "That may be your culture, but mine forbids that I do so. Please, let me be a virtuous woman whose face can only be seen by my husband."

Merucia had succeeded. The wedding ended and no-one saw her face, not even her husband. Now, she was in her room gathering her thoughts. It was setting in that she had married the King and that would possibly be her life from there on. Merucia could almost not believe what she had done.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

"Yes, come in," she said and there entered her friends, Gertrude and Bertha. They carefully closed the door and ran over to her bed. They looked very stressed.

"Gertrude, Bertha. What troubles you both?"

"We lost the body." Gertrude said, "The queen's body is gone. It is not in the fireplace no more!"

Merucia had to see this for herself. They had agreed that they would get together after the wedding and get rid of the body before anyone saw it. Merucia immediately pounced to her feet and marched to the bathing room. The fireplace was messed up, wood all over and there was no body. "No!" she was having a meltdown. "Where is she? What is this? Who did this?"

Bertha asked, her eyes looking up to Gertrude, "Do you think someone took it? Do you think someone knows? We are doomed!"

"Ladies, ladies!" Gertrude said, "You must calm down. We don't know what's happening here. Whoever took the body must be on watch, we must never be seen looking guilty."

Merucia burst, "What do you mean, remain calm? We were the only ones responsible for that woman, everyone in the place knows that. We are the first ones they will come for," Merucia started heading to the door. "My sisters, I am leaving. I will not wait for them to come for me."

Merucia thought that she would make it through the gate but she saw a lot of guards standing around than usual. It looked like something was going on. There was a commotion and tension. Merucia kept marching forward. Maybe, they were too distracted, they might not see her walk out. The gate was wide open anyway.

"Your majesty," a man said. "You must not be out here, it is too dangerous."

Merucia turned to see who that may had been. She saw the King's personal butler. His face was always so handsome and his embodiment only resembled grace and pois. He was always an odd one from the rest of the male workers of the palace. He had an aura of elegance to him, as though he was naturally born of royalty.

Flustered, Merucia stood. Her knees were as weak and feeble. Her heart nearly paused. This was the very first time she heard him talk to her. He was the most unapproachable worker in the palace. He seemed nice but then, too busy to spare any time for anyone. Therefore, none of the workers could ever approach him.

"I must get you to safety, Your Majesty. The King has ordered me to keep you while he is away." He gave her no time to weasel out. He could not let the Queen out or else, he would have to face the King's wrath. "Your Majesty, right this way."

Merucia simply obliged to his leading gestures. She was let to walk in the front, as she was the Queen, while the butler maintained a steady pace behind her. He had already prepared some sweet scorns and tea for her in her living room. Merucia had been very quiet all that time. Her eyes were very glued to the butler—the man was fine.

The butler would always sway his eyes from her as she was the Queen and he was a mere servant. He had not seen Merucia's eyes on him but he could feel them gazing and piercing at him and all that he was. "Your Majesty, please have your snack. The tea might get cold."

She had to bring herself to her senses. She took the cup in her hand, almost sipped but paused midway, "Where is the King?"

"The King has gone to scout the western region. As you may know, there has been a rise in the cases of xzenen monsters in the west. They must be stopped before they come for us in the North."

"Calling those people the xzenen monsters is a bit too cruel."

"Oh, um…" Flustered, "Forgive me, Your Majesty!" the butler went on his knees and his forehead touched the ground as he bowed for her mercy. "I only call them that, as they are called nationwide."

"These so-called monsters, were people too. Ordinary people, before they got cursed by the wicked witches." Merucia said, her eyes only gazed at her black tea in the cup that she grasped tightly in her hands. She would always get tense whenever the topic was brought about. "They are not monsters. They are one of us, but only cursed."

Only now, she saw the butler kneeling uncomfortably on the ground. Almost forgetting her Queenship and grace, she jumped out of her seat to go and pick the young man up. "Oh, no!" she cried, pulling his hand to stand him up, "You don't have to do that—"

Feeling the Queen's hand on his peasant wrist, he jumped back, backing away from her. Merucia was shocked by this behaviour. She tried reaching to him—

"Your Majesty, no!"

She saw in his eyes, terror. She had never seen that amount of fear in anyone she interacted with before. She wondered why he would be so terrified of her, when she was only a delicate little lady.