"How to Entertain the Ruthless King-1"

Meanwhile, in the Old Palace (The Great Leoniva Palace), Minister Holter had just met the Head Minister of the Ministry of Culture. He barely convinced King Maro to let him host an event in the palace, and perhaps he got tired of his nagging that was why he agreed. The King's right-hand man couldn't take it anymore; he wanted to do everything he could to make the King feel better in the absence of his beloved Elizabeth.

It reached the ears of the citizens of the city, that the King was finding his runaway fiancee. According to the rumors, the woman became too afraid of the ruthless King which was why she left the palace.

"So the goal of the Ministry of Culture is to entertain the king in the nobles' event. You heard what happened, right?" Nerion uttered. The band talked about the King in the dining room that morning.

"I heard he killed a lot of people without batting an eye," Vienna said, "That's why the people are afraid of him. Remember what happened last time? The Minister who built a prostitution den was beheaded."

"The King may be ruthless, but he only punishes the cruel ones," Ely couldn't help but respond to them, "I think he's a great King."

"Oh? It's rare for you to share an opinion unrelated to music, Bethy," Karla said, poking Ely's cheek, "Do you find the King's personality attractive?"

"What!?" Ely's cheeks turned red as a tomato, "I do not!"

"Then why are you blushing?" Karla teased her more. She chuckled, "Come to think of it, he is also very handsome. I finally found your weakness, Bethy! Admit it, you like His Highness!"

"What are you saying, Karla, I don't-"

They were interrupted when Rainier suddenly stood up from his seat. "Bethy, come with me, there's a part of the song that I can't follow." He then took her wrist, pulled her with him, and they went downstairs, while the others looked at him suspiciously.

Because it was still early, the tavern was still closed, and there was no one on the first floor. Rainier quietly sat behind the congo drums as he continued to hold Ely's hand.

"Uhh… Rainier," Ely uttered, "What's the matter?"

He then squeezed her hand, blushing, "Bethy... I like you," he replied, then he averted his eyes away from her.

"What!!?" Ely yelled in surprise. "What are you saying? You like an ugly girl like me?"

"Please do not say that you are ugly!" he said, finally meeting her eyes, "You are the most beautiful especially when you sing!"

Ely was pleased with what Rainier said, and she smiled sweetly at him. He's a cool and kind guy, the type whom college girls would easily fall for.

But of course, Ely's love life was already complicated, and she did not want to make it even more confusing by dragging the innocent Rainier into it. She had to leave sooner or later to travel to the mysterious Temple of Destiny and find her husband Adam. What was making it very hard for her to proceed was King Maro's strict order to find her because of his attraction and obsession towards her.

"Thank you… for liking me," She squeezed his hand back, "But I am not ready to open my heart to anyone yet."

"But why?" he questioned as he slowly let go of her hand.

"My husband… he's missing."

"You have a husband?! But you're still young…"

Ely laughed at his puzzled reaction, "Yes, but in my world, as long as you're eighteen, you can get married... I'm already twenty plus-"

He raised his brow, "What do you mean... your world?"

"Ah, I mean my hometown," she quickly answered.

"Bethy, if we manage to please the King with our performance, I want you to hear the song that I made."

"Why don't you just sing it now?"

"No, it's kind of a special song… because I made it."

Ely gave a wide smile and nodded, "Okay! Sing it for me after the nobles' event!" She had met some musicians who express their feelings through their songs, and perhaps Rainier was also like them. And because Ely loves music, she was curious about the song.

...

Akali's Tavern had always been full in the past week, and aside from the stage performances, the band also had to practice three new songs for the nobles' event. Everyone was nervous because they will perform in front of the King.

But what Ely felt was more fear than nervousness. She hoped that he would not recognize her face, because if he did, she didn't know what he might do. How would he feel after seeing her; would he be angry? Would she be thrown into the prisoner's dungeon once again? Would she be beheaded in front of the crowd? Ely did not know the answer. At times she felt like she knew the King, but sometimes she felt like a different person.

What the Ballad Queen wanted to do was to enjoy music with her bandmates. Although she felt at home when she's with them, she knew that she shouldn't be too attached.

And so, she promised to do her best at the nobles' event... as a parting gift to them.