23.

Alex paced back and forth in his chamber, his mind swirling with thoughts of the impending decision he had to make. He had never felt this level of pressure before, and it was beginning to weigh heavily on his shoulders. The call from his astrologer had only intensified the turmoil within him. As he waited for the astrologer to arrive, Alex’s thoughts kept returning to Aeryn, the human girl who had somehow become central to the fate of his kingdom.

He knew what needed to be done. The ceremony that had taken place was not enough to solidify her place as the queen in the eyes of his people. They needed more, something tangible that would quell their fears and suspicions. The old man’s sudden death had only fueled the growing discontent, and Alex couldn’t afford to let this unrest spread. His kingdom had to remain strong, and for that to happen, he had to take the next step.

The heavy wooden door to his chamber creaked open, and the astrologer entered, bowing deeply as a sign of respect. Alex stopped pacing and turned to face the elderly man, his expression grave.

“Your Majesty,” the astrologer began, his voice carrying the weight of the news he bore, “I have come as you requested.”

Alex nodded, motioning for the astrologer to rise. “What have you discovered? Is there any truth to these rumors about Aeryn?”

The astrologer’s expression was solemn as he spoke. “Your Majesty, the people are troubled. The sudden death of the old man in the village has caused many to believe that the human girl is not the true queen. They fear that her presence has brought misfortune upon us. However, I have carefully examined the circumstances, and it is clear that the old man’s death was due to his long-standing illness. There is no connection between his passing and the arrival of the human.”

Alex’s jaw clenched in frustration. “Then why are these rumors spreading? Why are they so quick to turn against her?”

“The people are afraid, Your Majesty,” the astrologer replied. “They see change, and they fear what they do not understand. The presence of a human among us is unprecedented, and they are searching for explanations. In their fear, they have begun to build false accusations. It is imperative that you act swiftly to solidify her place as queen. The union between you must be formalized and consummated as soon as possible. Only then will the people be reassured.”

Alex sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He knew the astrologer was right, but the thought of rushing into this union without truly understanding Aeryn’s feelings was troubling. He had seen the fear in her eyes, felt her trembling in his arms. Forcing her into something she wasn’t ready for didn’t sit well with him.

But the kingdom was at stake. He couldn’t afford to let his personal feelings cloud his judgment. His duty as king came first, and that meant ensuring the stability of his realm. If marrying Aeryn and consummating their union was what it took to quell the unrest, then he had no choice.

“Make the arrangements,” Alex finally said, his voice filled with resignation. “The wedding will take place soon.”

The astrologer bowed once more before exiting the chamber, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts. The decision had been made, but that didn’t ease the tension in his chest. He couldn’t shake the image of Aeryn’s frightened eyes from his mind, the way she had clung to him in desperation. How could he ask her to go through with this when she was so clearly afraid?

As he stood there, staring out the window at the vast expanse of his kingdom, a sense of unease settled over him. He had always been decisive, always known what needed to be done. But this situation was different. Aeryn was different. She wasn’t just a pawn in a game of political maneuvering, she was a person, a human being with thoughts and feelings of her own.

He was torn between his duty to his kingdom and his growing concern for Aeryn. The bond he felt with her was unexpected, and it was complicating everything. He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe, but he also knew that his people needed to see her as their queen, as someone who belonged to him and to the kingdom.

With a deep sigh, Alex pushed those thoughts aside. He couldn’t afford to dwell on his feelings, not when so much was at stake. The wedding would take place, and he would do what needed to be done to secure the future of his kingdom. But even as he made that decision, a small voice in the back of his mind whispered doubts, urging him to consider Aeryn’s feelings in all of this.

Hours passed as preparations for the wedding were set into motion. The palace buzzed with activity, servants rushing to and fro as they readied the grand hall for the ceremony. The news of the impending union spread quickly, and the unrest in the kingdom began to subside as people clung to the hope that this marriage would bring stability.

But as the preparations continued, Alex found himself increasingly on edge. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was making a mistake, that he was rushing into something that neither he nor Aeryn was ready for. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he had never even asked her what she wanted, what she felt about all of this.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was one of his advisors, come to inform him that everything was ready for the ceremony. Alex nodded, dismissing the advisor with a wave of his hand. The time had come, and he had no choice but to go through with it.

As he made his way to the grand hall, Alex couldn’t help but think of Aeryn. He knew she would be scared, confused, and possibly even angry. But he hoped that, in time, she would come to understand why this had to be done. He hoped that she would see that he wasn’t doing this just for the kingdom, but for her as well. She needed to be protected, and this marriage was the only way to ensure that.

The grand hall was filled with the kingdom’s elite, all gathered to witness the union between their king and the human girl who would become their queen. Alex took his place at the altar, his gaze fixed on the door through which Aeryn would enter. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited, the tension almost unbearable.

Finally, the doors opened, and Aeryn appeared, flanked by two guards. She looked beautiful, dressed in the traditional garb of his people, her hair adorned with jewels that sparkled in the light. But as she approached the altar, Alex could see the fear in her eyes, the way she clutched her hands together nervously.

When she reached his side, Alex reached out and took her hand, feeling her trembling beneath his touch. He wanted to say something to comfort her, to reassure her that everything would be okay, but the words caught in his throat. All he could do was squeeze her hand gently, hoping that she would understand that he was there for her.

The ceremony began, the words of the priest echoing through the hall as he spoke of unity, strength, and the bond that would now tie them together. Alex barely heard the words, his focus entirely on Aeryn. He could feel her tension, the way she held herself stiffly, as if trying to keep from falling apart.

When the time came for the exchange of vows, Alex turned to Aeryn, his gaze locking with hers. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the fear that she was trying so hard to hide. But beneath that, he also saw something else—a glimmer of determination, a spark of resilience that made him realize just how strong she really was.

“I, Alex, king of this kingdom, take you, Aeryn, to be my queen,” he announced, his voice steady even as his heart raced. “I vow to protect you, to care for you, and to stand by your side, no matter what challenges may come our way.”

Aeryn’s breath hitched as she listened to his words, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She didn’t want this, didn’t want to be tied to him in this way. But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something that gave her pause—a sincerity, a depth of emotion that she hadn’t expected. He wasn’t just doing this out of duty; there was something more, something she couldn’t quite understand.

When it was her turn to speak, Aeryn hesitated, her voice trembling as she repeated the vows. “I, Aeryn, take you, Alex, to be my king. I vow to… to stand by your side and, and to protect this kingdom as your queen.”

The words felt strange on her tongue, foreign and unfamiliar. But as she spoke them, she felt a strange sense of acceptance wash over her. This was her fate, and she would face it with as much strength as she could muster.

The ceremony concluded, and the hall erupted in applause as Alex and Aeryn were declared husband and wife, king and queen. But even as the celebration began, Alex couldn’t shake the tension that lingered between them. This was only the beginning, and he knew that the real challenges were yet to come. But for now, he was content to have Aeryn by his side, and he would do whatever it took to keep her there.