The Queen's Wife (girlxgirl)

11. Red dress

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Adelio marches up the white marble stairs like it's the last thing she'll do. Her mind is buzzing with a million thoughts, none of them good. Her most trusted soldiers, the closest thing she could ever call best friends, are the ten men walking right behind her.

It's been a great trip, actually. No thieves tried to rob them on the way, nobody denied them when they wanted to sleep on their property, and the whole road was basically clear the entire way to the capital. In most kingdoms there would be angry townsfolk banging at their doors when they try to sleep, cattle and farmers in herds walking along the roads just to block them and road thieves around every single corner. The thieves are so many that they form huge gangs that eat up parts of territory. But here? In this empire? None of it. Everybody stared at them quietly, letting them pass. Adelio isn't sure why or how. Maybe it has something to do with them being scared of her. But somehow... king Makai must be involved. His influence must've spread to every far corner of this huge empire, and that makes Adelio shiver with distrust.

Still, here she walks up the palace steps in the Blue Knight capital. Stepping within the borders of this kingdom usually only happens at war, and Adelio has never been a part of any such war, so this is her first time. Honestly she thought she would never have walked up these stairs to meet Makai on peaceful terms. One year ago she would've laughed at the idea. Now here she is, her ultimate enemy standing on the top of the stairs, with her future wife standing right next to him. Adelio tries not to focus on that. The political stay of this trip is much more important to her than the woman she is going to marry in just five days.

Still, when she finally arrives, it's actually hard to keep her eyes off the princess. Curiosity is practically eating her alive. But Adelio won't mess this trip up just because of curiosity. She acts unbothered and calm, approaching Makai as he reaches out his hand. The crown prince is quick to accept the handshake and look into the king's eyes, meeting a man of equal power. She still remembers meeting him for the first time, at another kingdom's ball many years ago. Back then they had equal status, both being crown princes. They were rivals, equals, practically twins in many ways. Now it seems like Adelio has grown slightly past Makai, but only by an inch or so. Their status difference is known now, one is king and the other is still waiting for her father to die. It was a game of luck, really, who's father died first. Adelio happened to be the unlucky one, still being a prince, still having to marry whoever her father wants her to. Still having to marry the enemy, just because it's good for money and power. How aggravating.

"Welcome to my kingdom, Adelio. I trust that your trip was without complications?"

Adelio is quick to answer Makai's question, letting go of his hand. She doesn't want to hold onto him for any longer than she has to. Makai is an evil man with evil intentions, Adelio could sense this on the day they first met. She can't imagine his sister to be any different. Women are often less dangerous and much kinder, but any sister of Makai, even if only half as evil, is still one hundred times worse than any other woman she could marry. Adelio would much rather stay alone. At least then she wouldn't have to face the millions of challenges that come with marriage. Adelio ignores her own thoughts and answers the king with the respect that he now deserves, because of his stupid title.

"It's an honor, your majesty. Our trip was peaceful"

She answers shortly to make sure that their polite conversation ends there. Unless it's about important matters, talking with Makai is out of her comfort zone. And her comfort zone as a woman pretending to be a crown prince, is quite large, so that says something. But Adelio also knows, immediately when Makai's attention shifts towards the princess by his side, that an end to their conversation means a start to this one. That she will have to acknowledge her fiancé, standing by the king.