One Night With The King: The New Empire

Isaac and Princess Raquel

Isaac POV

I was on my way to see my fiance in her chambers. As I would every morning after praying in the garden. Our relationship has grown so much over the last six months. I knew she was the one.

"Good Morning your highness." I spoke to King Xerxes in passing.

"Good Morning my son. Spending more time with Raquel?" He questioned.

"Yes I am indeed. She promised to read with me." I answered. The king simply smiled turning down another hallway to Queen Esther's chambers. It wasn't often that he did so, she often spent her nights in his.

Upon entering Raquel's room, I noticed Princess Sarah leaving.

"Good Morning Sarah, you look lovely today." I said passing by her.

"Good Morning Isaac, aren't you quite the charmer? Thank you I feel good today." She answered more bubbly than usual.

Turning to see the love of my life, Raquel glowing in the sunlight. A vision of pure loveliness. Her hazel eyes glistening like precious stones. She smiled noticing my admiration of her beauty.

"Must you always stare at me like that?" She asked.

"My love you are simply the most beautiful girl I have ever met. I will spend the rest of my life admiring you." I answered engulfing her in an embrace.

"Oh Isaac stop, I am not." She sighed.

"Why can't you see what I see darling? Do you not believe you are beautiful?" I inquired.

"I look nothing of the sort. Mother is flawless but not me." She answered hanging her head.

"If it takes the rest of my life I will prove to you that you are. You look just like Queen Esther, simply beautiful." I said sincerely.

Everyday she would deny her beauty and everyday I would tell her she was. How could she not know her worth? She was more than a tiara upon her head. More than a princess. I know she must have heard from King Xerxes how beautiful she was as a child. He loved her dearly, she was a daddy's girl. I knew that day one.

"Raquel did your father ever speak on your beauty?" I asked.

"Father never said anything about my beauty. He always said I was his princess and a jewel added to his crown." She replied.

See I knew he mentioned it.

"Jewels are beautiful sweetheart. So if he compared you to one......." I trailed off.

"Then he thinks I'm beautiful as well." She spoke quietly.

"Exactly my love. He wouldn't let me near you without his consent. He was the one who chose me over all the others not Benjamin. He spoke to me personally concerning you. He spoke highly of you. Your father loves you with every breath in his body." I said to a tearing Raquel.

"Its true I love you more than anything. I wouldn't just allow anyone to marry you."

We both turned to see King Xerxes standing in the doorway. He strode in as purely a father. Wrapping his around his daughter, hugging tightly as she cried. She never knew her father loved her so much. He was always hard on her and Benjamin growing up.

"Raquel did you think I hated you?" He inquired.

"You sent me away for a year. Not once did we speak while I was gone. You spent more time with Benjamin growing up. I know its because he was to be king but I needed you." She sobbed.

"My dear girl, I love you just as much as your brother. Never forget that. As far as time well Benjamin would join me at the training grounds in combat. Not much a place for a young lady. In fact, he would argue I was more lenient with you." He said.

"Really? Benjamin was jealous of me?" She rebuffed.

"Yes darling girl. Always complained about how you spent more time with your mother and me while he studied. Even after your outburst he claimed if it was him I would have taken away his birthright to be king. I would never of course but his punishment would've been far more severe." He responded.

"Why wasn't it then?" I asked.

"Her mother pleaded with me to send her to Israel. I eventually agreed." He answered.

I never the queen wielded so much authority in influencing the king. I read about Vashti, she could never do what Esther has done. He really listens to her, evidence of their unbreakable love.

"I never knew mother decided my punishment. The whole time I thought it was you." Raquel mumbled.

"Although I was angry with you, I was reminded of when your mother had done something similar. She broke protocol as well." He said.

"Yes I know father when she interceded for every Jew in Persia resulting in Purim." Raquel answered.

"That was Queen Esther?" I said shocked. I knew all about Purim but never how it happened.

"Yes Isaac, my wife risked her life for her people. I remember I was angry with her as well." He spoke.

"You must really love her. Vashti didn't come when summoned and got banished then killed years later." I said stunned.

"Isaac when you find true love, you will never want to let that go." He said then exited the room.

I looked at Raquel and pondered what the king just said. If what he spoke was true then he in fact admitted that Vashti wasn't half the wife that Esther is. Was she really that vain?

"Do you think we will have that someday?" She asked.

"Of course I do. I know I love you with all my heart." I answered truthfully.

"I'm still learning to love you Isaac. Can you be patient with me?" She inquired.

"Anything for you my love." I said.

After a few more hours alone with my fiancee I retired to my chambers. I said my nightly prayers asking for the wisdom and strength to love Raquel through anything. I wanted our marriage based upon the very foundation that resounded in Persia.

A kingdom of love