Chapter 16 : So I couldn't give Her a Lie Wrapped in Gold

- "Yes. This is an usual matter for almost every race. Or perhaps you want to keep her as a mistress. We all understand if you think so. Many kings did that."

- "Hey, hey, no, NO! I won't marry her, and I won't keep her as a mistress." 

Emelin asks, "Are there any faults in me, your majesty? Or do you think that I may try to take revenge on you, your majesty? If that's the reason, I swear to you on my soul that I don't have any grudge against you. I was neglected by my father and my brother my whole life. Their deaths didn't give a little bit of sorrow. I will never betray you, your majesty." I reply, "No, Emelin. It's not like that. It's just...it's just I have someone in my mind who I want to marry." 

Lukemir says, "And your majesty?" 

- "That's all. I just want to marry someone I have a crush on." 

- "Then what's the problem, your majesty? You can marry Emelin or keep her as a mistress. Afterwards you can marry that person in your mind."

- "Are you suggesting I should marry two women?"

- "Yes, your majesty."

- "No!"

Lukemir looks at Vaelya and says, "Lady Vaelya, please talk to Your Majesty." 

Vaelya gets on the stage. She comes to me and says, "What's the problem, Hero Agni?"

- "Didn't you see he is asking me to have multiple wives?"

- "What's wrong with that? Multiple wives can be seen in almost every race. You can marry as many as you want. Or have many mistresses."

- "Never!"

- "Oh! Now I get it. Multiple wives and keeping mistresses are forbidden where you've come from. Right?"

I am about to say, Yes. But I can't. I remember what happens in my world. I hesitantly say, "Um...it's not forbidden. Some do have multiple wives and mistresses." Vaelya says, "Then what's the problem, Hero Agni?" I say, "I don't want to have multiple wives or keep any mistress. I only want to have one wife. That's all." 

A middle-aged woman speaks loudly, "May I say something, your majesty?" I say, "Yes. Please." She bows and says, "I am Emerin, mother of Emelin. My husband and son treated Emelin like trash. My husband is the most hated king. Now that he is dead, Emelin is called the previous king's daughter. Her status is the same as commoners. If you don't accept my daughter as one of your wives or as your mistress, her whole life will be ruined. And she will never get married to a decent family, for she has no identity. She has suffered enough in her one life. You told us no one will suffer. Then please save my daughter, I beg you, O king." Emerin starts crying. 

Vaelya places her hand on my shoulder. I look at her. She says, "Hero Agni, even if you don't like Emelin to be one of your wives or mistresses, you can still give her that status. She can be just one of your wives or mistresses; you don't have to touch her." I lower my voice and say, "No, Princess Vaelya. If I do that, her whole life will be full of nothingness. She will have no husband, no children of her own. How can she spend her entire life in that isolation? Her mother said that she has been neglected by her father and brother up until now. Then I can't give her the same life again. She deserves to be loved. She deserves a family. I don't have the right to take that away from her. But I can't give that to her." Vaelya says, "I understand your thoughts. But without that, her life will be worse. She may have to sell her bod...." "Shut up, Vaelya!" I almost shout. Vaelya says, "I am stating the truth, and you know it, your M-A-J-E-S-T-Y. Don't promise that you will save everyone from the suffering when you, yourself, are pushing an innocent to the suffering, you hypocrite."

I look at Emelin. She is looking at the floor with tearful eyes. I look at the silent crowd. Everyone is looking at me. This is the first time I will judge as a king. And this judgment should give justice to Emelin.

I sigh. I come close to Emelin. Emelin looks at me with tearful eyes. I smile and say, "Emelin, I'm really sorry for making you go through this. I can't imagine how you are feeling. You are standing on the stage, in front of everyone. And all I am doing is rejecting you. The embarrassment you are feeling is a cruel punishment. All, including you, are thinking that this weird king is rejecting a woman with a stupid excuse. What's wrong with multiple wives? What's wrong with having a mistress? But, I assure you, Emelin, if it's not a big matter, I will give you what you want in a heartbeat. I wouldn't let you feel utter despair. I will only marry one woman whom I have a crush on. And I won't ever touch any other women. And I also can't give you the status that will only fill your life with emptiness. But I can't destroy your life either. So in this situation, I will only do what I think is right to do, what I want to do. Which includes what I feel about you." 

I put my right hand on Emelin's head and say with a smile, "Will you be my sister, Emelin?" 

Emelin's eyes widen. I can feel that the whole crowd has become a statue. 

I say with a soft voice, "You deserve to be loved, Emelin. But I can't give you love as a husband. But I can give lots of love as a brother. So, I am asking you again, will you be my sister, Emelin?" 

Tears are falling from Emelin's eyes. She smiles and says, "Yes, your majesty." I wipe her tears with a smile. But she starts crying again.

I loudly say, "Listen, everyone! From this very moment, Emelin is my little sister. I dare you to make my sister cry." 

Everyone starts cheering on Emelin's name. Vaelya comes to me and says with a smile, "So, you have a sister now, Hero Agni?" I smile and say, "Sure, I have." Vaelya says in a lower voice, "I am sorry for saying all that to you, Hero Agni." "Don't be sorry, Princess Vaelya. You said what you thought was true at that moment. Now, sister, introduce yourself to Lady Vaelya." Emelin smiles. She bows and says, "I am Emelin Roy, sister of Agni Roy, the king of Alnovir." Vaelya smiles beautifully and whispers, "I am Vaelya Vel Azar, sister of Varthion Vel Azar, the king of the Demon Realm." 

Emelin quickly looks at me with wide eyes. I smile and whisper, "Shh! Don't expose your brother's secret, my dear sister."