Two
Your Highness, I Need Your Audience
The lady was shocked by how bold Ella was.
She had expected her to be calm and weak—but it was the opposite.
She felt threatened by Ella, though she quickly forced herself not to show it and planned to leave immediately.
But she was Selena, the beauty of the moon—why should she run from a powerless girl?
“Do you think I care?” Ella said, her voice sharp with anger.
If anyone intended to make her uncomfortable in this place, she would fight back—powerful or not.
The argument ended there.
Selena simply walked away after her reply.
Thank goodness she didn’t use magic.
Her personal maid back in her father’s castle had warned her seriously: since she had no magical powers yet, she should stop talking back to people, or one day she might get herself killed.
But none of those warnings ever came true.
Even now, the so-called moon beauty just walked away instead of using magic.
Or was magic forbidden in this castle?
Whatever the case, Ella no longer cared.
Today, she had one goal—she must see the king and face whatever fate awaited her marriage.
While preparing herself mentally, she learned she was already close to the island—Moon Vile Kingdom.
It was far from her homeland, and one had to cross the Fog Forest to reach it.
No wonder the knight had said it was a nonstop journey; the place was terrifying.
Still, it surprised her how the horses were not frightened at all.
King Lockwood Randolph—that was his name.
A powerful born demon feared by all.
He was the last son of his father, yet he inherited the throne because of his strange powers.
When he took over, his older brothers dared not oppose him.
Instead, they fled to other kingdoms to hide.
He possessed a strange power he could not control in his youth, and because of it, his father once locked him away in this very courtyard where she now stood.
He was said to be so powerful that a single snap of his fingers could mean death.
But she would not let fear rule her.
If anything, death was better than bringing children into a world where they would suffer the same fate as her.
In the king’s meeting hall, the elders gathered for an emergency meeting led by the king’s assistant, Leo.
The king himself was absent, which brought them some relief—when he was present, none of them dared speak freely.
“Greetings, everyone. I thank you all for accepting this invitation,” Leo began.
“Last time we discussed the matter of the king taking a queen. Many of you had opinions you could not voice.”
“Thank you. You’re the only one who understands us,” Elder Clinton said as he stood.
He looked around the room cautiously.
“Are you sure it’s safe to speak? The king might appear out of nowhere.”
“He is quite busy at the moment,” Leo assured him.
“Good. Regarding the queen’s position—what of Selena, the Moon Beauty? Why not make her queen? Or does he intend to secure an heir first?” Clinton asked.
“He married from Florida Vile earlier but was disappointed with the woman chosen for him. As for Selena, I know nothing of his plans,” Leo replied.
“The king must act quickly. The kingdom needs a queen! Everyone is afraid of him. We need someone warm and approachable to connect with the people,” Clinton insisted.
The others nodded in agreement.
“I will inform him,” Leo said, pausing.
Then he looked up.
“But I have a question for all of you.”
The elders fell silent.
“What exactly are you all afraid of? Did you do something you’re guilty of? As elders of this kingdom, you should not be this frightened of your own king. What is your crime?”
“He has a fierce look…” Clinton whispered.
“His eyes are terrifying,” another elder added.
“When he appears, the atmosphere changes—it feels like…” he trailed off.
They were interrupted by a sudden loud bang as the door burst open.
Most of the elders nearly fainted, thinking it was the king—but it was not.
It was Ella.
She had refused to wear makeup or decoration, yet her natural beauty was striking.
Anyone who looked at her found it difficult to look away.
She wore simple, clean garments made of fine fabric, and her brown hair was neatly packed.
But why was she here?
“I demand an audience with the king! This minute!” Ella declared loudly.
The elders stared at her like she was insane.
Then laughter broke out across the room.
“Who are you?” Clinton asked.
“Where is the king?!” Ella shouted again.
“She must be crazy!” one elder said.
“Totally crazy!” another echoed.
“I bet she won’t leave here alive if the king appears,” Clinton whispered.
“Miss Ella, this is the king’s meeting hall. Outsiders are not allowed here. How did you even get in?” Leo asked.
“I came for the king. Not you. So tell me where he is. Which room?” Ella demanded.
“You can’t see the king like that unless you are summoned,” Leo said firmly.
“Then I’ll find him myself.”
She turned and walked away, checking every door as she passed.
Some maids tried to stop her, but one of them told her the king was bathing.
Without hesitation, she went straight there—only to find him in the bath with Selena.
“Geez! Must they always show off?” Ella muttered under her breath.
The king turned toward her.
Even Selena frowned at her, as if she had lost her mind, urging her to leave.
But Ella stood firm, fearless, unmoving—even though looking into his eyes felt dangerous.
She closed her eyes slightly and lifted her chin.
Her mind went blank.
She was about to do something she did not fully understand—and did not yet know the consequences of.
But she was doing this for the future.
She could not let one man destroy her dreams.
Did they think an illegitimate child had no right to dream?
Of course she did.
She wanted a different life—one where she could marry a good man and have children who would never be called illegitimate like her.
She could not understand how weak her mother had been, letting herself be oppressed for a man who had clearly wronged her.
Why did her mother take all the blame?
Shouldn’t the king be blamed too?
Or had her mother been forced?
Either way, she would not allow her future children to suffer the same fate.
Not here.
Not in this strange kingdom.
She took a breath and raised her voice with everything inside her.
“Your Highness, I demand your audience this minute!!!!!”