Your Majesty, you were with my daughter perhaps Rihannans caused you trouble. The lady, a countess, greeted Igor hurriedly while the girl hid behind her with a look of embarrassment as she realized his true identity.

.Its been a long time, Countess Alessin.

Igor, Rihannan, I had plans for you two to meet someday, but this is great too. What were you two doing?

Its nothing, I was just talking to this child, Igor said lowly and continued, I was just free and bored. I unknowingly rolled on the floor by myself. Its no big deal. No need to bother about it, Mother.

Igor felt a sense of shame hearing his mothers pleased voice. The thought that he had been caught and trapped in her wicked plan upset him. He did not want to play with her games, so he hurried away and hoped to never see the girl again.

However, his mother had other plans. She had marked the girl as her target as the next Queen of Arundell and called her to the royal palace now and then. Every time he saw her, she was still the same pure and innocent girl he met in the garden. Shed look at his mother with envy and respect, unaware of the queens ulterior motive. Each time he saw her, perverse thoughts wrapped around his mind. He wanted to tell her, tell her how the queen truly sees her, how shes a pawn in her hands, a tool to carry a child and most of all, tell her to run, run as fast as she can.

But in the end, he did not. She was too young to understand and he had no power. On the other hand Igor though shed not care much even if she knew that she was a tool for the queen. Power drives people to do crazy things, after all.

As time passed, Igor became an adult and before he knew it, his voice lowered and he was much stronger.

One day, he saw her again in the royal palace. She had become a woman, a goddess. Her body was still small, but it could not hide the swelling of her chest and the revelation of her beautiful curves.

Most of all, when he saw her sweet and shy smile, Igor blushed unconsciously, his heart beating erratically. It was difficult to look at her without feeling anything. He placed his hand over his heart, confused by a strange feeling washing over him for the first time in his life.

That night, Igor had a dream. In his dream, he laid in bed with a woman who had long, silver hair. In that dream, he made love with her. Not a single spot of her porcelain skin was left untouched. He explored her each and every part of her. Even her soul he explored. And then, when they fell into the deepest pleasure, he pushed himself inside her deepest place and drowned themselves in the purest form of bliss.

And then he woke up. His lower area was wet. He realized what he had just done.

Igor laughed despondently. Much to his bitter disappointment, he liked her, after all.

And then, Igor thought that it was fine to marry her just as his mother wished despite it being a forced marriage. He did not hate her nor despise her. Rather, he liked her innocence. She was never the kind to smile innocently only to stab him in the back. Igor realized that maybe he could learn to live with her even if his mother desired a child with her for the sake of her plans.

Maybe, this was fine too.

Maybe

Since then, Igor had done what he could. Since he could not stop his mothers plan, he delayed the wedding as long as he could until he developed some strength. If he had not resisted the political marriage so much, shed have come to the palace much earlier.

***

Time flew by quickly.

Within a month would be Igors scheduled marriage with her. She began to stay at the palace to learn social and royal etiquettes. Igor occasionally watched her from afar in seclusion. Igor knew that it was not easy for her to adjust in a strange place she did not know alone. His mother had requested that she perform her duties to the utmost perfection. Whenever she made the slightest mistake, shed lower her head out of shame. Each time, shed feel intimidated and shrink further.

Originally, it was her mother who should have given her advice, guidance, and consolation, but that was impossible. Her mother had passed away far too early. Furthermore, his mother sent her a Maid of Honor to make sure she did everything properly. The Maid of Honor would report each mistake made to his mother.

And Igor, too, was unable to show her any significant affection. Doing so would show his weakness to his mother. That and because he was naturally poor at expressing his emotion.

And the Queen, who had keen eyes that could see through people, quickly saw Igors affection for her.

Before the day of their wedding, she brought Igor to a room and said her thoughts out loud.

Arent you glad that youre to marry Rihannan? I know you like her. Im trying so hard for you. Dont be like this, Igor.