Chapter 988 988: Abrupt Declaration
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"What could Her Majesty be thinking? Deciding on something like this at such a time out of nowhere?!"
"I don't understand either. Initially I thought she was just joking when she mentioned it but she is really serious about it!"
Lucifer, Ron and Raayi were waiting inside the office, hearing some voices from outside. The voice belonged to the two Generals that they were waiting for. Both the Generals sounded very shocked which surprised even Lucifer who wondered just what did they discuss with the Queen.
The door opened and the two Generals entered the room, immediately going silent as they saw Lucifer there.
"Y-you are here."
It was the first time Lucifer saw the two Generals stutter. Even though they had invited him here, whatever happened recently shook them enough that they even forgot about it, getting shocked after seeing Lucifer.
"Did something happen in the meeting? Have there been clues about the attacker?" Raayi asked her father, noticing their strange behaviour. She could only think that it was related to the enemy they were facing. What else could stun her grandfather like that?
Raayi's grandfather rubbed his forehead, "If that was the case, it would've been much easier to deal with. But Her Majesty..."
"She what?" Raayi frowned. "Just what did the Queen want? I've never seen you like that Grandfather. Just what happened? What did she do?"
Even Ron glared at his grandfather. It was as if the two old men were hiding something from them. Unlike Raayi who was more focused on what the Queen did, Ron noticed subtle hints in the two old men's behaviour who kept glancing at Lucifer occasionally.
"Is it something related to Lucifer?" he finally asked.
"Sigh, I can't keep this hidden from you. In any case, within a few hours, this news shall be everywhere, so no benefit in keeping it a secret. The Queen called a sudden meeting of all Generals today, and there seemed to be only one purpose of this meeting. She wanted to inform us about her decision." Ron's grandfather replied.
"What decision?" Ron asked. "And what does it have to do with Lucifer?"
Ron's grandfather could only scratch the back of his head. Even now, he couldn't come to believe what the Queen said, out of nowhere. Before this meeting, she didn't even give anyone any indications that this was going to happen. It was as if she just woke up today and decided.
"Her Majesty has decided to finally marry. And she has already selected a person to be her husband," the old man eventually spoke.
"That person who the Queen selected... Is he Lucifer?" Even Ron couldn't believe that it was possible. He finally understood why his grandfather was so shaken. The Queen of Star Alliance who never married or even got romantically involved with a man had finally selected a husband, and that person was someone that she only met two or three times in official settings?
"That's right. She selected Lucifer as her husband. The meeting just now was to give this declaration. No one knows why she decided to do it. Even the other Generals are shocked," Raayi's grandfather affirmed.
"What's even more strange is that she hadn't even spent more than one hour with Lucifer even if we count all their time together. So how is it possible, we don't understand. I don't think she even spent any alone time with you, did she?" he asked Lucifer. As far as he could remember, there wasn't any such time.
"Wait, there was one time," Ron's grandfather exclaimed. "It was the last meeting when Her Majesty sent us out and kept him back. Did she talk to you about this then?"
Lucifer shook his head. "She never told me anything like that. There was never any indication."
Even though Lucifer had expected a future like this, he used to think that there would be some reasoning. However, this thing was so sudden that even he found it hard to believe.
Even he wondered just what the Queen was thinking. Why would she make a decision like that? Did she find out his true identity? But if that was the case, she could've killed him or captured him. Why would she marry him? There were many questions in his head but barely any answer.
"What did you two talk about when you were alone?" Ron asked, trying to understand the situation better. It was just too bizarre and didn't make sense at all. "Maybe something happened that you didn't notice?"
"She just told me about the history of the Star Alliance and how it worked to save the universe. She told me to work harder so I could one day be a pillar that the Star Alliance could rely on. There were only things like that as far as I can remember."
Lucifer described in detail about the time he stayed behind the queen while the others were told to leave. There were no hints.
"I don't know why she would decide this, but now that she has, I don't think anyone can change her mind," General Ostrin could only shake his head, sighing. "They again, it might be a blessing in disguise for you. Once you marry the Queen, your life would be much better. Your influence in the Star Alliance should increase as well. And if I'm not wrong, within a few years, you might even be promoted to a General."
"If he doesn't want to marry her, can't he say no?" Raayi chimed in, feeling discontent. "If he doesn't want to marry her, can he really be forced to marry? What kind of marriage will it be?"
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On one hand, Lucifer and the others were trying to understand the messy situation. On the other hand, the Queen was standing on the balcony, looking at the beautiful city in the distance.
Behind her, there stood the Captain of the Royal Guards who was mainly responsible for protecting her. It was said that his strength was even more than the strength of Generals. Despite that, he worked as a guard.
"Is this really what you want? I don't understand why. What is it about that boy that made you take this decision? Why him out of everyone? Throughout the years, you haven't even looked at anyone. Then why him and that too, so suddenly?"
The man stood behind the Queen. She couldn't see the man's eyes. If she could, she could've noticed that his eyes were filled with many complicated emotions.
For decades, the man had been the Captain of the Royal Guards, protecting the Queen from the shadows from any threats that could put her life in danger. He didn't do it for any benefits or wealth. In fact, being a General was a much better position and came with more freedom as well.
Despite all that, he didn't leave his position, all because he wanted to accompany the Queen. Throughout the years, he thought that accompanying her was the greatest pleasure of his life and that one day, she was going to see him for what he was, falling for him.
Unfortunately, the day where she finally paid attention to a man arrived and that person wasn't him. He felt pain in his heart, feeling confused. Just what was it about the man that she selected which made him better than her? There was only one question repeatedly rising in his head, why not him?
"That's what I want," the Queen answered in only one sentence. She didn't explain more than she had to. In any case, she was the Queen and could do as she pleased, without having the need to tell anyone what she thought. If she wanted, she could tell. But no one could force her to tell as no one had the authority.
"I will marry in a week's time," she stated. "I have many things to prepare. I'll see you later."
She turned around and left, without even taking a second glance at the man.
The Captain of the Royal Guards was left all alone on the balcony. His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails were already stabbing his flesh, making his hands bleed. But he didn't care. It was as if he couldn't even feel it.
"After all this time, you still treat me like a stranger," he muttered, looking in the distant horizon. "Why? Just what? I'm stronger than him. I've been with you longer. I'm sure people would call me more handsome. Yet you chose him? Why? Just why?!!"
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The news about the wedding started spreading everywhere. In less than a day, the news had reached all the worlds that were registered to the Star Alliance. The date of wedding was decided and the invitations were also sent for the most influential clans for the wedding.
It was supposed to be an event like never before and no one wanted to miss it. The Queen of the Star Alliance was getting married after all!