I Will Become the Queen of the Enemy Country

The night was deep. Elise and Karan were still together.

‘How did it come to this again?’

Elise looked back at her action of grabbing Karan a while ago.

At that moment, his eyes changed. It seemed as if sparks had flown for a moment.

From then on, her memory was faint. Her mind melted under the actions Karan poured onto her.

“Your Highness…slow, slowly.”

What if the carriage breaks like this? And there are still people passing by outside.

Elise bit her lip to keep herself from making a sound.

“Elise, don’t bite your lips.”

Karan forced his thumb between Elise’s lips. Elise shook her head trying to spit out his finger, but Karan was relentless.

In bed, he was a tyrant.

“Ugh, I can hear, hear noises outside.”

“Don’t worry, Elise.”

Told not to worry when she can hear noises, Elise looked at him resentfully with her moist eyes.

“There won’t be anything to be ashamed of.”

“How, how so?”

How indeed. Just kill all the guys who heard your pretty crying.

It was said that zeal and agony are not much different.

Karan was persistent.

Every night they spent together, Elise made a mess of Karan’s back.

Even though she regretted it every next day, the repetition of this was Karan’s fault.

“Elise, cry. To your heart’s content.”

The wounds on his back excited Karan. Before she knew it, Elise was crying, forgetting that she was in an empty lot. The night in the carriage was deepening.

***

“Get up, Miss. We’ll be arriving soon.”

Five days after leaving the capital of Bedrokka, Karan’s party finally arrived in Zenbuck, the capital of Tetris.

Elise had urged them to hurry, and thanks to Karan heeding her request, they made it.

Elise opened the curtain of the carriage, which had been drawn to block out the sunlight.

The sun was not strong as dusk was beginning to fall.

For the past five days, Elise had spent her nights as days, and her days as nights, along with Karan.

As she recalled the nights spent in the carriage, Elise’s cheeks turned red. She pressed her cold hand against her cheek.

“It’s definitely cold, Tetris.”

Regina pulled out another blanket and placed it on Elise’s lap.

Elise wiped the fogged-up window with her finger. With a squeaky sound, the scenery outside became a little clearer.

As they entered the city, they could see the people of Tetris, who are barely visible from the clothes they are wearing.

In Bedrokka, it was hard to find fur coats, but here, everyone was engrossed in their own work wearing fur shoes.

Children kicked a ball made of twigs haphazardly woven together in a corner, merchants raised their voices to call in the few pedestrians, and the innkeeper hung a ‘No Vacancy’ sign.

“It looks different, but the way of life is the same.”

Regina, who was looking out the window opposite Elise, said.

“You think it’s different because you’re looking at it that way. Apart from the different skin color and the better physique than the people of Bedrokka, it’s the same.”

“That difference in physique is significant. Wow, look at that woman! She just lifted half a pig with one hand!”

It’s a well-known story that the people of Tetris are robust and strong.

The nobles of Bedrokka even pointed fingers at that, calling it barbaric.

On the other hand, the people of Tetris teased the people of Bedrokka, calling them skinny, anchovies, and weaklings.

The reason why Karan often looked at Elise and said she seemed fragile, and that she might fly away with a gust of wind, was because of these different characteristics.

‘I’m not really weak.’

This morning, Karan, who had sighed while holding her as she fell as if she had fainted, came to mind.

“Elise, being this weak…will you be able to withstand Tetris?”

Didn’t even think about the fact that she’d driven to a breaking point inside the carriage all night.

As she recalled the night, the forgotten pain in her waist revived. Elise rubbed her waist and slightly opened the window.

The cold wind blew as if to tear her cheeks.

“Miss! It’s cold!”

When Elise groaned and pulled her head back, Regina slammed the window shut.

“Your nose might fall off. You’ll get frostbite.”

Regina’s words were not an exaggeration. Despite being spring, the cold that bit into the skin was colder than the midwinter of Bedrokka.

Elise felt anew, the warriors and Karan, who rode horses in this cold, were amazing.

‘I am weak…I’m weak.’

Seeing herself wrapped up in a blanket in the carriage because it was cold, she couldn’t deny it.

If she was going to live here in the future, she would have to pay special attention to enhancing her physical strength.

‘Let’s start exercising when we arrive.’

What should she do?

While she was thinking about this and that, they arrived at the Tetris castle, which had seemed far away.

On the long flagpoles lined up on both sides of the drawbridge, the silver wolf emblem of Lysandro and the lion emblem of Tetris were fluttering alternately.

There was no grand welcome ceremony. Only occasionally did they see the sight of those who recognized Karan stopping in their tracks and bowing their heads.

****

“Don’t be nervous, Elise.”

Karan, who had descended from the horse in front of the palace where the king resided, approached to escort Elise.

“I can’t help but be nervous.”

The courtiers who had rushed out were looking at them. Specifically, at Elise.

“Everyone will end up liking you anyway. So relax.”

Karan had a tendency to overestimate himself even on a regular basis. So his words were affectionate, but they failed to boost Elise’s confidence.

Hoo. Elise exhaled deeply inside and spread her back and shoulders wide.

The less confident you are, the more upright your posture should be.

And Elise, as if to show off, hooked her arm into Karan’s.

She intended to properly show the courtiers what position she had set foot on this land.

Of course, the gaze was not friendly. Whether they took Elise’s attitude as a provocation or not, a chill passed through dozens of pairs of eyes.

But Elise didn’t flinch.

‘This level of coldness is not cold.’

Elise deliberately recalled the chill of the underground dungeon. If you imagine the worst, it’s easier to endure the lesser evil.

“Welcome, Your Highness. Was your journey uneventful?”

James, the king’s closest aide and the court steward, bowed politely.

“Please come in. His Majesty is waiting.”

Karan and Elise naturally followed him.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry to say this.”

It was when Elise had just set foot in the palace entrance. James turned his body and bowed deeply again.

“Speak.”

“His Majesty said that Miss Elise Worton must be tired from the journey, so it would be best if she rested first.”

Karan’s eyebrows furrowed. He didn’t expect a warm welcome, but this was a downright dismissal.

Many courtiers had come out to see Elise. Her status would be in jeopardy.

“Your Highness, I’m fine. Please go and greet them. Where can I rest, James?”

James was surprised to see Elise calling his name without even him introducing himself to her.

Elise hadn’t just been in Karan’s arms all the way to Tetris.

She had studied the courtiers and nobles of Tetris, and the families that she needed to know about, based on the materials she received from Haltbin.

Haltbin had even prepared portraits of important figures to help Elise adapt to Tetris.

Court Steward James, he was Tyllo’s closest aide and a powerful figure who had the right to employ courtiers, and Elise remembered him as a person to be carefully observed.

“James, will you tell me where I can stay? I heard you’re a competent person. You wouldn’t have failed to prepare my accommodation, would you?”

“It’s prepared. I will escort Your Highness to His Majesty and guide you.”

Elise scoffed inwardly.

‘They’re trying to tame me.’

While Karan was being guided to Tyllo, she was to become a monster in a cage and a spectacle for the courtiers.

She didn’t know whose idea it was, but it was not enough to kill Elise’s spirit, it would be embarrassing for the level of Tetris.

But Elise, who didn’t want to make a big deal in front of many people, stepped back.

‘I’ve confirmed that I’m not welcome.’

“There must be a reception room, right? I’ll wait there. Other courtiers should be able to guide me to the reception room.”

Elise finished her sentence and smiled brightly, as if she wasn’t upset at all.

James’ eyes twitched. He must be thinking that this is not ordinary.

“It won’t take long, but it would be easier for me if you go to the reception room. Scott, take Miss Elise Worton to the reception room…”

“There’s no need.”

Karan, who had been silently watching James, cut him off.

“I must be too tired as well. I’ll let His Majesty know. I also feel drained, so I won’t be able to greet him today. Elise, let’s go.”

“Your Highness, you need to report to His Majesty…”

James tried to hold him back, but Karan walked briskly, putting distance between them. As a result, Elise had to run.

Karan didn’t look back. He left the palace and headed to the right.

“Your Highness, Your Highness.”

It was only when they reached a deserted place that Elise stopped Karan. Karan stopped when Elise grabbed his wrist.

Karan was very angry. Everything was a problem.

The courtiers responding to Elise’s words, the courtiers’ hostile gaze towards her.

The biggest problem was Tyllo, who had essentially allowed Elise to be treated this way.

If things had gone as Karan planned, Tyllo should have met Elise today, officially declared their engagement, and treated her respectfully as a member of the royal family.

“Your Highness, I’m fine.”

“I’m not fine, Elise.”

Karan was firm.

“You have the right to be treated fairly as my fiancée. Isn’t that why I helped Bedrokka?”

Karan raised his voice. His words were right, but…