Lust for the King’s Wife

Chapter 1:  The Cursed Woman

There was one star that wouldn’t disappear even when I closed my eyes.

Not in the deep darkness, but a single star that never blurred, even in the middle of the blue sky.

Even knowing I could never reach it, at some point, it became a dream and lodged itself in my heart.

I could only stretch out my hands as far as possible, hoping that one day I might kiss it. 

Many times, I gave up, calling it sour grapes, but once a sunflower blooms, it will always stretch its head toward the light.

A naive dream of a young man, grown into an adult season because he couldn’t prune his own branches.

By the time I came to my senses, I had grown so tall that I no longer needed to look up.

The name of my star was Mirian.

***

“A lowly servant of His Majesty the King, La Riand Brey, humbly greets the hero.”

“…”

“We prepared in haste to welcome you, so our arrangements are lacking, but please, I beg your forgiveness and ask you to grace us with your presence today.”

Three years ago, Count Brey had spit phlegm from atop the stairs of his mansion, but now he was bowing with utmost humility to welcome the return of the Hero’s Party. 

Perhaps amused by the fall of the man, who had been knocked down along with the dragon’s head, Seha, as always, opened her mouth with a mischievous grin.

“Oho. I shall show mercy with my great generosity. But only if you kiss the feet of this fair lady. You don’t have phlegm stuck in that fat neck of yours today, do you?”

“Seha.”

“What? This guy called me a ‘pointy-eared freak’ back then. I think I’m allowed to have a little fun at his expense.”

“He’s a noble.”

“Half a century from now, he’ll be smearing feces on the walls. Who cares if he’s a noble.”

It was arrogance befitting one of the long-lived races, but her words were difficult to completely dismiss. Still, lecturing her wasn’t really my style, and before I could think of something to say, our party’s only sage spoke up slowly.

“Let her be, Alf. She’s just being stubborn because she doesn’t want to part ways with us.”

“What? Bull. You lot are just mayflies that’ll be forgotten after a nap. I don’t have dumb thoughts like not wanting to say goodbye.”

“Oh? You forget us after a nap? I didn’t realize elves had such inferior memory skills.”

“Wh-what?! You little… Jorfe, you bastard!”

“So, Seha, please remember this moment. After all, when we die, even our bodies will rot away. The only place we’ll truly be buried is in your memory.”

At those wise yet weighty words, Seha fell silent. No matter how exceptional an elven warrior she was, it seemed even she could not out-talk the sage from Harbit.

Or perhaps it wasn’t his words but the sorrow she had tried to bury that was now beginning to resurface. She quickly wiped her suddenly wet eyes and spoke in a forced, cheerful voice.

“Hah, you sound like a sack of air that’d float if tossed into water. If you’ve got such fancy words, save them for your king. Let’s just get inside already — I’m starving.”

“Please remember to maintain etiquette before His Majesty. No matter how much they sing your praises as heroes, we’re still just wandering mercenaries, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Not me. You guys might be, but I’m kind of a big deal among the elves. And since you’re a sage, they’ll treat you with some respect, too. The only wanderer here is Alf, that big idiot.”

“Well, that may be the case now, but after today, Alf will hold the highest position among us. After all, he’ll be marrying a princess.”

“…”

“Isn’t that right, Alf?”

Jorfe spoke as if everything had already been decided. I responded with a vague smile, and Seha burst into laughter at my face.

“Hah! Rescuing a princess from an evil dragon and then marrying her? Sounds like something out of a children’s fairy tale. Though, to be honest, that princess was more of a nagging nuisance than a damsel in distress.”

“It’s because she was a dignified lady. She couldn’t tolerate your savage behavior, Seha. If you’d cursed just a little less, you two could’ve been great friends.”

“What kind of idiot would be friends with an inferior race? You two are the only ones I tolerate with that kind of grace.”

“So, you’re admitting we’re friends now?”

“Yeah, yeah. Feel honored. Do you know how rare it is to have the sage of Harbit and an elf blessed with both beauty and skill as comrades? People would kill for a team like this.”

A classic fairy tale if there ever was one. Seha’s triumphant grin met my gaze, and I replied with a smile of my own. To be honest, for a countryside bumpkin like me, this was nothing short of a miracle.

Maybe that’s why I was about to take on something far beyond what I could handle.

“Alright, let’s move. If we delay any longer, we’ll not only offend Count Brey but also His Majesty the King.”

“Ah, these short-lived species have such little patience.”

“That’s enough, Seha. We’re really about to meet His Majesty.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. No need to nag. I know how to read the room, alright?”

“Glad to hear it. Let’s go, Alf.”

“Yeah.”

Finally breaking my long silence, I replied. Jorfe, noticing something strange in my demeanor, asked in a concerned tone.

“Are you alright, Alf?”

“I’m fine.”

“If anything’s on your mind, tell me. Got it?”

“…”

Since it was a promise I couldn’t keep, I simply nodded. Seha, misinterpreting my quietness as nervousness, wrapped an arm around my shoulder in encouragement.

“Heh. Nervous, huh? Don’t worry, even if the king hates your guts, I’ll hire you as my servant. So, keep your chin up, kid.”

“You sure say whatever you like to the next king.”

“If that idiot becomes king, I’ll declare myself emperor, you fool. Enough of this. Open the doors! The Hero’s Party has arrived!”

At Seha’s booming voice, a cloud of dust rose, and the enormous doors swung open on both sides. Unprepared for the moment, I flinched as the light from within spilled out, flashing across my eyes like a shooting star.

It felt like the world was telling me to make a wish. But I had already brushed past too many shooting stars, so I had no more wishes to make.

If I had just one small wish, it would be that my comrades by my side wouldn’t be too shocked by what’s about to happen.

…

As I murmured this to myself, the gates of triumph swung wide open. The blaring sound of trumpets rang out, followed by an eruption of thunderous cheers from the crowd.

“Sir Alf has entered!”

“Hooray for the Hero! Hooray!”

“Glory to the Hero who defeated the evil dragon!”

“Hooray for Sir Alf!!!”

The voices of strangers poured down like rain, accompanied by applause. Every time I waved, unfamiliar hands reached toward me like crashing waves.

Do they love me?

A hero they’d never even met. Do they adore me because I was a fairytale, and now I’m a legend?

The suffocating affection piled up like cigarette ash. Just as I was about to cough it all out, Seha voiced her complaint first.

“Hah. These inferior creatures only see the human hero. The idiots next to him might as well be invisible.”

“You’re being petty, Seha.”

“Then dance beside me. Let these humans shower me with attention too.”

“No need for that. Besides, I don’t think it’d suit you.”

“Hmph, I just want to mess with them. There’s nothing more fun than playing pranks on fools.”

“If you do that, it’ll just cause trouble for Alf.”

“Tch.”

“More importantly, His Majesty is on his way.”

“What?”

“…”

At that moment, I slowly lifted my head. With a trembling heart, I cast my gaze forward, and in it, I saw His Majesty the King and his ladies.

The king’s one and only companion, full of dignity, and his beautiful daughter.

Before I could even properly take in their appearance, the princess approached me first. She leaned in and pressed a deep kiss on my cheek.

“Alf.”

“Princess.”

“Why are you being so stiff? We spent that long journey together, didn’t we?”

“I’m only following court etiquette.”

“You’re an exception. Not the others, but you are.”

Her gaze, far from kind, shifted to my companions. Throughout our rough journey home, the princess had despised the fussy elf and had been uncomfortable with the overly knowledgeable sage.

But the hero who reached out his hand beyond the dragon’s corpse—him, she fell in love with. Now, with the pretense of propriety and order long gone, there was nothing left to stand between her and me.

“So please, relax. It’s already stifling in here, and if you act like this too, I’m going to feel suffocated.”

“Even so, a princess is still a princess.”

“And you are a hero. You have every right to look me in the eye.”

“Princess…”

“That’s enough. Can’t you see you’re making the hero uncomfortable?”

At that moment, the king, who had been observing the scene, finally opened his heavy mouth to speak. He gently nudged aside his impatient daughter and pulled me into a soft embrace.

“Finally, I get to meet you, Alf. I’ve heard much about your name.”

“Your Majesty.”

“You have no idea how much I wanted to see you. I kept wondering—what kind of man would storm a dragon’s lair to rescue my daughter? …Oh ho, your shoulders are broader than I expected.”

“…”

“On behalf of the entire kingdom, I offer my heartfelt thanks. And as a father, I thank you too. You didn’t just save one girl—you saved far more than that.”

The king’s hands clapped my back with emotion, his grip firm and warm. His robust embrace, his youthful face, and the way he carried himself—all of it was more fitting for a general than a king.

Perhaps that’s why some called him a usurper instead of a king. The dragon who rose from the stream. The unparalleled hero. The warrior who became king.

The man who tamed a witch.

All of these were titles that could not be taken lightly. No matter how much his enemies slandered him, his dignity remained unshaken. Even those who disapproved of his reign still spoke his name with awe and respect.

And of course, I was no different. To me, he was a senior in life and a mentor in spirit, someone I could never look down on.

“I merely did my duty as a citizen. Your praise is more than I deserve.”

“You are certainly a courteous man. But I must admit, all this formal talk wears me down. How about we sit down and have a drink together? It’s easier to chat that way.”

“If it is Your Majesty’s offer, I will gladly accept.”

“Good, good. That’s the mark of a man. Then I ask our dear companions here to also accept my toast. It’s a fine vintage, one that even the tastes of an elf and a sage might approve of. And…”

“…”

“Our lovely lady as well. Since it’s a day to meet the benefactor of our beloved daughter, you can at least join us for a toast, can’t you?”

…

A cup of wine was placed in my outstretched hand. Soon, a rich, fragrant red wine filled it, and I saw my own face reflected on the scarlet surface.

“…Of course.”

“…”

“To the hero who vanquished the wicked dragon. And to the health of us all.”

“To our health!”

“To your devotion, Alf.”

The sweet scent of wine wafted past my nose. For some reason, seeing my own flushed face reflected on the surface of the wine embarrassed me, and I downed the glass in one go.

But even after drinking it, my face remained red in the reflection. It wasn’t the alcohol—I hadn’t had enough for it to affect me so quickly.

“A short but moving toast, wasn’t it?”

“…”

“Oh my, our hero must be weak to alcohol. If it’s too much for you, feel free to spit it back out.”

“No, Your Majesty. I would never refuse something you have bestowed upon me.”

“Hahaha! That’s a fine attitude to have. But I’d feel guilty if I received such thanks for nothing more than a cup of wine.”

The king laughed heartily as I still could not lift my head. He strode forward to the platform, his voice booming to address the entire gathering.

“This man is the benefactor of our kingdom! While it may be true that he didn’t act with the intent of gaining a reward, the royal family cannot simply overlook such a monumental debt.”

“…”

“I have spent many days pondering what I should give him, but nothing seemed to feel right.”

“…”

“So I’ve decided. I will give him whatever he desires. One thing—just one. It can be anything. Status, treasure, or a person. Whatever it is that you seek, I shall grant it.”

“…”

“Now that I’ve said all that, I think I have an idea of what you’re going to ask for.”

The king grinned playfully and glanced at the princess. Feeling his gaze, she blushed deeply and turned her head toward me.

At that moment, everyone in the hall envisioned the same scene. The hero proposing to the princess, the king blessing them, and the grand coronation of the hero as the next king.

Their expectations were clear, and I, ever the hero, played along. I knelt before the king, resting one knee on the ground.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes, hero.”

The king’s voice rang with anticipation, like a father looking fondly at his future son-in-law.

And thus, the bold negotiations of two legendary usurpers began.

“I am deeply grateful for your boundless generosity.”

“Indeed, indeed.”

“While I did not act with the intent of seeking a reward, I cannot refuse the gracious offer you have given me. Therefore, I humbly request something I have long desired.”

“Go on.”

“That is…”

It was something I had prepared for a long time. But as I tried to say it aloud, something caught in my throat. Seeing me hesitate, the king tried to break the tension with a joke.

“Heh, I suppose it’s only natural to hesitate. You’re about to ask for my precious daughter, after all.”

“…”

“Or maybe I should just say it for you? Shall we hold the wedding here and now? I’m ready if you are.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Ah, you’ve found your courage at last?”

The king’s face softened into a kind smile, like a father gazing at his son-in-law for the first time.

But that smile vanished the moment I uttered my next words.

“The person I desire is not the princess.”

“…What?”

…

Silence blanketed the hall. The crowd, who had been cheering moments ago, froze. Those who had been daydreaming of the kingdom’s future were left speechless. Even my companions, shocked, said nothing.

Slowly, they began to understand. It wasn’t that I sought something other than a person—it was that I sought someone who was not the princess.

Among them, Jorfe was the first to grasp the truth, his voice trembling as he called my name.

“Alf.”

“I have never desired the princess, Your Majesty. She is a fine woman, but she is not the one I wish to spend my life with.”

“Alf.”

“From the moment I first laid eyes on her, I was captivated. I tried to give up countless times, knowing it was beyond my reach.”

“Alf, please, listen to me—”

“But no matter how much I tried, there was only one person I wanted from beginning to end.”

At long last, the sunflower raised its head. The golden seeds it had held close to its heart had always been aimed at one place.

Past the princess’ shoulder, standing beside the king, was a woman with snow-white hair.

As our eyes met, her brows twitched. Knowing that this was the herald of destruction, I still threw myself headlong into the flames.

“I desire her, Your Majesty.”

“…”

“The cursed woman and the kingdom’s flower.”

“…”

“The untouchable white shadow of the world.”

“…”

“Give me the witch, Mirian.”