For a moment, the room fell completely silent.
King Frederick William looked at Heidi with clear surprise on his face.
"Do you even realize what you are saying?" he asked slowly.
"You are talking about marrying the King of this kingdom."
His eyes narrowed slightly, trying to understand whether she was serious.
Heidi lowered her head politely again.
"I apologize, Your Majesty," she said calmly.
"But I am only speaking honestly."
The king raised an eyebrow.
Heidi then looked up at him and continued softly,
"To be truthful… I like you."
She paused for a brief moment.
"But I do not like your son."
The king stared at her in silence for a few seconds, clearly not expecting such a direct answer.
The air in the hall suddenly felt tense.
No one had ever spoken to the king so boldly before.
Yet Heidi stood there calmly, even though inside her mind she was still thinking the same thing.
If the story must follow its original path… then I have to change this engagement myself.
King Frederick William gave a faint, knowing smile, as if he wanted to understand her better. He did not immediately react with anger or judgment; instead, there was a curious patience in his gaze.
"I see," he said softly, his voice calm. "But before I respond further, I want to ask you one thing."
He leaned slightly forward, studying her expression carefully.
"Why do you insist on marrying me then, if your heart does not belong to me?"
Heidi's eyes met his, and the king continued, his tone gentle but probing,
"Your face… it tells me that you do not love me."
The hall was quiet for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. Heidi felt the intensity of his gaze, yet she did not flinch. She knew she had to answer honestly, no matter how delicate the truth might be.
Heidi took a deep breath, forcing a bright smile on her face. Inside, her mind raced. What should I say now? He looks serious… am I going to upset him? My heart feels like it's about to burst.
"No, Your Majesty," she said aloud, her voice calm and polite. "I… I truly love you."
She kept the smile on her face, but inside, panic churned. How crazy am I? I'm saying such a huge lie… pretending to love the king… what if he finds out? He could… he could be furious, or worse…
Her mind screamed at her, but her mouth carefully hid the truth. The bright, perfect smile on her face was entirely fake, a mask shielding her from the consequences she feared. If he knew… my head might explode from the stress, she thought, gripping her hands tightly.
King Frederick's eyes softened slightly, but his voice was firm.
"You do realize… I'm about the same age as your elder brother, Alex?"
Heidi nodded politely, keeping her smile in place.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I know."
She paused for a moment, then added carefully, her tone calm but assertive.
"But… you are not my brother. And there's a very big difference between someone being a brother and being… a brother."
Inside, her mind raced, heart pounding. I have to make him understand without offending him… he mustn't think I'm disrespectful, but he needs to know I can't see him as just family.
Her polite smile hid the tension in her chest, the whirlwind of thoughts threatening to spill over, yet she stood tall, holding her ground.
King Frederick suddenly rose from his seat, and Heidi's eyes widened in shock. Why is he standing? she thought, her heart skipping a beat.
He slowly approached her. Heidi's mind raced. He's coming toward me…
Before she could react, he gently lifted her chin with his hand. Their eyes met. The contact was electric, and Heidi felt her heart pound in her chest. His eyes… such beautiful eyes… I've never seen anyone with eyes like this before, she thought, mesmerized.
King Frederick's voice was low, calm, and tinged with amusement.
"Now… show me how much you truly love me."
The moment hung between them, charged and intimate. Heidi's pulse quickened. Her mind and heart were flooded with conflicting thoughts—fear, excitement, and a strange warmth she couldn't ignore.
What do I do now? How can I even begin to show him…?
The tension in the room was palpable, every second stretching as if time itself had slowed, leaving just the two of them in that electric space.
Scene: Grand Duke's Office – Curiosity Version
Heidi's words hung in the silent office. King Frederick's expression softened slightly, but it wasn't romantic. He remained composed, yet his eyes sparkled with curiosity. Heidi could feel the weight of his gaze, intense but analytical, as if he were trying to read her thoughts.
"You are… different," he said quietly, almost to himself. "No one has ever spoken to me like this before. Bold, unafraid… unfiltered."
Heidi blinked, slightly taken aback, but kept her composure. "Your Majesty, I speak only the truth."
The King leaned back slightly, studying her. "I want to understand you better," he admitted. "You have the courage to speak freely… and yet, you are sincere. I've never met anyone like that."
Heidi felt a small thrill—not from romance, but from the fact that someone so powerful was genuinely interested in her perspective. She nodded, steadying herself. "Then I hope I can answer all your questions, Your Majesty."
A faint smile crossed the King's lips, not of amusement, but of intrigue. "We shall see," he said. "Because I have many questions—and I intend to get them answered."
The moment was quiet, charged not with romance, but with mutual curiosity and respect. Heidi realized that her boldness had unsettled him slightly—but also drawn his interest. And for the first time, she felt that being herself, without pretense, mattered more than following anyone's expectations.
A week later, the scene shifted. Duke summoned Heidi to his office.
Heidi entered respectfully.
"Good morning, Daddy," she greeted politely.
"Good morning, my child," Duke replied warmly. His eyes softened as he looked at her.
"I wanted to speak with you about something important," Duke continued. "Now that you are to be the fiancée of King Frederick, you will need to learn the rules and protocols of being a Queen. Before the wedding, you must spend some time in the King's palace so you can understand and master these responsibilities."
Heidi nodded slowly, keeping her expression calm.
"I understand, Daddy," she said politely.
Inside her mind, she thought, This is no surprise. I expected something like this. After all, in the old times, anyone about to become a Queen had to go to the palace and learn everything before the coronation.
Duke gave a small, approving smile. "I know this may seem tedious, but it is essential. You must be prepared for every situation, every custom, every rule. Only then can you fulfill your role properly."
Heidi kept her calm, but a spark of curiosity ignited within her. Rules, traditions, customs… I wonder how different the palace life really is. Maybe I'll learn something unexpected.